Okay, so I wasn't entirely convinced of everyone's explanations for why Daemon shut things down with Rhaenyra. I then ran across this:
...in a behind-the-scenes video, showrunner Miguel Sapochnik states that Daemon rejects Rhaenyra because of his impotence and inability to perform. This impotence stems from a sense of guilt on Daemon’s part, as he realizes that it’s morally wrong to sleep with his own niece.
Going further than that, it’s also stated in the video that Daemon’s intention was to shock and disgust Rhaenyra. However, once she gets over the shock and expresses interest and enjoyment, Daemon has nothing left and feels like he’s lost control of the situation. That loss of control also leads to his impotence, and results in him storming off quickly and leaving her there.
Having just rewatched the scene, I can see it now. And his frustration manifested in him slapping the wall, which confused me the first time.
This still doesn't explain why Rhaenyra was willing to along with it. But I noticed this time that she seemed titillated at one point, and given her age, it got her juices flowing, so to speak. I assume, then, rather than sleeping with a stranger, she was willing to go along with the advances of Daemon, someone she knows and trusts, especially given the history of the Targaryen family... and of royalty in the real world where there are plenty of examples of marriages between siblings or uncles and nieces (aka avunculate marriages); you know, to keep the bloodline "pure".
Bookmarks