This HotD Immersion-Breaking Scene Is Actually Perfectly Justified

It's hard to imagine anyone being unhappy with something that seems unrealistic in a show full of dragons and incest. However, some House of the Dragon fans have been thrown off by the appearance of... a pug.

In episode 3 of the first season, the king calls for the royal hunt to properly celebrate his son's birthday.

While the men of the realm focus on the hunt itself, the women gather in a circle to discuss the latest news and gossip. This is when Lady Redwyne appears, accompanied by her small pet.

Although many viewers enjoyed the comedic moment and Rhaenyra's snide remark about Lady Redwyne's attitude, some felt that the appearance of the pug in a world where animals are mostly used for transportation, food, or weapons broke the immersion. What some saw as a bit of comedic relief, others found unnecessary.

What viewers seem to forget is that House of the Dragon, like its predecessor Game of Thrones, never claimed to be a period piece. In such a fantasy world, anything can happen, including a pet pug. And even if it did, there would be no point in complaining, because pugs are actually one of the oldest breeds of dogs.

Sure, even 50 years ago Pugs looked very different than they do today. The deformed face was a result of breeding, which now causes these dogs to have a lot of health problems, especially when it comes to their respiratory system.

However, the roots of the breed go back as far as 400 B.C. in China, so their appearance in 114 A.D. Westeros is entirely justified.

Besides, the concept of pets is not new to George R.R. Martin's universe, as all the Stark siblings were allowed to keep direwolf pups as companions. For those who argue that this could have been a more modern concept, the book on which House of the Dragon is based mentions that Lady Baela Targaryen had a pet monkey.

Whether the show will continue to explore pets in the universe, we'll have to wait and find out for ourselves when season 2 is released. As of today, House of The Dragon is in the process of filming, so stay tuned for any important news or updates!