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In its Season 3 premiere, House of the Dragon does the impossible. It somehow adds incest to a Targaryen story.

The extra dose of incest comes in a scene between Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her son, Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). As Alicent tries to persuade Aemond to head to Harrenhal, which would free up King's Landing to Queen Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) incoming invasion, he leans in and gives her a long kiss. Horrified, Alicent freezes, not reciprocating but unable to retaliate against her son's sudden advance.

"He's very dangerous, and she can't reject him," Cooke told Mashable during a junket interview.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon': Everything you need to remember about Season 2 in 60 seconds

It's a shocking moment, which is saying something, given that House of the Dragon features a marriage between a brother and sister, as well as one between an uncle and niece. The show has dabbled in mother-son incest before, during one of Daemon's (Matt Smith) Harrenhal visions, but that was a dream. Aemond's kiss is a reality — one that doesn't appear at all in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood. (Neither does Daemon's dream of his mother.)

House of the Dragon has hinted at Aemond's Oedipal feelings towards Alicent before. In his interactions with brothel owner and sex worker Sylvi (Michelle Bonnard), he seems to be looking for motherly nurturing. For Mitchell, Aemond's charged interaction with Alicent stems from his issues with affection, dating all the way back to childhood.

"He never felt like he had sufficient love as a child, and kids need that unconditional love to develop a balanced view of themselves," Mitchell told Mashable. "And Aemond, he felt like he was lacking in that department, and so he has a very skewed sense of how to show affection. His perception of it is very flawed."

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet

However, in his attempt to show affection toward his mother, who already fears him, Aemond has worsened that relationship.

"He might have burnt bridges with his mum after that moment, because it's singularly just one of the creepiest actions that he's done — and shocking as well," Mitchell said. "It's in Aemond's DNA to be shocking, and he does it there, he shocks the audience, just in a way that you don't expect."

For Alicent, the kiss is the latest in a series of unwanted advances that have come to define her time in the Red Keep. From her marital rape at the hands of Viserys (Paddy Considine) to Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) fetishizing her feet, Alicent has long been fighting for power in a cage where the men around her only see value in her body: how it can make them feel, or whether it can produce heirs. Now even her own son seems to feel the same way, a realization that becomes another reason why Alicent needs to escape the prison that is the Red Keep. That it's Aemond, her least controllable child, adds an extra layer of worry for Alicent, as well as an extra layer for Cooke to play.

"[Ewan and I] didn't need to do much, because it's such a shocking thing that we had to do," Cooke said. "It felt quite explicit on the page, and I really like working with Ewan. The way he plays Aemond is so different to any other character on the show, and it's so strange that I think Alicent always feels like she's on the back foot with him anyway. So that's all I really had to do, and then just let the shock of that speak for itself."

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

A new season of House of the Dragon brings back many familiar faces, but in Season 3, episode 1 we also seen some new players enter the mix.

Perhaps the most famous of these is Happy Valley star James Norton, who strikes an imposing, armour-clad figure as Lord Ormund Hightower. But who exactly is this new Hightower, and what role might he play in the action going forward?

We've broken down everything we know so far.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2 What happens with Ormund Hightower in episode 1?

Midway through episode 1, we get a drone shot showing what appears to be hundreds of green tents set up around a river. We go in closer and see a dragon in the ranks, growling as a messenger on horseback thunders past.

The man waiting to meet said messenger is Lord Ormund Hightower (Norton), flanked by a younger boy and a burly, no-nonsense looking soldier who appears to be his right-hand man. Hightower receives the parchment from the (fairly mud-spattered) messenger, wrinkles his nose in apparent disgust at the man's smell, and then breaks the seal to read it.

"Aemond says we are to make camp here and await further word. He shall join us in three days time," Hightower reads.

"So, Aegon's dead then?" grunts his henchman.

"One king is as good as another," smiles Hightower.

He tells the boy next to him to see the messenger has a bath and bed, then turns on his heel and walks back to his tent.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon' cast on Season 3's colossal Battle of the Gullet So, who is Ormund Hightower, anyway?

Okay, so we don't have much to go on so far. But we already know a little about Ormund from previous seasons, so let's recap.

