Ahead of 'House of the Dragon' Episode 2 woke viewers still can't get over Aemma death scene
'House of the Dragon' may have opened to rave reviews, but certain segments of the episode have been a topic of discussion even as the release date of Episode 2 draws near. The death of Sian Brooke's Aemma Arryn, the consort and first queen of King Viserys (Paddy Considine) dies during childbirth, especially after a string of miscarriages.
While she does eventually give birth to a son, Prince Baelon Targaryen, both the mother and the child die in the early 105 AC. However, Princess Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) grows up to be a healthy and beautiful woman but is still snubbed as she is a woman before eventually being crowned as Viserys' successor. Twitter was still seething with the death of Aemma and the gruesome depiction of her last moments.
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Twitter reacts to Aemma's gory death scene: 'The show's about DRAGONS, you morons'
Not all fans were keen on the way Aemma's death scene passed. Close to a week since the episode airs, some of them were still unable to process the death. "'Critics say the show's directors (House of the Dragon) have insisted on including graphic and uncomfortable scenes for the sake of historical accuracy...' 'Historical accuracy?? The show's about DRAGONS, you morons. It's graphic because it's an exploitation movie," a tweet said. This was seconded by another who wrote, "It is quite frankly *wild* to me that gratuitous sexism & rape (and in this case a brutal birth scene) in historical fantasy get defended as "historically accurate" while there are literally dragons flying around."
It is quite frankly *wild* to me that gratuitous sexism & rape (and in this case a brutal birth scene) in historical fantasy get defended as "historically accurate" while there are literally dragons flying around. https://t.co/g9IHAZWyL3
β Lauren Beldi (@LaurenBeldi) August 26, 2022
'Critics say the show's directors (House of the Dragon) have insisted on including graphic and uncomfortable scenes for the sake of historical accuracy...' 'Historical accuracy?? The show's about DRAGONS you morons. It's graphic because it's an exploitation movie.
β Devil's Candidate (@devilscandidate) August 26, 2022
There were some who agreed with these tweets, while some necessarily. One of the responses was: "I don't agree. In a fantasy show, human characters CAN go through realistic situations. Besides Dragons, all other characters are humans. I'm tired of fantasy shows not taken seriously.." and was mostly in defense of the show. But there was also some sympathies coming in. "I cried & closed my eyes, I was never expecting that scene. My heart shattered into a million & one pieces for Aemma ".
"Sure, fantasy doesn't have to be 100% unrealistic or fantastical. But fantasy writers make the active choice of what to keep in and what to change. And the fact that they've kept gratuitous amounts of sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence deserves interrogation," read the chain of comments. "i really didn't care if aemma arryn was going to die but she did not deserve to go out like THAT. confused, terrified, betrayed, and being literally cut open for a child who wouldn't even survive for a day," one of the tweets read.
"I agree, @LearnedHandsPod made it clear what's really the problem. Aemma was not even asked, let alone told what was happening to her. All despite it seemed like Viserys loved her. Love- yes, repect-hell no. And he loved the idea of a male heir more than her," another said.
I don't agree. In a fantasy show, human characters CAN go through realistic situations. Besides Dragons, all other characters are humans. I'm tired of fantasy shows not taken seriously.. ππ
β Pikachu (@AssamesePikachu) August 26, 2022
I cried & closed my eyes, I was never expecting that scene. My heart shattered into a million & one pieces for Aemma π₯Ίππππ
β Yasmin π¦β¨βΊ β§.βΰΈΊ. (@BrazilianYasmin) August 26, 2022
Sure, fantasy doesn't have to be 100% unrealistic or fantastical. But fantasy writers make the active choice of what to keep in and what to change. And the fact that they've kept gratuitous amounts of sexism, misogyny and gender-based violence deserves interrogation.
β Lauren Beldi (@LaurenBeldi) August 26, 2022
i really didn't care if aemma arryn was going to die but she did not deserve to go out like THAT. confused, terrified, betrayed, and being literally cut open for a child who wouldn't even survive for a day.
β mar (@newg6te) August 26, 2022
I agree, @LearnedHandsPod made it clear what's really the problem. Aemma was not even asked, let alone told what was happening to her. All despite it seemed like Viserys loved her. Love- yes, repect-hell no. And he loved the idea of a male heir more than her.
β Danni (@danni_elia) August 26, 2022