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Jason Bateman has had prominent TV roles at various points in his life, whether it’s childhood parts on shows like Silver Spoons and The Hogan Family, playing Michael Bluth on the beloved comedy series Arrested Development, or starring in the recently concluded drama Ozark. Whatever endeavor you first knew Bateman from, the fact is that he’s been in show business for a long time.

The actor was a guest on Friday’s (September 30) episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where the host decided to have some fun with Bateman’s longevity: Kimmel rattled off a list of random names of celebrities, mostly from the ’80s, to see how many of them Bateman knew, which yielded an interesting Michael Jackson story.

Towards the end of the segment, Kimmel named Jackson and Bateman said, “Ricky Schroder and I almost ran over Michael Jackson with our bicycles,” which got a desk-pounding laugh from Kimmel. Bateman continued, “This was while we were doing Silver Spoons in Universal and we’d need to have our bikes because kids gotta play. And Michael was there to see him.”

At that point, Bateman trailed off and gave an uneasy gesture to the audience, presumably a nod to the child sexual abuse allegations made against the singer. Bateman continued, “I don’t… listen, hey! He was a fan of the show and a fan of the Ricker! He was coming onto the stage while we were zooming off and almost took him down.”

Check out the full interview above.

If Kim Kardashian ever wants to make a sequel to her Kim Kardashian: Hollywood mobile game, Kim Kardashian: Crypto Criminal has a nice ring to it. The model and law school grad has been fined $1.26 million by the SEC for promoting a cryptocurrency asset without disclosing that she had been paid for the promotion. “Kardashian agreed to settle the charges, pay $1.26 million in penalties, disgorgement, and interest, and cooperate with the Commission’s ongoing investigation,” the SEC wrote in a statement.

Kardashian failed to disclose that she was paid $250,000 to publish a post on her Instagram account about EMAX tokens, the crypto asset security being offered by EthereumMax. Kardashian’s post linked to the EthereumMax website, which provided instructions for potential investors to purchase EMAX tokens.

I don’t know what the SEC’s problem is. Everything about this looks super legit:

“This case is a reminder that, when celebrities or influencers endorse investment opportunities, including crypto asset securities, it doesn’t mean that those investment products are right for all investors,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “We encourage investors to consider an investment’s potential risks and opportunities in light of their own financial goals.” He added, “Ms. Kardashian’s case also serves as a reminder to celebrities and others that the law requires them to disclose to the public when and how much they are paid to promote investing in securities.”

Kardashian will now go back to making money the ol’ fashioned way: selling crotchless catsuits.

(Via Variety)

Spoilers for House of the Dragon will be found below.

This week’s House of the Dragon episode gave fans a return of the old Prince Daemon, who surprise-married Princess Rhaenyra in a Valyrian wedding. Yep, they’re proudly following in their most incestuous family tradition, and more than that, they’ve combined forces in light of the brewing Civil War. That would be the Targaryen side of the fam who isn’t the product of King Viserys I’s marriage to Alicent Hightower, who wore green as a declaration of war in the most recent bloodbath of a wedding for this franchise.

And as HBO showed in the Episode 8 preview, war is definitely on the horizon. Who made the biggest power move of the episode, though? That would be young Aemond Targaryen (played by Leo Ashton), who we first got to know while his siblings bullied him for his dragon-less status while gifting him a pig. Well, Aemond got a dragon in Episode 7, and as our own Jessica Toomer concluded in her weekly recap, this positions him as a “Contender.” Following Laena Valarian’s death, Aemond decided to step up and claim her dragon, Vhagar.

Now, there’s some contention out there about whether Aemond “stole” this dragon, but it truly seems like he tamed her with some “dohaeris” (instructing her to serve) before taking his very first ride. Yes, he then got the holy hell beaten out of him and Aemond lost an eye as a result, but he was fine with this result because, hey, he has a dragon. Even more than that, Vhagar is now part of Team Hightower. Given that she’s the biggest dragon in Westeros, that’s quite an asset. Also, one has to admit that Aemond looked pretty darn cool on his ride, even if not everyone is a fan of the “rugrat.”

