Exploring the rise of incest storylines in TV and film, and why it’s a troubling trend and The White Lotus Season 3 dropped
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When did incest sneak into our favorite shows?
Look, I’m no prude, but lately, I’ve been side-eyeing my TV screen more than usual.
As someone who’s both a Christian and a media insider, I can’t ignore it: incest storylines are popping up everywhere.
And it’s not just a rare, edgy plot twist anymore—it’s almost routine.
What bothers me most? These scenes are often tossed in for a quick laugh or a gasp, not to grapple with anything real or meaningful.
Why does Another Simple Favor feel so off?
Take Another Simple Favor, the flashy sequel that hit Prime Video recently.
I was pumped to see Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively back in action, but then—bam—an incestuous assault blindsides you.
It’s not graphic, thank goodness, but it’s there, lingering like a bad aftertaste.
The film plays it off as part of the drama, yet it left me wondering: was that really necessary? It’s unsettling, and not in a thought-provoking way.
What’s up with The White Lotus doubling down?
Then there’s The White Lotus. Season 3 dropped a bombshell with brothers locking lips—yeah, you read that right.
The creator, Mike White, claims it ties into some grand theme, but to me, it screamed “look at us being daring!” more than anything else.
Fans buzzed online, some theorizing it was coming, others just grossed out. Either way, it’s another notch in this weird trend.
Haven’t we seen this before?
This isn’t exactly groundbreaking territory. Game of Thrones practically made incest a household name with Cersei and Jaime.
House of the Dragon kept the tradition alive, blaming it on royal bloodlines. Even the Bible has its share of eyebrow-raising family ties—think Abraham and Sarah.
But here’s the kicker: those were ancient stories or fantasy worlds, not our modern Netflix queue.
Today’s media often shrugs it off or hypes it up, and that shift feels different.
Are we getting too comfortable with this?
I was chatting with a friend about The White Lotus, and they hit me with, “It’s not a big deal—it’s consensual.”
Uh, what? That casual brush-off chilled me. Incest isn’t some quirky subplot; it’s a real issue—stats say 15% of U.S. families have faced it, and most cases stay hidden.
When we laugh or shrug at it onscreen, are we numbing ourselves to something serious?
Where do we go from here?
So, what’s the endgame? I’m not saying ban these stories—real life isn’t all sunshine.
But as someone who loves media, I think we deserve better than cheap shock tactics or punchlines.
Shouldn’t our shows challenge us, not just mess with us? I’d rather see creators dig deeper than lean on taboo for a buzz.