The latest season of HBO's "House of the Dragon" is facing renewed controversy, this time involving an age gap between actors and the show's willingness to explore dark and disturbing plotlines. The series, a prequel to "Game of Thrones," has captivated audiences with its exploration of complex family trauma and political intrigue, but has also been a site of ongoing debate.
An ageism row has emerged regarding the casting of Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, and Tom Glynn-Carney, who portrays her son Aemond. Cooke, 32, and Glynn-Carney, 31, have only a one-year age difference, a fact Cooke herself described as "odd." Speaking on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, she questioned Hollywood's apparent reluctance to show women aging. "I feel like God, is this just like the industry? Is it just Hollywood? They don't want to see women age, you know?" Cooke remarked. "I think it's a big leap for the audience to make, or maybe I'm just a fantastic actor. Let's go with that."
This controversy follows criticism of the show's graphic content. Reviewers have pointed to specific scenes in the early episodes of the new season as particularly unsettling. One reviewer for Metro described a scene that "sickened her" and caused the audience to "gasp in unison." The scene in question involved Ewan Mitchell's character, Aemond, kissing his mother, Alicent (Cooke), on the lips during a tense conversation. This moment has been called "the most disturbing scene" by some viewers on social media, with others finding it "very awkward to watch."
Both actors have acknowledged the challenging nature of the scene. Ewan Mitchell told People that the kiss was "kind of shocking" and a "difficult pill to swallow," attributing it to Aemond's "skewed perception and a very strange way of showing love" stemming from a lack of perceived maternal affection. He described working with Cooke as a "masterclass." Showrunner Ryan Condal explained that Aemond's behavior is partly a manifestation of trauma from his childhood, suggesting that Aemond may not be able to fully separate his feelings for his mother from other "male feelings" he experiences. Cooke called the scene "quite odd for both of us," noting an "Oedipal undercurrent—unbeknownst to Alicent."
Some viewers have expressed a desire to boycott the upcoming episodes, a sentiment that also surfaced following the disappointing finale of the second season in August 2024. The 70-minute finale, "The Queen Who Ever Was," was criticized for lacking the expected spectacle of a "Game of Thrones" season ender, leaving many fans underwhelmed despite moments like Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower's gambit and the unclaimed Iron Throne.
The show has a history of controversy. In 2022, executive producer Sara Hess clarified comments about the depiction of sexual violence, stating that the show handles such instances off-screen, focusing instead on the aftermath and impact on victims. Hess defended the show's approach, saying it highlights "the violence against women that is inherent in a patriarchal system" and does not shy away from depicting the coercion and manipulation of female characters by men within that system, even when those men are not overtly malicious. Director Miguel Sapochnik had previously indicated that while sexual violence would be addressed carefully, it remains a part of the world depicted, and the show would "shine a light on that aspect" without downplaying or glorifying it.
Another past controversy involved actor Steve Toussaint, who plays Lord Corlys Velaryo. In 2022, Toussaint responded to racist trolls who questioned his casting, pointing out that historical inaccuracies in popular media, rather than the presence of a Black character in a fantasy setting, were the issue. He argued that people of color have a significant, often overlooked, history and that the fictional elements of dragons and white-haired Targaryens are more readily accepted than a wealthy Black lord.
"House of the Dragon" airs weekly on HBO and streams on HBO Max and other platforms. The series is adapted from George R.R. Martin's 2018 book "Fire & Blood."