Initially, the casting of Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon made fans do a double-take - but his performance in The Crown proves he was the correct choice. Smith is known best for his role on Doctor Who, where he was well-received as a somewhat arrogant, oddball iteration of the Doctor, as well as the seething Prince Philip on The CrownGame of Thrones, meanwhile, ran for eight violent, blood-filled seasons, enjoying high ratings throughout (in spite of its poorly received final season). The Game of Thrones prequel spinoff series premieres in January 2022.

House of the Dragon is set during the House's civil war, 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones. It revolves around the family of House Targaryen, whose story was central to the original series. In particular, Game of Thrones explored the legacy of madness in Targaryen rulers, played out through Daenerys Targaryen's story. Daenerys, who became the Mad Queen, was set up to take the Iron Throne before being killed by her lover Jon Snow in order to stop her tyranny. For centuries the Targaryen family has been marked by their power, ruthlessness, and madness, qualities most audiences don't ascribe to Matt Smith in his previous roles.

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However, when looking at his performance on The Crown, it's clear that Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen was the right call. Those who believe Matt Smith's casting as Daemon Targaryen is controversial ignore how capable of darkness he is. Despite being in a position of wealth and power, his Prince Philip is consumed with bitterness at his wife's success. He grapples with not showing it publically, in every scene, but the evidence is in Smith's eyes. This nuance is exactly the type of performance that a Targaryen calls for - and perhaps a perfect experience for Daemon.

Matt Smith has a tremendous range of emotion in his performances. He shows Philip as someone who feels emasculated by his wife's power, such as when he gets frustrated at having to bow to his wife at her coronation. Philip is a man who clings to the smallest things like making sure his surname is attached to the sitting royal. Smith makes Phillip's restlessness and frustration at having so little power palpable. It only comes out fully in small moments, such as when, in the bedroom, he asks the Queen to get on her knees. This ode to toxic masculinity works perfectly for Daemon Targaryen and House of the Dragon, as Targaryens are known for being arrogant and power-hungry.

Many of his naysayers don't feel Matt Smith fits because of his time on Doctor Who. But Smith's Eleventh Doctor, while whimsical and eccentric on the surface, could also be incredibly manipulative, arrogant, dismissive and brooding. Smith used the goofy exterior to hide the Doctor's tired and shattered interior, something that Smith allowed to show through more and more as the seasons progressed. Smith's work on Doctor Who and The Crown are layered performances that show he's perfect for House of the Dragon. His casting may have seemed unusual at first, but those who have paid attention to his performances know it was the right call.

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House of the Dragon is set to premiere on January 1, 2022 on HBO.