House of the Dragon fans took to social media to express strong reactions following the latest episode, which featured a controversial fantasy sequence involving incest. Some viewers believed the scene went too far, even for a series known for exploring such themes.
While incestuous relationships are a recurring theme in both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, the fifth episode of season two, titled “Regent,” seemed to push the boundaries for many fans. The scene in question centered on Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, who is known for his role in Doctor Who. Confined to Harrenhal castle, Daemon experiences hallucinations throughout several episodes. Initially, it was unclear whether these visions were induced by the eerie Harrenhal or possibly influenced by the mysterious Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin).
In the latest episode, Daemon engages in an explicit sexual encounter with a silver-haired woman who had not been introduced in previous episodes. The woman tells Daemon, “You were always the strong one. The finest swordsman. The fiercest dragon rider. Your brother had love in his heart, but he lacked your constitution.” This refers to King Viserys, Daemon’s brother (played by Paddy Considine), whose death in season one sparked the current struggle for succession in season two.
The unnamed woman proceeds to reassure Daemon that he was destined for kingship, although he never ascended to the throne himself. She concludes by affectionately referring to him as her “favorite son.” The revelation that the woman in Daemon’s fantasy is his mother, Alyssa Targaryen (played by Emeline Lambert), was particularly shocking for some viewers.
On X/Twitter, one wrote, “House of the Dragon incest level has crossed every limit today.” Another added, “The incest on House of the Dragon is getting outta hand.” A third commented, “First it was Baelon’s bastard, now Daemon fed his own mother. TAKE THIS S AWAY FROM MY SCREEN.”
