House of the Dragon's Main Couple So Creepy It's Almost a Crime
However, the situation completely suits the world of the series.
The first season of House of the Dragon, a prequel series to HBO's hit fantasy drama TV series Game of Thrones, ended in October 2022, but fans are still not done with the show and are discussing it while waiting for the second season.
One of the most controversial and often overlooked aspects of the storyline is the relationship between the two main characters, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and Prince Daemon Targaryen.
After their marriage in the first season, some fans unironically refer to their dynamic as "relationship goals," completely ignoring the uncomfortable fact that they are a niece and an uncle.
But, bizarrely, the incestuous aspect of their relationship is not the most horrifying thing, it is the fact that their entire story is a shameless grooming scenario, and even star Emma D'Arcy admitted as much at one point.
Rhaenyra was seduced by her uncle at a young age during their visit to the brothel. Although no actual intercourse took place at that time, it made it clear that Daemon desired her, which only fueled Rhaenyra's feelings for her uncle.
It all led to their marriage later in the season, despite the protests of the royal court.
But this whole situation fits perfectly into the world of Westeros. George R.R. Martin has created a rather realistic fantasy world, in which the real life morals of the Middle Ages have been transferred.
Early marriage and incest were common in those days, and adding them to his dark fantasy only made it better, creating a uniquely dark world.
As Reddit user chinacatsf explains perfectly:
"This is what happens when you try to apply modern standards and logic to history or in this case, fantasy that is based in a time long before modern logic/values."
The Redditor thinks that writers ask the audience to suspend their outrage and disbelief for the sake of the story, and assumes that everyone understands that of course Daemon is not supposed to behave in anything like the way he does, but it was commonplace a long time ago and would have been commonplace in the House of the Dragon setting.
The release date for House of the Dragon season 2 has not yet been announced.