Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s steamy scene on House of the Dragon has fans buzzing

We’d like to claim we didn’t anticipate House of the Dragon’s latest surprising romantic pairing, but honestly, we kind of did.

For weeks, we've seen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) increasingly isolated on Dragonstone. Her husband, Daemon (Matt Smith), has abandoned her. Her Small Council constantly undermines her with sexist comments. 

Her eldest son and heir Jace (Harry Collett) negotiates with the Freys behind her back, and her most devoted ally, Rhaenys (Eve Best), has died fighting for her cause. In HBO’s House of the Dragon Season 2, the only character who has grown closer to Rhaenyra is the White Worm, Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno).

Though Mysaria was introduced as Daemon's lover in House of the Dragon Season 1, she has largely operated independently throughout the series. However, in Season 2, Rhaenyra's respect and kindness towards Mysaria lead her to eagerly support the future queen. 

Mysaria provides counsel to Rhaenyra when no one else will and devises strategies to enhance her standing with the common people. Now, it appears that Mysaria aims to become even more closely involved with Rhaenyra…

In one of the concluding scenes of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6, Rhaenyra and Mysaria share an intimate embrace and begin to kiss. While this romantic twist isn't found in George R.R. Martin’s books, it feels completely plausible given the events of this season.

Rhaenyra appears to be the only person Mysaria has ever fully trusted, and at this moment, Mysaria is the only one Rhaenyra can rely on. Combine this deep emotional connection with the intense pressures of war (plus the fact that both Rhaenyra and Mysaria are stunning), and it's easy to see how a romance could develop.

The intense makeout scene takes place during a moment of deep emotional vulnerability for both women. Rhaenyra confesses that she has always felt that she and Daemon were two halves of a whole. She wished to be like Daemon—feared, powerful, and masculine—while Daemon envied what Rhaenyra had, including Viserys's love and respect.

Mysaria reveals that her own father abused her as a child. When she got pregnant, he forcibly removed the baby, leaving her unable to have children and nearly killing her by choking her. Despite this, she survived and had not trusted anyone until she met Rhaenyra.

In the episode, Rhaenyra continuously voices her frustration with the daily misogyny she endures. Although the show has consistently explored the challenges women face in a patriarchal society, Rhaenyra's dissatisfaction with her gender is particularly evident. 

She yearns to be connected with symbols of male power, such as the sword and shield. It’s also notable that Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra, identifies as nonbinary, and there have been suggestions that younger actors Milly Alcock and Emily Carey infused their portrayals of young Rhaenyra and Alicent with hints of repressed queer affection.