Some Fans Are Predicting A Disturbing Relationship In House Of The Dragon
Warning: Spoilers for the series premiere of "House of the Dragon" follow.
Season 1, Episode 1 of "House of the Dragon," titled "The Heirs of the Dragon," unfolds with the same slow intensity that defined the series premiere of "Game of Thrones" in 2011. All of the major players are introduced, and viewers get a brief glimpse into the relationships that could form and the animosities in those already established. Relationships of all sorts form a major component of what makes "Game of Thrones" such a compelling series, even if a few of these relationships went a bit too far.
"House of the Dragon" is all about House Targaryen, which is the family of silver and gold-haired warriors that ruled Westeros for hundreds of years. However, the eccentricities of the house are also part of their curiosity in both George R.R. Martin's books and both HBO series. Of particular note is the family's penchant for intimate relationships that can often be a bit disturbing.
Throughout "The Heirs of the Dragon," the loving yet ultimately tragic and one-sided relationship between King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and Queen Aemma Arryn (Sian Brooke) plays a central role but plenty of other connections are explored. These include the close bond between Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint), as well as the friendship between Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) and Lady Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey). Still, there is another intriguing encounter between two characters that could potentially border on the troubling side.
Prince Daemon and Princess Rhaenyra seem very close in the premiere episode
In a Reddit thread, u/morgan7731 started a thought-provoking thread by stating, "Am I the only one who think Daemon and Rhaenrya are gonna hook up at some point. I got weird vibes from them." In the series, Daemon and Rhaenyra are uncle and niece, with Daemon the heir to the Iron Throne before his brother King Viserys finally upends the archaic traditions of succession law to allow his eldest daughter Rhaenyra to succeed him as reigning Queen of the Seven Kingdoms upon his death.
Apart from the implications of incest that this suggestive scene implies, another disturbing element of this theory is found in the stark age difference between the two characters. Rhaenyra is seemingly underage and quite young in the episode when contrasted to her much older uncle. Their first solo scene together is so suggestive of an attraction between uncle and niece that Redditor u/LordofFruitAndBarely points out that Daemon is "grooming her."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Incestuous relationships are viewed as normal in House Targaryen
Incestuous relationships within House Targaryen are quite common in Martin's books, and also found in the "Game of Thrones" HBO series. However, the theme is not always presented as sensational or outlandish, but rather to maintain the lineage of royal families. In a 2014 interview with Laura Miller (via 92NY Plus), Martin explained, "[Targaryen incest] was a part of keeping the bloodlines pure so that they could better control the dragons." Still, even with the author's explanations in mind — and apart from the seemingly loving bond between Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) and Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) in the later seasons of "Game of Thrones" — some Targaryen relationships have been distressing due to their shocking age differences.
In Season 1 of "Game of Thrones," it is hard to forget the level of cruelty and grooming exhibited by Viserys (Harry Lloyd) to his much younger sister Daenerys. His horrible behavior toward her would eventually be avenged in his brutal death scene.
However, it may also be a bit too early to jump the gun regarding Daemon and Rhaenyra. Redditor u/CT_Phipps shares in the same thread that "Weirdly, I don't think Daemon came off as sexual or is grooming her. He's a lot less manipulative than I expected."
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).