House of the Dragon
Warning : Contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2 , episode 6 .
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 , episode 6 , " Smallfolk , " has been review bombed on IMDb , but it ’s little to do with the timbre of the show itself . The HBO franchise is no stranger to interview repercussion . Game of Thrones ' ending , of course , was highly controversial , and the serial finis , " The Iron Throne , " currently sits at 4.0 on IMDb , when the overall scotch is 9.2/10 .
House of the Dragonhad avoided any such controversies , but " Smallfolk " has changed that . It ’s become the show ’s lowest - rat episode on IMDb , with 6.2/10 . That is n’t as drastic as some of theGame of Thronesseason 8scores , but is a noted drop - off from the show ’s overall rating of 8.4 , and is much unsound than the next lowest score for the prequel , 7.5 , for the former episode , " Regent . " The serial is n’t gross and there sure as shooting are valid critique to be made but , sadly , that ’s not what ’s happening withHouse of the Dragonseason 2 , installment 6 .
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode Ratings On IMDB
Episode #
Title
Rating ( /10 )
1
" A Son for a Son "
8.3
Via HBO
2
" Rhaenyra the Cruel "
3
" The Burning Mill "
7.7
4
" A dancing of Dragons "
9.6
5
" Regent "
7.5
6
" Smallfolk "
6.2
Why House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 6 Has Been Review Bombed On IMDb
The Backlash To “Smallfolk” Is Not In Good Faith
The absolved reason forHouse of the Dragonseason 2 , installment 6 being critique bombed is that it features a same - sexkiss between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Lady Mysaria . It is n’t a farseeing or graphical setting , but it is , very obviously , a passionate kiss between two female grapheme , which is manifestly enough to have caused a backlash .
Many of the scummy score for the sequence come from countries with poor reputations regarding LGBTQ+ rights . Saudi Arabia , where same - sexuality marriage is illegal , makes up for 6.9k of the episode ’s 27k user ratings , at an average of just 2.5/10 . A tumid portion of ratings for the show hail from Saudi Arabia is n’t unusual for season 2 so far , as it appears as one of the countries with the most ratings for each episode , but a higher percentage of this episode ’s rating are from there than for any other .
House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode Ratings From Saudi Arabia
% Of paygrade From Saudi Arabia
Rating
17.10
8.0
14.23
8.2
14.58
6.6
18.22
9.7
16.50
6.8
25.56
2.5
This is n’t just reviews from Saudi Arabia . Iraq , another country that is seriously lacking in LGBTQ+ right , is list among the country with the most ratings for this episode , the only time that ’s happened in season 2 . But this should n’t just be written off as a problem of the Middle East , either .
There are more 1/10 ratings on IMDb from the United States for this installment ( 703 ) than the late five installments of time of year 2 combined ( 590 ) .
There are more 1/10 evaluation on IMDb from the United States for this installment ( 703 ) than the premature five instalment of time of year 2 combined ( 590 ) . It ’s like in the UK , too . In both countries , and many others in the Western human race , anti - LGBTQ+ rhetoric has more and more become even a part of mainstream politics .
Several other show that have tug for capital diversity , inclusivity , and representation , whether that ’s around sex , sexuality , or airstream , have seen similar backlashes from admittedly little ( if often outspoken ) members of the audience and targeted campaigns aimed at the show - for example The Acolyte ’s reappraisal bombing on Rotten Tomatoes . So , regrettably , it is n’t a surprisal that it ’s now befall withHouse of the Dragon .
In the Dance of the Dragons , Targaryens crusade Targaryens in a origin feud that take in Westeros . But who really won that “ secret plan of thrones ? ”
House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 6’s Review Bombing Is Ridiculous
The Show Should Be Praised For Rhaenyra & Mysaria’s Story
It almost goes without saying ( or at least I ’d hope , but the valuation say otherwise ) , but let ’s do it anyway : the repercussion toHouse of the Dragonfor featuring a same - sex osculation is ridiculous . Again , this is not a perfect serial publication , and it is not to say there are n’t valid criticisms of the show for how it handles certain characters , plot line , or blanket pacing issues . There are absolutely clean complaint . That a osculation between two woman happens is not one of them .
Rhaenyra and Mysaria ’s osculation actually arrive at sense for their charactersin the consequence . Rhaenyra has been set apart from her married man , and look her rule questioned even by those close to her . The present moment she shares with Mysaria , who reveals her own traumatic backstory , is an inherently tender and intimate one , and as much about their growing closeness and share trustfulness of one another as anything else . They both want for a human connecter , to trust and finger desired . For that to build into something more passionate or romantic is perfectly natural .
… There were hints of a love story or drawing card between [ Rhaenyra ] and Alicent Hightower in their younger years .
It is also potential to look for clues in the canon that Rhaenyra has always been LGBTQ+ ( not that it ’s necessary for this scene ) . Certainly , there were hints of a romanticism or attraction between her and Alicent Hightower in their younger years . The idea of aromance between Rhaenyra and Alicent inHouse of the Dragonhas been talk about and supported by those affect in the show . Writer Sarah Hess say there ’s an"element of queerness"to it , andAlicent thespian Olivia Cooke believe they probably kissed at one point .
That did n’t take place in the book , but it does n’t mean Rhaenyra was n’t bisexual or pansexual there . It ’s noted that she was"fond and more than fond"of Laena Velaryon , which can at the very least be read as a hint of romance or draw existing between them . Rhaenyra would n’t be the first Targaryen to have an LGBTQ+ relationship , either . Queen Rhaena Targaryen is believe to have had multiple distaff lovers . Plus , countenance ’s not draw a blank Rhaenyra ’s first husband , Laenor , was also merry , which was fundamentally an open - enigma in Westeros .
There ’s more to House Targaryen ’s history than what ’s portray in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones . Here ’s what we have sex from the book .
The Faith of the Seven may see being gay as a wickedness , butmembers of House Targaryenessentially do as they please . The Doctrine of Exceptionalism was introduce by King Jaehaerys I Targaryen specifically to allow them to continue their practice of incest , for example . And that really stupefy to the most ridiculous part of the review bombing : people are absolutely fine with incest , but disembowel the blood at a same - sex kiss?Come on .
Being capable to more fully search Rhaenyra ’s sexuality and even gender - identity operator … is worthy of praise and make for a more interesting , complex case .
I also think it ’s quite powerful thatRhaenyra and Mysaria ’s osculation was unscriptedand came , in part , from Emma D’Arcy , who is non - binary and uses they / them pronouns . They do an particular line of work of playing Rhaenyra and clearly mean and care about the eccentric ’s bow , motivation , and determination . Being able to more fully explore Rhaenyra ’s sexuality and even gender - identicalness - as the Queen exists as a woman in Westeros who is discussing needing more typically masculine melodic theme of leaders and strength to bring home the bacon - is suitable of kudos and makes for a more interesting , complex reference .
House of the Dragonhas made strides for greater representation both in front of the television camera and behind the scenes . It has a much more diverse bunch thanGame of Thronesdid , and more people of colour on - screen in celebrated part , too . For that , and for Rhaenyra and Mysaria ’s kiss , it should be applauded , even if it can always do more , not review bombed .
New instalment ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 spillage Sundays at 9 autopsy ET on HBO and Max .
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Cast
withdraw place about 172 years before the issue ofGame of Thrones , House of the Dragontells the story of the ascension of the Targaryens , the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria . The democratic HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were interchange by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke , who roleplay the older interlingual rendition of the characters . Also starring in the series is Matt Smith ( Prince Daemon Targaryen ) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra ’s father , King Viserys Targaryen .
