Warning: spoilers ahead House of the Dragon episode 10, the finale, and a content warning about the loss of a child.
House of the Dragon Season 1 has finally come to an end, with there is a lot of blood and tragedy in the finale of episode 10.
In the last episode that aired after season 2 Game of Thrones prequel series already confirmed – Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) finds out that not only her father died, but also her half-brother Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Kearney) was crowned as the new king, despite previously being called the heir to the Iron Throne.
Rhaenyra goes into premature labor before giving birth to a stillborn baby in a scene described as “traumatic” – one of several featured in the show.
In the very first episode of the fantasy drama, Rhaenyra’s mother, Queen Emma (Sian Brooke), was they forced a caesarean section against her wishescausing her to bleed to death in a horrific turn of events.
After a mid-series time jump, Rhaenyra was shown giving birth to her third child, while Laena Velarion (Nanna Blondell), who was married to Damon Targaryen (Matt Smith), chose to burn to death rather than die in childbirth when the master could not give birth to a child.
After witnessing several gory birth scenes throughout the season, viewers were left “traumatized” by the latest, in which Rhaenyra herself gave birth to her stillborn child before cradling the baby’s body in her arms.
She later wraps the baby herself before the body is cremated as part of Targaryen burial tradition.
Sky Atlantic carried a warning at the start of the episode which read: “The following program contains profanity and scenes which may upset some viewers”.
However, several people cited the fact that the episode did not include a warning specifically for the gruesome birth scene, and criticized the need for the moment to be so graphic on screen.
“And I thought Renira’s first birth scene was gross, it was on a whole other level,” one person tweeted.
“One thing this show will always do is give you an gratuitously naturalistic birth scene,” said someone else, while another wrote: “Werrri, more than all these traumatic birth scenes.”
One viewer wrote that after the “disturbing” birth scenes that have been shown on the show, this latest one was “too much” for them.
“This birth scene needed a ‘viewer advisory’/trigger warning,” another stated, while someone else remarked: “This birth scene should NOT have been this intense. It was unnecessary. There should be a specific launch warning.”
In a behind-the-scenes video, Emma explained how “different” the birth scene in episode 10 was from the one in episode six, saying there was a “deep sense of injustice” due to Rhaenyra going into labor after discovering the betrayal that took place on The Iron Throne in King’s Landing.
“What she’s always fought so hard to be a mother, a holy mother, is exactly where she’s at that point where the most important conversations in her life are happening,” the actor said.
Episode director Greg Jaitanes added, “She’s at war with herself, with her own body. There’s a lot of emotional complexity to this war that starts without her, and it’s tearing her apart, literally tearing her apart.’
House of the Dragon is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.
Pregnancy loss helpline
For emotional support, you can contact the Miscarriage Association’s Miscarriage Helpline on 01924 200799 or by email info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk.
Have a story?
If you have a celebrity story, video or photo, get in touch Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us at celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling us on 020 3615 2145 or visiting our Send things page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: What dragon does Daemon sing to in the finale of episode 10 of “House of the Dragon”?
Follow through Subway on Snapchat
You can follow our new The Pop Cultur’d Snapchat Showa place for everything related to pop culture.
Stay up to date with the latest Showbiz exclusives by subscribing Metro Showbiz on Snapchat.
And football fans can engage in all transfer gossip and more Metro Football on Snapchat.
