So Why Jaime & Cersei is Still Gross, but Daemyra Isn't?
Right, let's start from the premise that we all agree incest is wrong. It's a taboo that is rarely seen on our screens and, when it is, tends to focus on there being an obvious offender and victim.
But somehow, in House of the Dragon, fans have been lapping up the sexual chemistry between Daemon Targaryen and his niece Rhaenyra. This seems an odd relationship to approve of, even in Westeros – particularly so when you consider just how icky the whole Cersei and Jaime relationship was in Game of Thrones.
So, what's the difference between the two, and why is any of it ok?
First off, we meet Cersei and Jaime as adults and are instantly freaked out by the nature of their relationship. It feels instantly wrong despite the fact that we're looking at two consenting adults.
Of course, it could be argued that we should be even more disturbed by what, in the real world, we would describe as Daemon grooming Rhaenyra. So why is it seen as ok?
The answer to this comes from our concepts of history and fantasy.
House of the Dragon is quite obviously set in a fantasy world. Everything about the world the characters inhabit is clearly not our reality. And yet, there is a human element to the characters and to the underlying story.
But as viewers in 2022, although we may recognize some of the most basic human behaviors in House of the Dragon, if we do try to view it through our own prism, we do so from the point of view that it's a different time.
A time when morality was very different from how we see it today – as were sexual relationships.
So, there is sufficient distance between us and them that we can suspend our disbelief and accept that this was just the way things were done then.
We can also relate the Targaryen desire for interbreeding to monarchs throughout European history who had a similar approach to procreation (and if you need evidence of this just Google Charles II of Spain).
Putting the relationship in this historical and fantastical context allows viewers to detach themselves from the morality of the situation and root for the characters to get what they want. And we pretty much agreed here that by the time they actually have sex, both Daemon and Rhaenyra are both of modern-day consensual age and do want it.
Which brings us back to Cersei and Jaime, and why their relationship is frowned upon. I mean, surely it's either of to see incest in Westeros or it isn't, right?
Well, you could certainly argue that case. But who has ever said that Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon are one-dimensional series? If we've learnt nothing else as viewers, it's that there are far more grey areas in this world than there are black or white.
Quite apart from the outrage we feel when we discover that Jaime and Cersei are incestuous, we also know they are not Targaryen. There is no (arguably warped) sense of maintaining a 'pure' bloodline for future generations. The relationship also lacks the openness around incest that is apparent in the Targaryen family. This makes it seem sordid and motivated by nothing more than lust.
So, ultimately, the difference in the two relationships comes down to the writers. It's not the physical actions of the characters that influence how we perceive them, but the way in which they are presented to us and the context in which we view them.