Daemon Targaryen Shows That “Tough On Crime” Is A Sham

thegamer.com:

When we first meet Daemon Targaryen, he is breaking the law. Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen enters the King's Landing throne room to find her uncle, the prince, sitting on her father's throne. Rhaenyra seems to have affection for her uncle so, as viewers, we may be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

But, minutes later, Daemon, in his capacity as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, is whipping the gold cloaks into a frenzy. He tells his men that while they once were "stray mongrels," they now are hounds "honed for the hunt." They howl.

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"My brother's city has fallen into squalor. Crime of every breed has been allowed to thrive," he says. "No longer. Beginning tonight, King's Landing will learn to fear the color gold."

Then, the gold cloaks charge out the gates and into the city, stampeding down the streets, hounds hunting citizens who haven't committed any crime. Daemon is at the center throughout this scene, as his men call out accusations against random men and deal out brutal punishment as they see fit.

"Thief!" one yells, and cuts off a man's hand. "Raper!" another shouts, and castrates a man. "Murderer!" one accuses, and Daemon cuts the man's head off, adding it to a bloody cartful of bodies. We and, as far as we can tell, the kingsguard have not seen these people commit any crimes. The word of any gold cloak is sufficient to ruin their lives.

We do, however, see Daemon violate the law (or, at least, strongly held custom) on multiple occasions. He is sitting on the king's throne when we meet him. And, during the jousting tournament that takes up much of the episode's second act, Daemon uses his javelin to sweep the legs out from