Here’s an intriguing theory: “maybe vhagar stole aemond did you ever think abt that.”

HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ airs on Sunday nights at 9:00pm EST.

Last week on the Billboard 200 chart belonged to Blackpink, whose new album Born Pink debuted at No. 1, making it the first LP by a K-pop female act to ever do so. They knocked Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti from the top spot, but now the album has stormed back: On the new Billboard 200 dated October 8, Un Verano Sin Ti returns to the top spot for a 12th total week.

This was thanks to 87,000 equivalent album units earned (down six percent from the previous week), with streaming equivalent album units making up 85,000 of the total, album sales contributing 2,000, and track equivalent albums adding another 1,000. Un Verano Sin Ti is the longest-charting No. 1 album since Drake’s Views had 13 non-consecutive weeks back in 2016.

As for the all-time ranks, Un Verano Sin Ti still has a long way to go to reach the top: The West Side Story soundtrack spent a whopping 54 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 back in 1962 and 1963. In second is Michael Jackson’s Thriller, which is the longest-running No. 1 for a solo artist, which had 37 weeks on top.

Elsewhere on this week’s Billboard 200, 5 Seconds Of Summer’s 5SOS5 debuts at No. 2, Born Pink slides down to No. 4, and Alice In Chains’ 1992 album Dirt re-enters the chart at No. 9 after a 30th anniversary reissue.

Britney Spears has been free of her conservatorship for months now, but the situation is still at the forefront of her mind. She regularly shares Instagram posts about how it impacted her and she did so again this weekend.

In a September 30 post, Britney wrote in part, “The real problem to me is that my family to this day honestly have no [conscience] whatsoever and really believe in their minds they have done nothing wrong at all !!!! They could at least take responsibility for their actions and actually own up to the fact they hurt me !!!! For me just a genuine apology would help give me closure but it honestly blows my mind every day of my life even after what is known what they did to me, they still act as if that’s ok !!!! Their reaction it shows that I don’t have a family that values me or respects me …. AT ALL !!! That’s the hard part for me and as much as I loved them, it’s something that I’ll probably ever won’t be able to get over.”

Well, Britney got an apology from one family member: her mother, Lynne Spears. In a comment on the post shared on October 1, Lynne wrote, “I am soooo sorry for your pain! I have been sorry for years! I love you so much and miss you! Please unblock me so I can speak to you in person! Britney, deep down you know how much I love and miss you! I apologize for anything and everything that’s hurt you!”

Find Britney’s post below.

“I can understand that my posts complaining about my past may seem consistent !!!! It must seem like I have an extremely hard time letting it all go … but for me the real problem to me is that my family to this day honestly have no conscious whatsoever and really believe in their minds they have done nothing wrong at all !!!! They could at least take responsibility for their actions and actually own up to the fact they hurt me !!!! For me just a genuine apology would help give me closure but it honestly blows my mind every day of my life even after what is known what they did to me, they still act as if that’s ok !!!! Their reaction it shows that I don’t have a family that values me or respects me …. AT ALL !!! That’s the hard part for me and as much as I loved them, it’s something that I’ll probably ever won’t be able to get over. When I post in those moments, I just want to speak from my heart cause it’s extremely hard for me and then I look back and I see how many people say get over it … I’m working on becoming stronger !!! Psss I’ve written 3 different versions of my book and had LOTS of therapy through the process … was it worth it ???? Not so sure … Here’s to a new day !!!”

Multiple times per week, our TV and film experts will list the most important ten streaming selections for you to pop into your queues. We’re not strictly operating upon reviews or accrued streaming clicks (although yes, we’ve scoured the streaming site charts) but, instead, upon those selections that are really worth noticing amid the churning sea of content. There’s a lot out there, after all, and your time is valuable.

TIE: 10. The Crown (Netflix series)

The royal soap opera shall soon gear up to release Season 5, and the Netflix crown jewel experienced a sudden burst of interim popularity following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Meanwhile, the show’s continuing to not exactly win over the British Royal Family, given how it sh*ts all over the fairy tale, especially where Princess Diana’s fate is concerned. The divorce of Charles and Di and her subsequent death will soon be handled onscreen, and that’s making King Charles very nervous, but before that happens, you can go back and watch Matt Smith as a different type of prince than we see during his current courtly jaunts on HBO’s House of the Dragon.

