It turns out that House of the Dragon has inherited many of the same traits shared by its predecessor (or successor?), Game of Thrones. Both the good and the bad.
After the premiere of the fifth and most recent episode, fans are up in arms over a particularly brutal scene that took place between Ser Criston Cole and Ser Laenor Velaryon's gay lover, Joffrey Lonmouth.
Alas, who could forget the untimely death of Season 1's flagship character, Ned Stark, or the tragic demise of his son, Robb, during the events of "The Red Wedding."
Characters such as Missandei, Khal Drogo, and even "The Mother of Dragons" readily spring to mind. But a careful examination of dispatched dramatis personae reveals that likability isn't the only common thread.
In the fifth and most recent episode of House of the Dragon, the wedding of Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her cousin, Ser Laenor Velaryon, takes place.
Marriage to a woman, that is. While the show neglects to mention outright the love that dares not speak its name, Laenor is most assuredly gay and his lover is a man named Joffrey Lonmouth.
This anti-gay ideology is on full display during the brutal and bloody confrontation between Ser Criston Cole and Joffrey Lonmouth.
An act that several House of The Dragon fans have interpreted as being intrinsically homophobic and alienating toward the series' queer audience.
Others were quick to point out how this unfortunate circumstance is status quo. "If there’s one thing about gay relationships in the Game of Thrones Universe, there’s never a happy ending," Twitter user @guppiechef chimed in.
Fans will no doubt recall Renly Baratheon from Season 2 of Game of Thrones. He was the youngest brother of king Robert Baratheon, beloved by all, and just like Joffrey Lonmouth — as queer as they come.
A monster that was born during the carnal act of heterosexual love-making that took place between "The Red Woman" Melisandre and his eldest brother, Stannis Baratheon.
During Season 4's "The Mountain and the Viper," Prince Oberyn met his demise after having his head crushed by Cersei Lannister's champion — The Mountain.
House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones are fictional TV shows. Surely, if we can suspend belief when it comes to dragons and ice zombies, the thought of two men sharing the same bed shouldn't prick us so provocatively.
