The return of House of the Dragon for its third season has reignited conversation for reasons extending well beyond Westeros’ brutal political conflicts. While HBO’s fantasy drama once again arrived with cinematic spectacle and familiar faces, including Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Steve Toussaint, Rhys Ifans, and Fabien Frankel, much of the public discussion has shifted toward its casting decisions and another string of controversial storylines.
Olivia Cooke‘s revelation that she is only one year older than Tom Glynn-Carney, who portrays her on-screen son Aegon II, has fueled an industry-wide debate over Hollywood’s treatment of female actors as they age. At the same time, the latest episodes have generated criticism over unsettling scenes involving incestuous undertones, continuing the show’s long history of provoking divided reactions among viewers.
Quick Read:
House of the Dragon Season 3 has sparked a fresh controversy over its casting.
Olivia Cooke is only one year older than Tom Glynn-Carney, who plays her on-screen son.
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Cooke questioned whether Hollywood is reluctant to let women age on screen.
Olivia Cooke reignites Hollywood ageism debate
Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO
The latest controversy emerged after Olivia Cooke acknowledged the surprisingly small age difference between herself and Glynn-Carney. Although the pair portray mother and son, Cooke is 32 while Glynn-Carney is 31, prompting fresh scrutiny over casting standards for women in Hollywood. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast with Josh Horowitz, Cooke recalled her initial confusion upon learning Glynn-Carney was auditioning for her son (per Daily Mail).
“When I found out that Tom Glynn-Carne was auditioning for my son, I was like, ‘Oh, I was like, are they gonna like recast Alicent again and like, like do another age jump? How’s this gonna work?’”
Later in the conversation, she questioned the industry’s outlook on aging actresses.
“I love them with all my heart. I think spiritually, me and Tom are related. It’s odd, isn’t it?
“I feel many things about it. I feel like God, is this just like the industry? Is it just Hollywood? They don’t want to see women age, you know?
“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.”
Her remarks quickly reignited online conversations surrounding the tendency to cast actresses as mothers of actors who are almost the same age, while similar casting choices involving male performers rarely receive equal scrutiny.
Disturbing storylines keep dividing House of the Dragon fans
Credit: HBO
Casting is only one chapter in the show’s growing list of controversies. Season 3 has already drawn criticism for a scene in which Aemond, played by Ewan Mitchell, kisses his mother, Alicent, on the lips, leaving viewers deeply uncomfortable. Mitchell admitted the sequence surprised him as much as the audience.
“Yeah, it’s kind of shocking. It’s quite a difficult pill to swallow, isn’t it? Kissing your mom on the lips, especially in that way.”
He added that Aemond’s childhood trauma shaped the character’s distorted understanding of affection before praising Cooke by saying, “Working with Liv Cooke in that scene is just – it’s a masterclass working with Liv Cooke in any scene, yeah she’s a real one.”
Cooke also reflected on filming the sequence, admitting, “There has been this Oedipal undercurrent — unbeknownst to Alicent. And I think it’s shocking.” Showrunner Ryan Condal later explained that Aemond’s behavior stems from unresolved childhood trauma rather than romantic feelings toward his mother.
The criticism follows years of debate surrounding the series. Whether audiences agree with the creative direction or reject its increasingly provocative storytelling, House of the Dragon continues to dominate entertainment headlines with every new episode. The debate over ageism in casting feels far more relevant than another controversy designed for shock value, and Hollywood may eventually have to answer the uncomfortable questions Cooke has raised.
