Is Daeron a good man or a villain? Even the Showrunner and Director disagree

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is finally bridging the gap between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. The stories are all coming together wonderfully, with character connections and foretold prophecies being abundantly clearer. One of the most crucial characters in bringing this to life is Daeron Targaryen, the dreamer who sees aspects of the future in premonitions, played by Henry Ashton.

While he is a deeply troubled and tortured character in the show, fans are torn between rooting for him and feeling sorry for him. And surprisingly, they are not alone as such discussions were prevalent on the set while shooting too.

Henry Ashton shares behind the scenes debate around Daeron’s morality

Growing up in the public eye is not an easy feat. Especially in a family like Targaryens, who are known for their greatness and fearlessness. Daeron, who has 5 siblings, must have had to fight to find his place in the family. Every move one makes, every decision they take is closely monitored because the elders are on the lookout for the next heir to the Iron Throne.

This helps create flawed characters who oscillate between good and evil based on the situation they are in. Daeron is faced with the same dilemma in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. He is not only burdened with the expectations that come with being a Targaryen but also with the premonitions that haunt his dreams. Speaking about the debate his character’s morality sparked on set, Ashton shared with RadioTimes,

“ Ira and Owen had both quite differing opinions on where Daeron was coming from, in terms of, is he a good man who’s pretending not to be, or is he not a good guy but pretending to be? They both had very different opinions on it, whether Daeron was a good person or not. I enjoyed leaning into the fact that Daeron was a good person but he’s so consumed with his own problems and pain that he behaves awfully.”

Such discussions and debates often hint at a deeper thought that went behind crafting intricate characters and their subsequent actions in the story. The creators are not just blindly following the story in the novellas, but thinking through every character and their motivations to build a narrative that stays with the viewers long after the credits roll.

Read More: Who is Daeron Targaryen? Everything you need to know about the House of the Dragon character

Henry Ashton loved playing Daeron

Credits: HBO

Given this difference in opinion and a versatility in playing the role, Ashton enjoyed bringing Daeron to life. He is a layered character who is trying to find his path in the family and in the world. He pointed out,

“He’s one of those wonderfully flawed characters, which I just enjoy playing so much, because there’s just so much behind what’s there on the page. He sort of hides behind this dark, irreverent humour. But behind that is just a truly tortured soul.”

Many actors wait their entire lives to play such a character and Ashton got a chance so early in his career. Much like other Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon actors, the most recent cast members are also expected to jumpstart their careers, thanks to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Read More: “I struggled a lot with nerves and anxiety:” Peter Claffey on playing Ser Dunk The Tall