TIE: 10. The Greatest Beer Run Ever (Apple TV+ movie)

Zac Efron (as John ‘Chickie’ Donohue) takes on a very noble quest: to haul some American beer to his buddies serving in Vietnam. As one can imagine, this journey isn’t a straightforward one. As well, there’s a rude awakening for Chickie while mulling over all the realities of the war while he’s only trying to come of age and have some fun with his bros. This isn’t the loftiest movie, of course, but who needs that in October? Also, you’ll get to see some Russell Crowe and Bill Murray, so get on it.

9. Confess, Fletch (Paramount movie on Amazon and PVOD outlets)

Jon Hamm’s hidden comedy chops are more understated than those forthright methods of Chevy Chase, but that’s part of the beauty of this reboot. Hamm believed in the film to such a degree that he gave up a majority of his salary to complete the project. Hamm charms and disarms, all while dodging a wrongful murder accusation, and it’s a delight to watch. Director Greg Mattola (of Superbad and Adventureland) has also voiced his frustrations at the lack of a publicity machine here, which is a travesty.

8. Cobra Kai (Netflix series)

This show harnesses nostalgia in a way that few could have accurately predicted five seasons ago, and thank god that Ralph Macchio and William Zabka were all in (and remain that way) for a return. This series still somehow has the “Eye of the Tiger” and has put karate supervillain Terry Silver to semi-rest, but it’s all good. Catch up on this season with several heaping helpings of Chozen and try to figure out how the writers and showrunners nailed all the quadrants while we await an announcement for more.

7. Andor (Star Wars series streaming on Disney+)

This one’s a slow burn in the Star Wars universe, given that the show doesn’t rush to begin what will eventually be a 24-episode season. That’s a rarity in the streaming realm, but that means that there’s plenty of Diego Luna while he returns as Cassian Andor. This selection’s a lot more grounded and grown-up than most of this franchise’s offerings, particularly if we’re talking about Disney+ shows, but the more traditional storytelling seems almost novel on TV today. Eventually, fans will get to see Andor emerge as a rebel hero in what’s essentially a rare character study in a galaxy far, far away.

6. Blonde (Netflix movie)

Both this film (directed by Andrew Dominik) and the leading lady, Ana de Armas, are receiving mixed reviews, and this film’s as controversial as one would expect, but it’s still an engrossing study to behold. De Armas will likely receive some nominations, after all, and the movie doesn’t take a standard approach to giving us a peek into Marilyn Monroe’s life. Rather, this project adapts of Joyce Carol Oates’ expansive novel about a somewhat fictionalized version of Marilyn Monroe. As Dominik previously promised, the film also possesses something “to offend everyone.”

5. Interview With The Vampire (AMC series streaming on AMC+)

Yes, it’s another remake (of the blockbuster 1990s movie starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Kirsten Dunst), but this one arrives with extra fun, more layers, and un-closeted sexual tension. Jacob Anderson of Game of Thrones steps up as Louis, and Sam Reid picks up the Lestat de Lioncourt role with results that are stunning to behold. Anne Rice’s most popular gothic novel gets a more complex treatment than the movie, but it’s in the spirit that the story deserves. Not only are there extra shades of historical relevance here, but Bailey Bass gives us a Claudia that’ll break down vampire walls.

4. The Patient (FX series streaming on Hulu)

Following the season finale, this truly scary series brings all the intensity that one would expect from The Americans producers. In addition, Domhnall Gleason switches things up to portray a serial killer named Sam who terrorizes his therapist, Alan (portrayed by Steve Carell). Patient takes doctor prisoner, and repressed memories rear their heads. This show didn’t burst out of the gates with a large audience, but word of mouth has encouraged the audience to build, right as the show approached a fever pitch. Fortunately, you can now binge this all in one go because it’s an on-the-screen version of a page turner.

3. Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (Amazon Prime series)

Epic fantasy fans really lucked out this fall, and although there’s not as much weekly talk about this series as the Game of Thrones franchise continues to yield, every week continues to bring in the J.R.R. Tolkien fans. This series goes back in time to give us the fabled Second Age and a version of Middle-earth than has ever been captured on the screen. The project’s also more expensive than most shows out there and makes use of every dime. It’s a different kind of world building than fans saw in the Peter Jackson movies, but sorry, Neil Gaiman didn’t write this one.

2. Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix series)

This Evan Peters-starring series generated a lot of controversy, which led to Netflix removing the LGBTQ tag from sight, and no wonder. The families of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims aren’t happy either. Still, people remain fascinated by this Ryan Murphy limited series, perhaps because Halloween is on the way, and the true-crime craze cannot be denied? There’s no way to know for sure, but Joe Berlinger has a docuseries approach (Conversations With A Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) on the way too, so get ready for more cannibal grossness.

1. House of the Dragon (HBO series on HBO Max)

Last week’s episode delivered questions about Targaryen fire immunity and also gave us the worst character of the series thus far. It’s also worth taking stock of the bevy of Rhaenyra sidepieces while we all wonder exactly how Paddy Considine’s King Viserys I is still alive. Daemon continues to deliver the saltiest TV prince in recent memory, and we’re also continuing to see new dragons on a regular basis. No epic fantasy fan can complain about that.

Warning: Spoilers for House Of the Dragon Episode 7 “Driftmark” below.

In episode seven of House of The Dragon, a twist-filled cliffhanger marks the show’s biggest departure from George R.R. Martin’s writings so far.

“Driftmark” see House Targaryen reuniting in honor of Laena Velaryon’s memory. Her funeral is held at her House seat, Driftmark, and it marks the return of Daemon and his twin daughters who have spent the past decade in Pentos. Tensions are high and the Velaryons are grieving, none more so than Laenor, Laena’s younger brother, who spends most of the episode drunk-crying into the sea. As the husband to the heir to the Iron Throne, Laenor has a duty to perform, one he often shirks in favor of courting squire boys and bar hopping – but his behavior in episode seven proves he’s a liability that Rhaenyra Targaryen (and her uncle) just can’t afford.

What Happened On The Show

After a bloody confrontation with Alicent Hightower, Rhaenyra realizes that she won’t inherit her father’s crown without a bit of bloodshed and, naturally, she turns to her uncle to name which of her enemies (and allies) need to have theirs spilled first. The two rekindle their romantic relationship and quickly plot the best way for Rhaenyra to ensure her birthright. With her son’s parentage in question and Laenor’s preference for men and drink doing nothing to quell the rumors hounding her, Rhaenyra realizes that, as much as she genuinely cares for her husband, he’s a roadblock on her way to the Iron Throne. By marrying Daemon instead, she can shore up her claim and shut down her naysayers as two Targaryens in power are much harder to argue against than just one.

The pair casually plan Laenor’s death in a move that fills ripped from Martin’s book, Fire & Blood, off which House of The Dragon is based but, at the last moment, the narrative shifts. Daemon approaches Laenor’s lover, Qarl, offering him gold in exchange for a “quick death” and promising that life across the Narrow Sea will be kind to those who can afford anonymity. So, it seems, Daemon and Rhaenyra are arranging for Qarl to kill Laenor and then flee to Essos and beyond, freeing Rhaenyra to marry her uncle and finally make a play for the throne. Qarl starts a fight with Laenor, making sure to have at least one witness present before servants are called to intervene. We never see Laenor die, but we do see his parents, Rhaenys and Corlys, mourn his burnt body while Qarl jumps into a rowboat, headed for a ship just offshore, and Daemon can be heard telling Rhaenyra that her enemies must fear her and what she’s capable of.

The twist comes when Qarl, who seems to be waiting for someone, begins rowing the boat as a hooded figure jumps in. It’s Laenor, wearing commoner’s clothes and sporting a shaved head. It seems the two are heading across the Narrow Sea together, faking Laenor’s death so Rhaenyra can take the Iron Throne and the Velaryon heir can finally live life on his terms.

