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The following comprises spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 1, Episode 1, “The Heirs of the Dragon,” which aired Aug. 21 on HBO.
As anticipated, followers are already completely engrossed within the new battle for the Iron Throne on House of the Dragon. This energy wrestle grew to become a worldwide phenomenon years in the past on Game of Thrones, with many selecting sides — whether or not it’s the Targaryens, the Starks and even the Lannisters — as turmoil engulfed Westeros. This time, the HBO prequel sequence is specializing in centuries prior, when King Viserys Targaryen I needed to choose a successor, even when it meant sacrificing his personal kin.
Interestingly, whereas he did go on to decide on his daughter, Rhaenyra, Viserys is getting warmth from his youthful brother, Daemon. In addition, the Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, has designs on the ruling seat, too. But as this civil warfare brews, Viserys additionally has one other drawback to cope with, and it is a creepy one nodding to Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s incestuous relationship down the road.
Now, as a lot as followers beloved the concept of Jon and Daenerys as an influence couple taking on King’s Landing, it was gross as a result of she was his aunt. Daenerys’ older brother, Rhaegar, had a secret affair with Lyanna Stark that produced Jon Snow, and when each mother and father died, Ned took Jon in and raised the boy. What made it even weirder was after Jon revealed who he actually was to Daenerys, she needed to maintain the connection going, which admittedly was one thing the Targaryens did: inbreeding to maintain their line sturdy and pure.
Come House of the Dragon, there is a remixed arc occurring with Daemon and his niece, Rhaenyra, though it is exhausting to say if it should evolve right into a full-blooded romance, per the books. But Daemon is certainly making it uncomfortable for viewers to observe, as he appears to be seducing the teenager. He first introduced her a present — a sequence — in a secret assembly within the throne room when her father was away, which was for all intents and functions, an act of grooming.
Daemon was additionally noticed eerily watching his niece throughout the jousting match and in addition at Aemma’s heartbreaking funeral. The reality Daemon hates his spouse and residential additionally hints that possibly he is attempting to be greater than only a shoulder for Rhaenyra to lean on, particularly realizing his brother could not produce a son as inheritor. More so, a part of him senses {that a} civil warfare may get away with some people not wanting a girl on the throne, whereas Otto, in his Littlefinger-like position, is already making a play for the throne by way of his daughter, Alicent.
In that case, Daemon, sensing these threats to his household’s throne, may very well be reducing a conniving determine, like Daenerys did. Rhaenyra, too, may find yourself being like this quickly sufficient. Sure, she appears to have a schoolgirl crush on her uncle, however once more, seeing as incest was par for the course for Targaryens, partnering with him for cover would not be a pink flag in her eyes. If Daemon actually does love her, or if he is simply utilizing her to harass Viserys or maneuver for the throne, stays to be seen. Either manner, as inappropriate as it’s, it does nod to Jon and Daenerys needing one another; not only for politics, however survival.
Jon wanted Daenerys’ dragons whereas she wanted his supplemental military to take King’s Landing, which added nuance to their love. To that time, one has to marvel if Daemon and Rhaenyra are simply infatuated with one another in a lustful method, or if it actually will observe the supply materials and switch into one thing extra as soon as exterior events begin gunning for the throne. Ultimately, the present can subvert their romance to come back, however because it stands they do appear to be secretly embracing the concept of utilizing each other as pawns and lovers. And make no mistake, even when they genuinely fall in love, as soon as they do consummate their passions, it will likely be extra disturbing than what occurred with Jon and Daenerys, who have been adults on the finish of the day.
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. on HBO and streams on HBO Max.
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