House of the Dragon Season 2 is back with its sixth episode, Smallfolk. While this week’s episode mostly continued the same slow approach, that has prevailed for a significant part of this season, Smallfolk also made a key development that has raised eyebrows. The ending of the sixth episode had a special moment featuring Rhaenyra and Mysaria that led to massive online chatter.
Last week’s episode beautifully portrayed how the two central women struggled to maintain their stand in this cruel patriarchal world of Westeros. Episode 6 continued highlighting the struggles of being a woman in House of the Dragon‘s universe through Mysaria’s emotional backstory. However, the conclusion featured a major shock as we saw Rhaenyra sharing a passionate kiss with Mysaria.
Undoubtedly, this has raised a massive debate among fans. An enormous section of fans have subjected the show to unwarranted hate as they feel that the kissing scene was not needed.
How does Rhaenyra’s kiss make sense in House of the Dragon‘s latest episode?
As if the kissing scene was not enough for online fans to debate over the Game of Thrones prequel’s episode 6, the latest statement by Emma D’Arcy has made things more controversial. According to The Wrap, the same-sex kiss was never a part of the episode, It was incorporated by the Rhaenyra Targaryen actress to make the entire scenario “more organic”.
Over the recent few episodes, fans were impressed by how Sonoya Mizuno’s Mysaria played out as an incredibly efficient advisor to Rhaenyra. Her clever plans for the Queen of Team Black have reminded the fans of Game of Thrones‘ Master of Whisperers, Lord Varys. The recent episode added more to her depth as we got to know about her traumatic past. However, the episode’s conclusion had the fans surprised when Rhaenyra and Mysaria embraced, and it soon turned into a kiss.
For those wondering, George R.R. Martin’s book did not have anything between Mysaria and Rhaenyra, but the latter did have some odd instances with Alicent Hightower and Laena Velaryon. Nevertheless, it must be admitted that the kiss made sense considering how the two women have constantly battled circumstances that went against them.
While we got to know that Mysaria was s*xually assaulted by her father who also tried to murder her, Rhaenyra is not having a good time as well. She is surrounded by men who look down on her as nothing more than a puppet in the great war. Even her beloved uncle-husband, Daemon, is more focused on his personal crusade rather than standing by her support.
Besides Rhaenyra, Mysaria also found comfort in the scene as Rhaenyra showed her kindness when nobody did. She listened to her instead of simply treating her as a pawn in her political conquest. At that particular moment, both the women found the desired comfort in each other’s embrace, and call it the heat of the moment, or the “intimate vulnerability” of that hug that led to them having the kiss.
Fans are divided on Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s kissing scene
Sadly, Emma D’Arcy’s gender identity has been subjected to intense scrutiny for their decision to implement such a scene. But in the interview with The Wrap, the stars have already stated that they did not want the scene to feel “queer-baity in any sense”. Rather they wanted the kiss to let the audience feel the emotional intimacy through it.
A certain section of fans have also started to claim that the book was superior as it did not incorporate such a moment.
This is why The Book version is way better
— Mo (@Mo_LM10_) July 22, 2024
So unecssary
— Iheretoo1234 (@iheretoo1234) July 22, 2024
Fair to say aside EP04, this season season has been entirely short off expectations. Showrunners need to wake up ffs
— 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐒🦅 (@RamosRMFC_) July 22, 2024
Nonetheless, we also got a fair share of fans who feel that the emotional moment between Rhaenyra and Mysaria was necessary for the plot. Let’s take a look into them:
Once again this season the actors making better decisions and suggestions for their characters than the writers room 😭
— Satyam Patel | 𝕏… (@SatyamInsights) July 22, 2024
so basically, it’s a wholesome moment trying to show how rhaenyra is falling apart within herself as well as how the nation is being divided by the whole dilemma of team black/green
— max (@BORNLOVESlCK) July 22, 2024
The kiss may not have been scripted this episode but i assume their relationship is. Like they were getting really intimate, sharing backstories and trauma and compliments. Something gonna happen more with them.
— Sage 🇺🇦🇵🇸🥥🌴 (@sagebored) July 22, 2024
Bro, are you blind? We literally see the sexual tension that has always been going on between her and other women since the beginning of the serie pic.twitter.com/8uN5IXYMlV
— Toni🪐 (@ToniOlliveira) July 22, 2024
“this wasn’t in the book” game of thrones is not an EXACT replica of the book and neither is HOTD, honestly wouldn’t mind a few changes from the book. better than knowing everything that’s gonna happen
— SoA Cali (@DerekMu86091424) July 22, 2024
Over time, both House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones have gone through several creative changes from the novels. On top of that, it is also too early to comment on the definite relationship between the two women in the show. As said by Emma D’Arcy to Variety– “The kiss was not a calculated decision on Rhaenyra’s part.”
It will be interesting to see if the showrunners decide to expand on the relationship and develop it further or if it was only an emotional moment where two broken souls felt an instant connection. With only two episodes left, it will be exciting to see if this connection leads to a bigger change in the dynamics of the show’s last episodes.
House of the Dragon can be streamed on Max.
