Matt Smith, who portrays Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon, has weighed in on an imaginary face-off between him and Jon Snow from Games of Thrones, deciding who would win in an ancestral battle. Daemon is currently the husband of Rhaenyra Targaryen, preparing her army for the upcoming civil war in House of the Dragon season 2. As for Jon, he was a major character in the parent series, later revealed to be carrying Targaryen blood. This makes Daemon one of his many ancestors from the prequel, but both of them formidable fighters.
Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Smith weighed in on who would win in a battle between Daemon from House of the Dragon and Jon from Game of Thrones.
At 4:59, Fallon asks which character would win in a fight, the actor saying Daemon would win because he has a dragon. Check out what Smith had to say about the imagined battle below:
Come on man, Jimmy. Who would win in a fight between Jon Snow and Daemon? Mate, I’ve got a dragon. I’ve got a dragon. Listen, I’ve got a lot of respect for Jon Snow. Jon Snow’s a bad boy, don’t get me wrong. Kit Harrington, lovely man. Lovely guy, I have a lot of respect. But don’t get it twisted, I would f*** [him] up. I’ve got a dragon!
Would Daemon Targaryen Really Win Against Jon Snow?
Both Daemon and Jon have proven themselves capable characters in their respective shows, whether a dragon is involved or not. In just season 1 of the prequel series, the Targaryen prince has proven himself a formidable tactician, as well as a brave warrior willing to put his life on the line for the sake of his allies. The same bravery can be found in the former King of the North, who faced countless battles with a similar level of skill throughout his series.
While fighting with a dragon would easily make Smith’s character the winner of their battle, hand-to-hand combat could see the pair at a draw. The Game of Thrones ending proves its hero is willing to sacrifice even that which he loves most for the sake of the world, something that aligns with his tenacity in battle. The Battle of the Bastards proved how difficult it can be to stop him once he’s decided he must fight. Daemon, however, is much more patient and calculated, analyzing his opponent before striking when he finds a weak spot.
However, the key difference between them is the level of experience each has in battle. While Jon has been in countless fights throughout Game of Thrones, his opponent is one of the most experienced tacticians in House of the Dragon’s cast. Because of the years of experience he has in comparison, even without a dragon, Daemon just might be able to come out on top in a fight. Yet it would be close, because if he underestimates his enemy’s tenacity in battle, then he would be more liable to fall.