House Of The Dragon has been praised for its sex scenes featured in the fourth episode of the Game Of Thrones spin-off.
The new instalment, which aired this week, included intimate scenes starring Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Milly Alcock, and Alicent Hightower, portrayed by Emily Carey.
Game Of Thrones became well known for its explicit sex scenes, often framed as bleak and violent towards women.
However, viewers of House Of The Dragon have praised the portrayal of these steamy encounters during the latest episode, which were directed by Clare Kilner, the only female director of 19 involved in the show.
One Twitter user posted: ‘Petition for all sex scenes to be filmed by women. See this week’s episode of House of the Dragon for more details.’
Another added: ‘house of the dragon has floored me with its sex scenes in the last episode they were genuinely fantastic lmao. i don’t normally really like sex scenes or think they reach as many heights of emotion and character and drama as other types of scenes but these ones were amazing. art.’
‘no because the presence of an intimacy coordinator on house of the dragon is incredibly noticeable as a viewer… the sex scenes in last night’s episode were well done and not half as gratuitous as those in GOT but equally fulfilling narrative-wise,’ a third posted.
The latest episode features a sex scene that is sure to make scores of fans feel deeply uncomfortable between Rhaenyra and Daemon (Matt Smith).
After leaving the Red Keep for a night of revelry and tavern hopping, the pair find themselves in the depths of a ‘pleasure house’.
Emphasising that having sex is about pleasure for women just as much as it is for men, the pair kiss and Daemon starts removing Rhaenyra’s clothes as he pins her up against the wall.
This moment is juxtaposed with another sex scene, as the Queen, Lady Alicent, reluctantly goes to bed with her husband King Viserys (Paddy Considine) after being woken up specifically to fulfil his desire.
When Rhaenyra returns to the castle, she walks back through the front door right past Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), whom she coaxes into her room.
After initially appearing hesitant, Ser Criston returns Rhaenyra’s advances, as she helps to slowly remove his armour before they have sex.
When confronted by her father as revelations of her night with Daemon are unearthed, the episode sees the heir to the throne question the double standard of men and women who explore their sexuality.
Emily, 19, has admitted that she was ‘scared’ to shoot sex scenes in the fantasy series due to the 30-year age gap between her and Paddy, 49.
Speaking to Newsweek, she said: ‘It scared me, because at that point I still hadn’t met Paddy. I didn’t know how much of a joy he was and how easy he was going to make [the scene].’
‘The first scene that I read from the show was my sex scene and my intimacy scenes. All I saw was, you know, a 47-year-old man and me, I was a bit concerned.’
Carey said that after watching Game of Thrones in preparation for the role, the ‘violent sex’ made her nervous: ‘I was like, “Oh God, what am I gonna have to do in this show?”‘
But Emily says she was comforted by the on-set presence of an intimacy coordinator – the demand for which increased after the 2017 MeToo movement.
House Of The Dragon is available to stream on NOW.
MORE : We’ve been warned! The times Game of Thrones already gave us huge spoilers for House of the Dragon
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