House of the Dragon, set to premiere tonight on Sky Atlantic, will introduce Game of Thrones fans to a whole new host of characters entwined in George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world. Viewers will become more familiar with the Targaryen dynasty throughout the 10 episodes of GoT’s prequel.
Among them is Daemon Targaryen, portrayed by former Doctor Who star Matt Smith. He is one of the more important members of the royal family, poised to be a core character in the upcoming series.
Daenerys, played by Emilia Clarke, was a prominent point of view character in the original Game of Thrones series. She underwent a controversial character arc shift from heroic to villainous at the end of the series, which divided opinions among fans.
Read more: Is House of the Dragon based on a book?
How is Daemon Targaryen related to Daenerys?
With a littering of incest, there are few family trees, fictional or otherwise, as messy as the Targaryens'. Inter-marriage is common throughout the family’s history, resulting in ties between family members being closer than most.
While it can get confusing, the best way to describe Daemon’s relation to Daenerys is as somewhat of a distant uncle. Daemon had several children over the course of three marriages, with it being those he conceived with his third wife, Princess Rhaenyra (played by Emma D’Arcy), that links him back to Daenerys.
As well as being his wife, Princess Rhaenyra is actually also Daemon’s niece. They end up getting married after their own spouses die, with Daemon becoming a keen supporter of Rhaenyra’s claim to the thrones during the Dance of the Dragons.
The pair had three children together, princes Aegon the Younger and Viserys and a stillborn princess named Visenya. The relation between Daemon and Daenerys stems from Viserys, with it said that the former is the latter’s distant uncle, although several generations separate their respective timelines.
How to watch House of the Dragon in the UK?
The wait is almost over for the premiere of the eagerly-awaited House of the Dragon series. Viewers in the UK will have to be up early to tune in upon its release, as it airs at 2am on Sky Atlantic, while it will also be available to watch on the streaming service NOW.
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