The Steamiest Sex Scenes in 'House of the Dragon'
House of the Dragon Sex Scenes
The Game of Thrones franchise is known for complex political maneuvering, medieval-style swordplay, and, of course, dragons, but it’s also famous for its numerous sex scenes.
While the prequel series House of the Dragon isn’t quite as steamy as its predecessor, give it time. There’s only been one season so far, and two of the main characters were just teens for many of those episodes. Still, the show has already earned praise for the way the writers and directors have made the sex scenes seem more intentional this time around. (The early seasons of Game of Thrones were so packed with often-pointless nudity that a critic coined the term “sexposition” to describe some of the series’ most infamous scenes.)
“I’ve seen how sex scenes would be shot on Game of Thrones and I knew I didn’t want to do that,” Claire Kilner, who directed Episodes 4, 5 and 9 of House of the Dragon, told Variety in 2022. “The first thing I said to [Season 1 co-showrunner] Miguel [Sapochnik] when I got the brothel scene was, ‘This reminds me of an experience I had when I was about 22 and working as a stage manager in theater and another stage manager—he was gay—took me to a dance club in Berlin. Basically people were having sex left, right, and center. And I never forgot that. I remembered the air was thick with sex. [Co-showrunner] Ryan [Condal] and Miguel really let me run with that. So I was just doing my job, but when I received all of these comments from women and men—but to be honest, mainly women—about how this thing had landed for them, it just made me so happy.”
Emily Carey, who played young Alicent Hightower in the early episodes of the show, has also praised the show’s intimacy coordinator for helping the cast feel comfortable during their intimate scenes.
"Having that outlet of the intimacy coordinator, to be able to talk everything through and not be shunned, or not feel awkward, or not feel like, 'Oh, this isn't your job. I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable but can I ask you … ,'” Carey told Newsweek in 2022. “It was never any of that, it was just that open dialogue. In the rehearsal room she was a massive help and on set she was a massive help. Yeah, it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.”
Related: Fire Will Reign Again! All About 'House of the Dragon' Season 2
Keep reading for a look back at the steamiest scenes in House of the Dragon Season 1.
Steamiest scenes in House of the Dragon
Mysaria and Daemon’s Encounter (Season 1, Episode 1)
The first sex scene in House of the Dragon transpires between Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), a sex worker who becomes his mistress. Daemon initially has trouble getting in the mood, even after Mysaria offers him his choice of women, but she soon figures out what he really needs to hear: that he’s an important and powerful player in Westeros. Her smooth bit of ego-stroking does wonders to calm Daemon and teases the deep connection these two come to share.
Related: How to Read Every 'Game of Thrones' Book (Including the Prequels) in Order
The Brothel Scene (Season 1, Episode 4)
This sequence from “King of the Narrow Sea” is already one of the most famous scenes in House of the Dragon. It involves a young Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) and her uncle Daemon, who’s taken her to a brothel. Yes, they’re related, which on any other show would make this gross, but this is Westeros and they’re Targaryens.
If you can get past the shared DNA of it all, then this is one of the hottest scenes across both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. Daemon takes Rhaenyra to the brothel to show her that marriage has certain benefits, and he can’t keep his hands off her as other patrons carry on in the background. They don’t go all the way, but it’s clear they want to—which brings us to the next scene on the list.
Related: Dragons and Dollars! George R. R. Martin's Net Worth In 2024 From Game of Thrones and More
Rhaenyra and Criston’s Tryst (Season 1, Episode 4)
After leaving the brothel extremely sexually frustrated, Rhaenyra returns to the Red Keep, where her friend Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is waiting to take the edge off. Their hookup—which involves flirtatious giggling and sweet nothings—is surprisingly romantic compared to the seediness of the brothel encounters, which are largely utilitarian. Alas, their love story doesn’t last, and by the end of Season 1, Criston is working for Alicent.
Related: Love Period Dramas, Fantasy and Dysfunctional Families? Watch These 30 Shows Like 'Game of Thrones'
Laenor and Joffrey’s Scenic Hookup (Season 1, Episode 5)
Joffrey Lonmouth (Solly McLeod) is one half of another doomed romance, this time with Laenor Velaryon (Theo Nate). Laenor is betrothed to Rhaenyra, but he’s not interested in her—or any other women. He only has eyes for Joffrey, with whom he shares a passionate make-out session on the dunes of Driftmark. Rhaenyra isn’t even mad about it, because she too plans to engage in extramarital love affairs during their marriage. Unfortunately, Laenor and Joffrey’s love story comes to an end when Ser Criston beats him to death at Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding feast.
Rhaenyra and Daemon’s Night on the Beach (Season 1, Episode 7)
Once again, Rhaenyra and Daemon share one of the hottest sex scenes on the show. They’re still related, but now Rhaenyra is an adult (played by Emma D’Arcy). Daemon has recently lost his wife, Laena (Nanna Blondell), and Rhaenyra will soon “lose” her husband, Laenor (John Macmillan). They consummate their romance with a session of tender lovemaking on the beach before tying the knot in secret later in the episode.