All in all, it’s a surprisingly happy ending, one Game of Thrones would never have given a character like Laenor – a gay man of color with a claim to the crown. But it’s even more shocking because it marks a huge narrative shift from the show’s source material.

What Happened In The Book

In Martin’s Fire & Blood, Laenor Velaryon dies shortly after his sister Laena. Her death comes after a difficult birth; his happens at a fair in Spicetown. As in episode seven, Ser Qarl Correy is responsible for his death, but in the book, the two get into a violent argument in front of merchants and townspeople – enough witnesses to ensure Laenor actually dies and doesn’t just fake his demise. Some say the quarrel was because Laenor began favoring a younger knight over Ser Qarl but others, namely the unreliable narrator called Mushroom, claimed that Daemon Targaryen was behind the attack.

According to Mushroom’s account, Daemon paid Ser Qarl to kill his lover and escape across the Narrow Sea – though he eventually murdered Qarl before that could happen in order to tie up any loose ends. Daemon’s motivation for the assassination plot was similar to his plan on the show – he was now a widower and he wanted Rhaenyra for himself. He likely also wanted the Iron Throne and knew that by marrying his niece, he could get it. Rhaenyra had no part in the murder of her husband in the book, though she does quickly marry her uncle without her father’s permission once he’s dead.

Why It Matters

There are a few reasons why the change to Laenor’s fate feels important. First, as an openly gay man of color in a fantasy world that hasn’t really championed diversity before House Of The Dragon came along, to see Laenor get a happier ending than a gruesome death at the hands of his boyfriend feels surprisingly unproblematic. It shows that the writers of HOTD are at least trying to treat these characters with care and thoughtful storytelling instead of using them as plot devices, torturing and killing them in the name of shock value and the ratings that follow. Whether Laenor will pop up again once the Dance of Dragons truly begins remains to be seen, but even if he just passes the rest of his days in peace in Essos (or wherever the couple flees to) at least he’s steering the course of his own destiny for once.

His ”death” also changes the characterization of both Rhaenyra and Daemon, not to mention the nature of their relationship moving forward. In the book, Daemon appears to be the more manipulative of the pair, orchestrating his relationship with Rhaenyra and prioritizing his position of power over any romance that might exist between them. Rhaenyra is powerful and determined in her own right, but her uncle seems to always be scheming his way to the Iron Throne – and hoping to cut down a few Hightowers in the process. But the show is setting up a different dynamic. With Rhaenyra proposing the plot to “kill” Laenor and Daemon arranging how it can be done, the pair look to be on much more even ground. Both have ambitions, but Rhaenyra is finally willing to do what must be done to make sure hers come to fruition. And, by having Daemon help Laenor disappear rather than paying to have him killed, the show transforms a morally-grey character who, let’s be honest, is a bit more villainous in the books, into a sympathetic anti-hero.

Well played, HOTD. Well played.

The Phoenix Suns‘ first game since their stunning Game 7 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals took place on Sunday night. The team played host to the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s top professional league, the National Basketball League, as they kicked off their preseason slate ahead of the 2022-23 season.

Unfortunately for Phoenix, they learned the hard way that the 36ers can play. Adelaide walked into Footprint Center and took it to the Suns, knocking down shot after shot from behind the three-point line en route to a 134-124 victory. While all five members of Phoenix’s starting lineup — Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Chris Paul — only put in 22 minutes worth of work, the 36ers still put on a show, connecting on 24 of their 43 attempts from behind the three-point line.

A pair of Americans playing in Australia, Robert Franks and Craig Randall, were especially impressive on the night. The former had 32 points and seven rebounds, while the latter had a game-high 35 points. Both combined to go a scorching hot 15-for-27 from three.

Kevin Pelton of ESPN noted that this was the first time that an NBA team lost a preseason game to a non-NBA team since 2015.

The silver lining for the Suns is that this is their first basketball game after almost five months off, and their starters did not exactly shoulder a gigantic workload. Still, for a team that left such a bad taste in everyone’s mouths with how their season came to an end last year, it’s hard to imagine a worse way for their 2022-23 campaign to begin.

