The strange customs and queer infatuations of the Targaryen family were once again on full display in episode four of the House of the Dragon as the dangerous flirtation between Daemon (played by Matt Smith) and his niece, Rhaenyra (played by Milly Alcock) led to a near-coupling and the commission of (oh horror) the act of incest.

The germ of this idea was planted as early as episode one when Daemon gifted Rhaenyra a necklace, and in this episode, she appeared to be clearly intrigued by his bravado when he swooped his dragon dangerously close to her ship, causing it to list suddenly, sending her tumbling, even striking her head on the port side of the ship. Her response to Daemon’s tactic: a wry (infatuated) smile.

Oh, the decadently naughty Targaryen clan.

Why has Daemon returned? He is now a conquering hero after his John Wick exploits in Free Islands, and gifts his brother the Crabfeeder’s axe (what, no head) as a tribute. He appears even-tempered and apologetic, and even bends the knee to his brother in the Red Keep.

Not long after, Rhaenyra receives a mysterious message and map in her chamber telling her to meet outside the Red Keep. Disguised as a page, she hooks up with Daemon, and they explore King’s Landing together, joining a crowd viewing a mock portrayal of the royal succession during some performing arts festival. The crowd reacts negatively to Rhaenyra’s character, (hiss and boo) showing that she doesn’t command the people’s popularity. Peeved, she storms off, informing Daemon that she does not need the people’s approval to rule them.

She runs off, and he pursues her. When he finally catches up to her, the uncomfortable flirtation between the two continues, but you’re never quite sure who is stalking whom. The incorrigible uncle that he is, Daemon brings her to a brothel where people engage in unspeakable acts of sexual perversity. While there, he kisses Rhaenyra, and they grope each other like Catholic teenagers. At first, Dameon is the pursuer, but then Rhaenyra turns the tables and becomes the seducer, while spies lurk and watch the royal perversities with one-handed glee. Eventually, maybe disgusted with himself or ticked off at the surprising role reversal, Daemon storms off.

After Daemon leaves, Rhaenyra returns to the Red Keep. Already in full seduction mode, she turns her attention towards her Kingsguard, Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel). She pulls him into her bed, lickety split, and they engage in a little horizontal mambo.

Who’s the man? Rhaenyra is the man. In one night, she has thrown off the shackles of her gender, and shown her willingness to spurn duty in favour of her own fleshly desire. First, she seeks to undermine any ideas of future marriage with an open fling with her uncle (that should get the nobles’ blood boiling) and then later, she seduces her Kingsguard just for kicks. She is laying waste to the belief that women can’t do what the guys do and still be a lady. Touché Rhaenyra. Touché.

WEAK KING

The common theme for past episodes was that of King Viserys I (Padddy Considine) as a weak king. He continues to age poorly and he is like a gross adolescent with nasty lesions across his back and arms instead of pizza-like pimples in his face. He is doing nothing to excite his young wife, Queen Alicent (played by Emily Carey), as evidenced by the boredom stamped in her face mid-coitus, a scene juxtaposed to good effect with that of Rhaenyra and Daemon kissing with the passion of horny teenagers. While her friend is living her best life, Queen Alicent is indulged in ‘pity sex’ with an old king out of royal duty, hoping to squeeze out heirs out of her womb. This would make any woman mad, just look for a change in her character arc next week, you shall see.

Still, during this episode, Viserys shows that the ‘weak king’ assignation may have been a bit premature. Faced with the idea that his brother has sullied his daughter and questioned her virtue, Viserys has Daemon dragged into the Throne Room, where he kicks him a couple of times and once again banishes him from King’s Landing. Daemon’s reaction? He has the gall, no, the audacity to propose a marriage between himself and Rhaenyra (cue laughter). Viserys, as expected, refuses and Daemon is lucky that Viserys didn’t spit in his face, or run him through with his sword.

“You are no conqueror, you are a plague sent to destroy me,” Viserys seethes, before he exits the Throne Room.

Still incensed, Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry the Sea Snake’s son, Laenor Velaryon. The King is forced into this gambit because Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), has not returned to King’s Landing with Daemon. Instead, the Small Council reveals that Velaryon has kept control of the islands and fully intends to marry his daughter to a noble-born member of the Free Cities—a move that would undermine the power of the Targaryen rule. Viserys is therefore forced to act.

Surprisingly, the recalcitrant Rhaenyra agrees to his demand, but she adds her own addendum, she wants Otto Hightower gone. Viserys, thinking clearly for the first time in years, relieves Hightower of the position of Hand, now convinced that Hightower is blinded by his own secret ambitions of seeing his grandson, Aegon, on the Iron Throne.

Interestingly, Rhaenyra and Alicent appear to have mended their friendship as they discuss the burden of marriage and childbirth. Rhaenyra suggests Alicent’s role is simply to “squeeze out heirs for the King”. Later, Rhaenyra lies to her friend’s face that her maidenhead is intact when she asserts “Daemon never touched me” when Alicent confronts her about the going-ons at the brothel the previous night. I smell future intrigue in this exchange.

What remains clear is that when it comes to his family, Viserys is not blinded by sentiment. He knows exactly who his family members are, especially his daughter.

“Whatever happened, Rhaenyra is not innocent, they are restless and chaotic,” he asserts.

The episode ends with one of the King’s doctors giving her a special brew, a tea guaranteed to end unwanted pregnancies, which he leaves in Rhaenyra’s chamber. Will she take it? Or will she foist the ‘jacket’ on the Sea Snake’s son?

We can’t wait to find out.