In my review of Faceless Men, when I accused House of the Dragon of being prudish, I didn't expect it to retaliate so soon with, of all things, an incestuous sex scene in "The Dragon in Winter." Well, it's not entirely incestuous, and it's not a long scene. Alys makes Aemond hallucinate that he's making out with his mother, Alicent, thus exploiting his Oedipus complex, and as soon as the spell wears out, he stops midway and gets out of bed embarrassed. This embarrassment is on full display, with a touch of amusement, when Aemond meets the real Alicent. In his mind, he wonders whether she is actually present with him or just another hallucination, and that internal conflict elicits mild chuckles. Whatever may be on Aemond's mind, one thing that's evident is his immense love for his mother—a love of, ahem, orgasmic proportions. And so, one can only imagine how immense his heartbreak would be as well after the realization that Alicent tried to kill him with a spiced wine containing poison. It must be more than enough to harden his very soul. Alys might as well get to sleep with Aemond without putting up magic tricks as sexual traps.
If all these characters had been friends and had been living in the modern age of smartphones, they could have texted one another about their pain only to end up finding common ground. Aemond, for example, could have found his soul-sister in Rhaenyra, who, too, is hit by the poison of betrayal, thanks to Daemon's cover-ups about Rhaena. Rhaenyra finally learns that Daemon tricked her with a stranger's skull in order to hide the identity of her son's killer, and she unsurprisingly doesn't take the news well. But if Aemond has Alys, who would surely nurse his broken heart, Rhaenyra finds some pleasure, some comfort in Mysaria's arms. And God knows Mysaria, too, needs some comforting after being mocked by Sylvie for her almost pontifical appearance. What better way to receive a quick dose of consolation than passionate coition?
Not everybody, however, is offered reassurance through sexual desires. Ulf, after facing humiliation from Daemon, gains a new ally in Ormund, who promises him high-quality drinks and Driftmark. I can't say I am shocked. Who would want to serve under people who throw at you nothing but constant insults? All these double-crossings and betrayals signal that these characters are going through the same emotional turmoils. They need therapy or a WhatsApp group where they could vent their frustrations to each other. That WhatsApp group might also need to make space for a dragon. I am talking about Sheepstealer, who seems to wail, "Don't leave me, Rhaena," when Rhaenyra takes Rhaena away. The dragon appears to be distressed by this separation, and the physical wounds inflicted by other dragons worsen his situation. Unlike the human characters, there seems to be no one to care for the poor Sheepstealer. What an unfair world! The beast is left alone to tend to himself, to fend for himself. On the other hand, though, Sunfyre rises from the dead and reunites with his master. So at least there is a "balance." Sheepstealer, obviously, won't find comfort in this news, but hey, he must, by himself, endure the discomfort of going through a bad day. Go steal a sheep. Live up to your name. And if he doesn't steal sheep, then why is his name Sheepstealer? While healing from his wounds, the dragon should probably think about this question. What else can he do to pass his time? Run in a Chrome window? Browse the internet? Please, let's be real.
Final Score - [5.5/10]