The Season 3 premiere of HBO’s "House of the Dragon," titled “Salt and Seas, Fire and Blood,” features a controversial and unsettling moment involving characters Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his mother Alicent (Olivia Cooke). In a scene that has drawn significant attention, Aemond kisses Alicent on the lips, a move that shocks both the character and viewers. The kiss occurs as Alicent, hoping to convince her son to abandon King’s Landing, attempts to appeal to him with an expression of maternal affection amid escalating political tension.
The episode follows the fallout from the Season 2 finale, where Alicent secretly negotiated with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) to end the ongoing civil war by surrendering King’s Landing. Under the terms of the secret deal, Alicent would turn over her eldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to Rhaenyra, enabling Alicent, her daughter Helaena (Phia Saban), and granddaughter Jaehaera to leave the city safely. Upon her return, Alicent discovers that Aegon has fled, leaving the more defiant Aemond in control.
Faced with Aemond’s refusal to relinquish the city, Alicent uses uncharacteristic methods, including a kiss meant to soften him, only for Aemond to respond by kissing her back in a romantic manner. This exchange prompts Aemond to agree to leave King’s Landing for Harrenhal, thereby leaving the city vulnerable but putting Alicent in a state of shock.
Ewan Mitchell, who portrays Aemond, acknowledged that his character “definitely has mommy issues,” a perspective he had previously denied regarding Aemond’s past relationships. He noted the complexity behind Aemond’s behavior, suggesting the character’s need to assert dominance within the faction known as Team Green and his psychological reliance on maternal figures. Mitchell added, somewhat ruefully, that it is “not a good look,” but that he understands where Aemond is coming from emotionally.
Olivia Cooke described the kiss as a moment of “pure shock and horror” for Alicent, who is portrayed as confused about the nature of her relationship with Aemond. Cooke suggested that Alicent had not fully comprehended any Oedipal dynamics at play and emphasized that Alicent does not reciprocate the romantic undertones. Rather, Alicent’s actions stem from a survival instinct in a perilous situation, as Aemond occupies the Iron Throne and is depicted as unstable and violent. Cooke characterized the moment as one of the most dangerous Alicent has faced, marked by a disturbing blend of familial and intimate conflict.
Additionally, the episode reveals that for the first time since childhood, Aemond feels fear—a vulnerability his sister Helaena points out. Alicent tries to use this to connect with him, but Aemond dismisses her concerns. Mitchell explained that beneath his aggressive exterior, Aemond is indeed scared and desperate, feeling threatened by Rhaenyra and her dragonriders and aware that brute force alone may not secure his position.
The disturbing kiss has prompted discussion among the cast and fans alike regarding Aemond’s psychological state and his fraught relationship with Alicent as they navigate the brutal politics of Westeros.