Daemon in Harrenhal, where weird things are happening...© HBO

Viewers says hit show has gone 'too far' after shocking sex scene

What did you make of season 2 episode 5?

TV & Film Editor
July 15, 2024

In both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, fans are well aware that relationships between relatives within the Targaryen family are the norm, with the Targaryen monarchy full of sibling and cousin marriages, with even the main character Queen Rhaenyra marrying her uncle, Daemon. 

However, there is one scene in the latest episode where fans are saying the show has gone 'too far'. Find out more…  

WATCH: House of the Dragon season 2 trailer

In season two, episode 5, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith) continues his stay in the castle of Harrenhal, which is said to be cursed. After a spooky encounter with a castle resident, Alys Rivers, Daemon begins to have various hallucinations, including seeing Rhaenyra sewing a child he arranged to have murdered's head back onto his body, and killing another version of Rhaenyra after she mocks him for becoming heir to the Iron Throne. 

© HBO

Fans claim that Alys is giving Daemon the creepy visions

In the latest episode, Daemon dreams that he is having sex with a mysterious Targaryen woman who is speaking to him about how he should have been King. In the final moments of the scene, she refers to him as her "favourite son", meaning he had been dreaming about his mother - who died when he was aged just two. 

Daemon's mother, Alyssa Targaryen

She says: "You were always the strong one. The finest swordsman. The fearless dragonrider. Your brother had great love in his heart, but he lacked your constitution. Viserys was unsuited for the crown, but you, Daemon, you were made to wear it. If only you’d be born first. My favourite son." 

© HBO

Meanwhile, Rhaenyra cooks up a plan on Dragonstone

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to discuss, one person wrote: "This is too far, even for Targaryens," while another shared a photo of all of the incestual Targaryen relationships, writing: "Gotta draw the line somewhere." Another person joked: "Wtf Daemon and his mom!!! This Harrenhal arc must end! #HouseOfTheDragon."

Others were quick to explain the scene, with one posting: "Did Daemon [sleep with] his mom? No, it was a dream and dreams are not real. And secondly, It's not HIS dream. Alys Rivers, the now confirmed greenseer, knows what happened in his dream. Meaning she put Alyssa there, and knows who she is." 

The dragons and their riders in House of the Dragon

© HBO

Meet the dragons of House of the Dragon

Team Black

Syrax - Rhaenyra Targaryen
Caraxes - Daemon Targaryen
Vermax - Jacaerys Velaryon
Moondancer - Baela Targaryen
Tyraxes - Joffrey Velaryon

Vermithor - Hugh Hammer
Silverwing - Ulf White
Seasmoke - Addam of Hull

Arrax (deceased), Lucerys Velaryon
Meleys (deceased), Rhaenys Velaryon

Team Green 

Vhagar - Aemond Targaryen
Sunfyre - Aegon Targaryen
Morghul - Jaehaera Targaryen
Tessarion - Daeron Targaryen
Dreamfyre - Helaena Targaryen

Unclaimed

Stormcloud - no rider
Sheepstealer - no rider
The Cannibal - no rider
The Grey Ghost - no rider

© HBO

Set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, this epic series tells the story of House Targaryen.

Aside from some questionable scenes, viewers have been loving the latest episodes of the hit HBO show, which stars Matt Smith, Emma D'Arcy and Olivia Cooke as warring factions of the same family split in civil war. Set 200 years ahead of Daenerys Targaryen, one of the main characters in Game of Thrones, the story is set to explain how the dragons die out before Daenerys' three arrivals into the world in the season one finale. 

Sign up to Off Camera for all the gossip and goings-on from the wonderful world of TV and film

Email Address

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More TV and Film

See more