House of the Dragon has fans switching off moments into first episode over dog kick
Fans were expecting Blood and Cheese to wreak bloody chaos in the second season of House of the Dragon but threatened to switch off within minutes after a dog was kicked and yelped in pain.
With Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) determined to secure her reign and avenge the death of her son Lucerys, the duo of assassins have been hired by her husband (as well as uncle) Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) to track down Aemond Targaryen in the Red Keep.
Aemond, who is the mild-tempered but ruthless brother of King Aegon II, murdered young Lucerys in the first season of the hit HBO show when his dragon Vhagar, who has a bloody reputation throughout Westeros, bit and killed the teen's own ride, Arrax, during a chase.
Lucerys' body was never found but the announcement of his supposed death was enough for Queen Rhaenyra to seethe, leading her to give up her previous peaceful methods to make way for merciless violence.
Blood and Cheese were finally introduced to viewers as they set out on their mission to kill Aegon's toddler son Jaehaerys but viewers were more outraged by the duo kicking their rat-catching dog
While the assassins are known in the Game of Thrones fandom for their thirst for blood, the pair caused a ruckus online when viewers tuned in to Sky Atlantic for the launch of the second season of House of The Dragon this Monday, June 17.
A multitude of viewers took to X when Blood and Cheese went too far during their hunt for Aemond as a dog was seen being kicked by Cheese (Mark Stobbart) before yelping in pain. Cheese is the dog's owner and the four-legged companion is the third forgotten member of the rat-catcher's duo with Blood (Sam C. Wilson).
Plenty of loved characters have suffered a brutal death in George R. R. Martin's extensive body of work, from favourite Eddard Stark to "Mhysa" herself, Daenerys Targaryen but the dog's ordeal proved too much as many fans threatened to switch off entirely.
"I feel like this episode really would’ve felt fine and complete without that rat catcher kicking the dog", one of them penned while another agreed: "And the purpose of kicking the dog was what exactly? This show remains mid at best."
A third viewer chimed in, branding it "the worst moment": "Worst moment of this episode was watching this poor dog get kicked." One fan fumed: "A lot of bad things happen on this show but they have crossed the line having that man kick his dog."
Things only got worse as viewers couldn't forget the pooch amid the murder of toddler Jaehaerys, the son of King Aegon II and his sister-wife Helaena, another act of revenge for Lucerys' death ordered by Prince Daemon Targaryen.
"I got p***** more at seeing the dog getting kicked than hearing a baby getting murdered", a viewer wrote while another added: "Why am I more upset about the dog getting kicked than Aegon’s heir."
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