Michiel Huisman On Being Blown Away By Dany

With the focus in Daznak’s Pit on Jorah’s entrance, Hizdahr and Tyrion’s debate, and finally Dany and Drogon reuniting, it might be easy to miss Michiel Huisman. One of the VIPs of the fight scene, he did all his own stunts, showing off how Daario was one of the best fighters Meereen had ever seen perform. Making Game of Thrones caught up with him this week to talk about what it was like to film that scene, and to talk about his relationship with Dany.

When asked about anticipating the threat of rebellion in the ring, Huisman admits that even though he suggested Dany take gather all the Masters and slaughter them for the masses, he never saw the scope of the Sons of the Harpy’s attack coming.

I can’t imagine that it crossed Daario’s mind that so many people in the ring and in the stadium could be at risk. He figured the threat would be nothing he wouldn’t be able to handle with a few of his guys.

 It took two weeks to shoot that sequence of everything falling apart in the ring and Dany leaving on the back of the dragon. The logistics were insane. At some point there was a whole tent of crew that I’d never seen before – they were just the visual effects guys coming over for the dragon. It was an amazing experience to walk on a set like that, in the south of Spain. The scope was unlike anything else.

As for being so upfront and blunt with Dany in their intimate scenes together, Huiman says that’s coming from his character’s background.

I was  really happy to share [Daario’s background] with the audience. That background informs a lot about who my character is. Every time you get the opportunity to refer to it, that makes the audience understand Daario a little better.

Being the warrior that he is, he has this fatalistic sensibility. He’s also trying to bring a sense of reality. Daario sees Daenerys as very talented ruler, but she’s up in her penthouse; Daario’s trying to tell her what’s happening on the street. The only language the people of Meereen speak is that of a strong message from a strong hand. It’s a horrible suggestion, but my god, if only she’d done what he suggested,  [“The Dance of Dragons”] would have been such a different episode.

And what about that marriage proposal? Was Daario serious? Did he really think she might say yes? Huisman say no, but it shows how much his character loves to needle her.

He knows she’ll never say yes. I think he’s not showing all his cards. He’s playing to see how she responds, and the way she responds is to be expected. I think it shows how smart he is, really, when he says, “If you’re not free to marry me, you’re the only person in this whole city who’s not free.”

As for how he’ll handle her flying off? We’ll certainly find out this week. But Huisman says he’s proud of her.

 He’s flabbergasted. Blown away. It’s almost divine to see her fly away on the dragon. It couldn’t have been better… I’ve been telling her to use those dragons! Finally, she’s listening.

• Published on 06/12/2015 at 9:30 AM CDT
• Last updated on 06/12/2015 at 9:30 AM CDT