Controversial Scene Sparks Fan Outrage

House of the Dragon fans expressed widespread disgust following the opening episode of season 3, which included a mother-son kiss between Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his mother, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke). The scene, described as ‘vomit-inducing’ by some viewers, has been criticized for being unnecessary and included for shock value.

Showrunner Explains Psychological Motivation

House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has defended the scene, stating it was never intended to be romantic but rather an insight into Aemond’s psychological state. Condal explained that Aemond was ‘traumatised at an early age’ by his brother taking him to a brothel, and that this trauma manifested in his adult behavior. According to Condal, Aemond is not in love with his mother but is unable to separate his feelings for her from other male emotions.

Actor Describes Scene as a Power Move

Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond, echoed Condal’s explanation, stating the kiss was more about power dynamics. ‘In Aemond’s head, it’s like he’s assuming control of the family. He’s the new leader,’ Mitchell said. Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent, acknowledged the scene as ‘shocking,’ noting there had been an ‘Oedipal undercurrent’ in the characters’ relationship.

The scene occurs in the context of the Battle of the Gullet, a key moment in the episode that results in the death of Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), the eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen. Before this, Alicent secretly plans to get her son Aemond out of King’s Landing to allow Rhaenyra to reclaim the Iron Throne from Aegon Targaryen.

Alicent uses her influence over Aemond to get him to leave the capital, offering him motherly affection that he was missing in childhood. This dynamic, according to Condal, led to Aemond’s ‘mummy issues,’ which culminated in the kiss.

Some fans have defended Aemond, suggesting he was the victim in the situation. ‘I am going to hold your hand while I tell you this: Aemond was Alicent’s victim and not the other way around,’ one user wrote on X. Others, however, felt the scene was unnecessary and included for shock value.

The kiss scene has drawn comparisons to a previous controversial moment in the series, when Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) had a sex scene with his mother in a dream sequence at Harrenhal. Unlike that scene, however, Aemond’s kiss with Alicent actually happened in the narrative.

‘If I had a nickel for every time Ryan Condal added non-canon mother-son incest to the show, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice,’ one X user remarked. ‘This scene with Aemond and Alicent is so gross,’ another user wrote, while others echoed similar sentiments of discomfort.

Condal also noted that the scene was not present in George R. R. Martin’s book, but was added as a creative choice for the series. ‘He’s somebody that was traumatised at an early age by his brother by taking him to a brothel long before his brain could probably process what was happening,’ Condal told Entertainment Weekly. ‘As these things do, that trauma then manifests a certain way in his behaviour as an adult.’