Phoenix’s next preseason game will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

We’re more than halfway through the first season of House of The Dragon and in episode seven’s ‘Driftmark’ the cracks in House Targaryen are blown wide open thanks to a drama-filled funeral, a stolen dragon, and a shocking story twist book readers won’t see coming.

Daemon Targaryen joins the rest of his family at the familial seat of his late wife and he wastes no time in creating chaos. Though, to be fair, he didn’t have to try too hard seeing as how Otto Hightower is back as the king’s Hand and Alicent Hightower is slowly losing her mind with jealousy.

Here’s where everyone sits in the line of succession after another week of bloody drama.

The Pretenders

Laenor Velaryon

Everyone grieves in their own way – just look at Daemon, chuckling like Pennywise the Clown as his wife’s body gets tossed into the deep end – but stumbling his way through his sister’s memorial service and weeping on the beach in full view of his entire court is just not King Consort behavior. Then again, Laenor has never been adept at playing this game for the Iron Throne and after the loss of Laena, he’s lost even the will to do so. We wish things had gone differently for both him and Rhaenyra but, out of everyone on this show, he might be the only character to actually get a happy ending. Or, at the very least, a shot at one. Rowing across the Narrow Sea with his boyfriend in tow and a shaved mop means that Laenor doesn’t finally have to pretend to be anything but himself. Excuse us while we go experience feelings in the corner.

Alicent Hightower

Alicent Hightower is much surer of herself and her schemes back home in Kings Landing, At Driftmark, she feels, well, adrift: clinging to Ser Criston Cole’s presence like he’s some kind of security blanket, avoiding the stares of her new partner in crime, Larys, and trying her best to make Rhaenyra uncomfortable at Laena’s viewing. Her meltdown following the loss of Aemond’s eye is proof that here, where her titles and power mean a bit less than they do at the Red Keep, she’s something of a desperate, cornered animal, clawing at the chance to exact revenge against Rhaenyra for years’ worth of perceived slights at the expense of a mere child. And, when she can’t order her armored manservant to do it, she decides to take the Catspaw dagger and carve out Lucerys’ eye herself as justice for Aemond’s disfigurement. (Someone, please medicate this woman.) This momentary loss of control reveals Alicent for who she truly is – a bitter, envious, deeply unhappy woman who would rather blame her friend for the cage she’s been placed in rather than the person who’s really responsible for her imprisonment, her father. But go on girl, keep acting like a lunatic in public. It only helps to strengthen your frenemy’s claim to the Iron Throne.

Aegon II Targaryen

This guy, Alicent?! This is the boy you’ve picked to be the future king? This gangly drunken lecher with matted hair and uncontrollable hormones who jerks off in tower windows and blacks out at funeral services? Technically, Aegon didn’t do anything really wrong this episode, but he sure didn’t do anything right, either — hence his place in the line of succession this week.

King Viserys Targaryen

How Viserys managed to rule a kingdom for this many years when he can’t even control the infighting amongst his own family members is truly a mystery but it’s clear that limbs aren’t the only thing this man has lost in the last decade. His daughter, his brother, his wife, and his own kings guard openly disrespect him and his wishes on the daily and, save for a brief outburst after Alicent wielded a knife against his heir (his HEIR, y’all) the man is content to simply sit under his blankets, drink his grape juice, and take day naps. What’s the Westerosi equivalent of a home for a retirement home because this guy needs to go there, like now?

Corlys Velaryon

It’s hard not to sympathize with Corlys in this episode. He loses his daughter and then his son in quick succession and he must play host to the very people he views as responsible for these deaths. He’s loving and attentive to Rhaenyra’s sons, even though it’s obvious they aren’t of his blood, and he does his best to mend fences with House Targaryen — even going so far as to defend Daemon to his wife — in order to keep the peace. But he treats his son terribly and he tries to gaslight his grieving wife into believing his pursuit of power is fueled by his desire to see justice for the insult dealt to her decades ago instead of his own ambition. For someone so obsessed with his legacy, he’s doing a piss poor job of taking care of the people in his life that will one day preserve it.