First of all, how is he related to the currently AWOL Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and his daughter, Alicent (Olivia Cooke)? Well, put simply, he's Otto's nephew and Alicent's cousin. Ormund is the son of Hobert Hightower (Steffan Rhodri), who popped up back in the first half of Season 1. By Season 2 he's dead, though, and his son Ormund has taken his place as head of the Hightower household.

Now, as we see from his brief appearance, he commands a very large army that includes a dragon (this belongs not to him, but to his ward, Daeron Targaryen) — and he appears to be loyal to the cause of Team Green.

Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) may be struggling to figure out what to do with himself in King's Landing, but he does still have a powerful ally marching to meet him.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

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Cloud storage is one of those expenses that tends to grow alongside your files. The more photos, videos, projects, and backups you accumulate, the more capacity you need. Deal Days, Mashable’s version of Prime Day, is bringing steep discounts on software and tech through June 28, including the Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB for $974.97 (reg. $9,900).

With 100TB of capacity, Internxt is built for businesses, agencies, creative teams, and anyone managing an abundant collections of files. Think years of client deliverables, photo and video libraries, project archives, business records, and long-term backups stored in a single place.

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Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, which means files are encrypted on your device before they’re uploaded. The company can’t view, access, or share your data. It also uses post-quantum encryption technology designed to help protect files against future computing threats as encryption standards continue to evolve.

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Instead of adding another monthly subscription to your budget, this plan provides 100TB of storage through a one-time purchase. For organizations storing large amounts of data over the long term, that could translate to substantial savings compared to paying for cloud storage year after year.

The Deal Days promotion ends June 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT so be sure to get the Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB for $974.97 (reg. $9,900) before the sale wraps up.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class has been in production since 1979, outlasting most of the vehicles it originally competed against. Built for military use in cooperation with Austrian manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch, the G-Wagen crossed into civilian life and never looked back. Today, it is as much a status symbol as it is an SUV, the kind of vehicle you see outside a swanky Beverly Hills restaurant and deep in a Colorado canyon on the same weekend.

What makes a classic movie? There are different definitions of a classic movie. You can have the classics of the 1930s and 1940s that paved the way for future filmmakers. There are cult classics that aged well despite receiving mixed reactions upon release. You can have modern classics within the last 30 years that continue to age gracefully.

An HDMI cable is an HDMI cable, right? Wrong! HDMI has been around forever at this point and there have been so many revisions and updates. Which is great for the advancement of video and audio technology, but not so great for ensuring you have the right cables to get the picture quality you need.

If you're a phone enthusiast in the U.S., you probably take the option of Google Fi for granted. But I live in Canada. I'm not allowed to use Google Fi as it's simply unavailable outside the States. I wish it were, as it's the best carrier for someone like me.

For years, one name has dominated the SUV sales charts, earning a reputation as the default choice for families looking for practicality, efficiency, and reliability. That dominance, however, is being tested. Production challenges have limited availability at a time when competition in the SUV segment is fiercer than ever, creating an opportunity for rivals to gain ground.

There are plenty of ways to trigger smart home automations. Schedules are great for things that you need to happen at the same time each day, and motion sensors are a good way to make automations respond to your physical presence. There are many times when a cheap NFC tag is by far the best option.

TL;DR: Live stream Belgium vs. Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues this weekend with more vital group-stage games, including Belgium vs. Iran. Neither side was able to start this tournament with a win, but every team in the group is tied on a single point at this stage. That means a win for each side here could catapult them to the top of the standings.

If you want to watch Belgium vs. Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Belgium vs. Iran?

Belgium vs. Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 21. This fixture takes place at the Los Angeles Stadium.

How to watch Belgium vs. Iran for free

Belgium vs. Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Belgium vs. Iran for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Belgium vs. Iran for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Belgium vs. Iran (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Belgium vs. Iran in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

As good as Amazon's Fire TV Sticks are, pretty much every user knows that they become a lot more sluggish over time. It isn't because the hardware has suddenly become obsolete. Although they were never powerhouses in terms of performance, they remain capable for many years. The most likely culprit is that the storage is running low, and it's an easy fix.

Android Auto feels pretty great straight out of the box. I can't lie that it impressed me the first time I tried it out in a new car. It instantly makes navigation and media feel a lot more intuitive and integrated than a standard phone mount or factory navigation system ever could.

