THE LATEST episode of the renowned “House of The Dragon” series was recently released, and so far, it’s received one of the lowest ratings since the show started airing.
So far, the episode directed by Andrij Parekh was rated 6.3 / 10 on IMDb, which is totaled based on over 25,000 reviews. Previously, another episode, “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” received a rating of 9.6.
It can also be noted that the low-rating episode features a kiss between two characters of the same sex, Mysaria and Rhaenyra.
Many netizens have started to question why this episode has gotten such a bad review compared to past episodes. Is it just a case of bad writing, or is it just plain old homophobia?
Bad pacing, changes to story
While some attribute this to the same-sex kiss in the episode, fans also pointed out that it was possibly due to the writing of the series.
“Blaming the low rating on one scene is baseless,” wrote a fan on X.
“The episode was criticized for inconsistent pacing, shallow character arcs, and poor narrative choices. Reducing complex feedback to one scene ignores the genuine issues affecting the episode’s quality.”
Another wrote: “That kiss was weird and out of place, but the episode sucked because it was a boring snooze fest, just like the one before it. Something interesting might happen in the last [two] minutes, [but the] rest is pointless filler.”
Many on IMDb also point out that their issue with the episode was the slow pacing of the episodes – how, in a show with only a few seasons, most of what they’ve gotten so far was just filler after filler.
Others have also pointed out that the scene of Rhaenyra and Mysaria was not in the books, hence why they felt that it was unnecessary.
This is because the kiss wasn’t scripted as a kiss, according to a report from news outlet TheWrap.
Quoting nonbinary actor Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra on the show: “It wasn’t scripted as a kiss; I think it was scripted as – there’s just breath between them or something – and then whatever happens is interrupted.”
They later gave suggestions as to how the kissing scene should play out and explained that given that Rhaenyra was meant to comfort her in that scene, the kiss just felt organic.
Kiss was “unnecessary”?
Other than the complaints of bad pacing, there have also been many fans who have shown dislike toward “changing” the sexuality of these two characters.
An account on X, Culture Crave, pointed out that the show was being review-bombed in countries in the Middle East, like Saudi Arabia. In a follow-up tweet, they wrote that almost 50% of the one-star reviews come from Saudi Arabia alone.
One user on IMDb pointed out that in countries like Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the episode was rated 2.7 and 4.0 respectively. In the United States, however, it received a rating of 7.1, and in Germany, 7.5.
“I was wondering why the reviews were so bad; the pace is the same as in the rest of the episodes, [the] acting was good and it’s so well-made, animation-wise especially,” wrote one review on IMDb.
“When you look at the countries that gave a bad rating, it all makes sense. Unfortunately, they are all countries where a woman kissing another woman is not allowed.”
Many others questioned this rating, as they enjoyed the episode and felt that it was well-written.
“People are saying this episode is just filler, but I 100% disagree,” said another review.
“HoD and GoT have this uncanny ability to portray patience. It takes time and slowly builds up with meaningful scenes in-between that prepare us for new arcs.”
Another wrote that they didn’t understand the bad rating, as they felt that the episode had several exciting moments, laying out the path for what would unfold toward the end of the season.
“I think people expect to experience ‘Game of Thrones’ vibes to the point where they are forgetful of the fact that having dragons fight each other almost every episode would become boring,” they said.
In one review from Cosmic Book News, Matt McGloin wrote: “Like much of what Hollywood has been producing lately, it feels like Hollywood is injecting its own agenda into the characters and the show.”
He added that this episode is much like the rest of how the series has been thus far: disappointing and dull, with no action whatsoever.
McGloin expressed how he felt that Queen Rhaenyra being a lesbian was “forced and unnecessary.” Others online have shared the same sentiments, even going so far as to say that this kiss would drag the storyline of the show down to its doom.
Another user on X wrote: “People are tired of Hollywood making everything gay.”
Other fans of the show have laughed at these sentiments, asking how having gay characters would ruin the show given how many of the relationships in “House of The Dragons” – and from the “Game of Thrones” – have several incestuous relationships and rape scenes, to which barely anyone batted an eye at.
“They’re fine with incest, but this is where they draw the line?” a user wrote online.