The Contenders

Rhaenyra Targaryen

For a Targaryen, Rhaenyra hasn’t shown much fire in that last couple of episodes. It’s clear that the rumors about her sons’ parentage have threatened her already tenuous claim to the throne and that, combined with Alicent’s obsessive plotting of her own downfall, have left the princess unsure of herself and at a loss as to who to trust. Harwin’s death hits her particularly hard but, luckily, her favorite uncle is back in town and the two waste no time plotting and f*cking and plotting some more. (They’ve got 10 years to make up for after all.) Rhaenyra’s showdown with Alicent at the end of the episode is the fiercest we’ve seen her so far, spurned on by the need to protect her children and her pent-up frustration with a woman who traded their friendship for a shot at more power and a higher title. But the icing on this incestuous cake came when Rhaenyra and Daemon calmly planned Laenor’s “death,” knowing how it would be perceived by others at court and welcoming the fear it would instill in her enemies. Just more proof that the incurable condition (of being a messy little b*tch) that Daemon suffers from is contagious.

Daemon Targaryen

Speaking of Westeros’ much-missed Rogue Prince, Daemon begins the episode far more subdued than we’ve seen him amongst his own family members. He’s likely grieving his wife, but he seems more wounded by the treatment he’s received at the hand of his brother. And yes, hurt people hurt people, but did he really need to insult Viserys as his mangled, mottled singular hand shakily extended an olive branch? Yes, yes he did. Thankfully he’s more open to reconciliation with Rhaenyra and after some sexy times in a seaside shack, Daemon seems a bit more like himself – happy to sit back and watch the Hightowers make fools of themselves, puffing up like a preening peacock at Ser Criston Cole, and deviously crafting a way to rid his niece of her husband, marry her, and ensure his place on the Iron Throne in that order. Love that for him.

Aemond Targaryen

Unlike his completely clueless brother, Aemond seems to understand the game for the throne that his mother and grandfather are playing. Maybe it’s because he’s the younger son, maybe it’s because his sister mumbles nonsense to insects as a hobby, or maybe it’s because his brother drowns himself in wine and embarrasses the rest of his family constantly. Whatever the reason, Aemond craves power and he’s willing to lose an eye to get it. After that pig incident in the Dragon Pit at Kings Landing, it’s nice to see Aemond manning up and taking Vhagar for himself – contrary to what Laena’s girls think, he didn’t steal her, that’s just how riderless dragons are claimed – but he’s a bit of a d*ck about the whole thing when he’s caught taking a joyride after hours. We want to like him but there’s a self-serving mean streak — likely instilled in him by his mother — that’s clearly going to win out in him

HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ airs on Sunday nights.

Spoilers for House of the Dragon will be found below.

The House of Targaryen is one f*cked up bunch. We see repeatedly see this with incestuous pairings and, last week, when the series’ worst character (Aegon) jerked off in a (symbolic) window and emotionally tortured his own brother with a pig. That brother (Aemond) made some antagonistic moves of his own this week, but we’re here to talk about another antagonist, Prince Daemon, who people absolutely love. And that credit goes to the writers and Matt Smith for being likable while playing a guy who’s exiled over and over again and continues to emerge and wreak havoc at court.

In Episode 7, “Driftmark,” Daemon (after one week, or maybe a decade in actual time, of being a Dad with a capital “D”) didn’t act as expected after his latest wife’s death. He killed the first wife, of course, and his second wife (Laena Velaryon) died during a complicated childbirth after hauling herself in front of her dragon (prompting a discussion of whether Targaryens are fireproof) and ordering, “Dracarys!” Well this week, Daemon has returned to fine form, at least in the eyes of viewers who can’t help but love him. He started giggling during his wife’s funeral. And that was only the beginning.

Then fans received the scene they were waiting for. Daemon and Rhaenyra finally vanquished their many years of unresolved sexual tension. They found a little love nest on the beach, and it was actually (since it had to happen) a beautifully understated scene, although not terribly visible because this franchise loves darkness too much. In other words, Princess Rhaenyra and Uncle Daemon did the deed on the same beach where his wife’s funeral was held and shortly after Ser Harwin’s death. Damn.

The Targaryens are gonna Targaryen.

HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ airs on Sunday nights at 9:00pm EST.