If you're still on Wi-Fi 5, you're probably waiting for Wi-Fi 7 routers to come down in price before you upgrade. However, it's going to be a while before Wi-Fi 7 prices are reasonable for even midrange gear.

Cars are getting more complicated each year. As they become more computerized and complex, the number of tasks that a non-mechanic owner can handle themselves decreases. However, there are still plenty of basic maintenance and repair tasks that almost anyone can do in their own garage. All you need is the right equipment.

Amazon MGM Studios will no longer release Luca Guadagnino's buzzy Sam Altman biopic Artificial, Variety reported Friday.

SEE ALSO: 'Toy Story 5' opening weekend box office to set franchise record

The film, which stars Andrew Garfield as the OpenAI CEO and Ike Barinholtz as Elon Musk, focuses on Altman's firing (and later rehiring) from OpenAI in 2023. In February of 2026, OpenAI and Amazon announced a strategic multi-year partnership, which includes Amazon investing $50 billion in Altman's company.

According to The New York Times, the team behind Artificial was shocked at Amazon MGM's decision. Guadagnino has worked with the studio before, including on Challengers and After the Hunt. The New York Times reported that Amazon MGM had previously been supportive of Artificial, spending $40 million on it and preparing it for a 2027 SXSW release and potential awards run.

"We have the utmost respect and admiration for Luca Guadagnino as an award-winning filmmaker — not to mention a longstanding relationship that we hope to continue," an Amazon spokesperson told Variety. "We believe that Artificial will be better served if it were released by a different studio and are working closely with the filmmaking team to find the film a new home."

The New York Times reported that Artificial screened last week to potential buyers, including Neon, A24, Focus Features, Netflix, and Warner Bros.' Clockwork. However, no one has snapped up Artificial yet.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The iPad has been around for a long time, and while a lot of the hardware is now too old to be useful, some of the components can still be put to good use. I ripped apart an old iPad and turned it into an always-on display for my smart home cameras.

When you're buying an eReader, it's tempting to get whatever is most convenient or powerful. You don't want to miss out on a must-have feature or shop from a small brand, right?

One of my homelab goals was to replace Google Drive. I hate paying Google money. However, the further I got into trying to replace Google Drive, the more I realized that Google Drive was the solution I was searching for—so I realized it was time to embrace Google after all.

George Lucas is popping out of his semi-retirement for a role in a blockbuster franchise. No, he's not returning to his roots with Star Wars. Instead, he's diving into Illumination's Despicable Me and Minions universe.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer movie preview: Every film you need to know about now

On June 19, the AP reported that Lucas has a voice role in the upcoming Minions and Monsters, about the Minions trying to hunt down the perfect monster for their own kaiju movie. Given that the film takes place partly in 1920s Hollywood, it makes sense that Illumination would seek out a cameo from a legendary director. But how did they land on Lucas, who stepped back from blockbuster filmmaking after selling Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012?

In an interview with Collider, Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri revealed that Lucas got involved in Minions and Monsters due to his own minions fandom.

"I had this privilege of meeting George about two years ago, and what led to my meeting him is how much he loves Illumination movies, and specifically Despicable Me, and even more specifically, the Minions," Meledandri told Collider.

From there, Meledandri wondered if he could bring Lucas aboard for the latest Minions-centric film.

"An idea for a character came up out of the story, and so I said to [director] Pierre [Coffin], who co-wrote the movie with Brian Lynch, and Bill Ryan, who produces with me on the film, and I just said, 'Well, what if we could get George?'" Meledandri recalled. "And they're like, 'Are you kidding me?' I had no idea, but I got such a fast yes."

Lucas recorded his lines with Coffin, who also serves as the primary voice of the Minions, in Paris. But according to Meledandri, Lucas's role in the world of the Minions may not be done.

"I saw him recently, and he's already talking to me about the role he wants to do next in the next Minions movie," Meledandri said.

Minions & Monsters opens in theaters July 1.

Apple Music has quietly become the better music streaming service—it’s more affordable than Spotify and offers higher quality audio than Spotify. That said, I’ve been using Spotify for ten years, collecting songs and building personalized playlists, and I wasn’t keen on throwing all of that away just to move to Apple Music.