As a director who has worked closely with both Alicent and Rhaenyra throughout the second season of “House of the Dragon,” I must say that Geeta Patel brings a unique perspective to their relationship. Having been privy to their emotional ups and downs, it’s clear to me that these two characters share a bond that transcends their current conflict-ridden circumstances.
Contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 8 — “The Queen Who Ever Was”
Viewers of “House of the Dragon” are eager for Alicent Hightower (played by Olivia Cooke) and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (portrayed by Emma D’Arcy) to share a kiss following an impactful scene in Season 2, as they anticipate a romantic development between these characters.
In the final episode of “The Queen Who Ever Was,” the series departs significantly from George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” novel about the Targaryen family history, as Alicent Hightower and Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen clandestinely meet at Dragonstone. In this meeting, Alicent expresses her deep desire for the ongoing conflict to cease, going so far as to propose sacrificing her own son and heir, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), who currently stands in the way of Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne. Her reasoning? Alicent yearns to depart from King’s Landing with her daughter Helaena and grandchildren, and it is at this point that she extends an invitation for Rhaenyra to join her in leaving.
There has been a long-standing tension between Rhaenyra and Alicent since the start of “House of the Dragon,” and it intensified when they were portrayed as teenagers by Milly Alcock and Emily Carey. Fans are excited about this recent plot twist, with @faiIwife expressing on X (previously known as Twitter), “I’m really enjoying how Condal and co have reimagined Alicent’s omission from [‘Fire & Blood’]. Ultimately, she went against her family and was punished by being erased from history, silenced in their story. The interesting part is that the characters won’t realize that Alicent yearned to be forgotten.”
Fans of House of the Dragon love the idea of Rhaenyra and Alicent together
In the world of “Rhaenicent,” enthusiasts erupted over “The Queen Who Never Was,” focusing particularly on Alicent’s spontaneous plea to Rhaenyra. @lesblumy expressed this on the platform by saying, “Alicent, listing all she now craves for herself – anonymity, a simple life with her daughter and grandchild, freed from men’s machinations, ending with a desperate, possibly irrational ‘come with me,’ because Rhaenyra, too, is what and who she yearns for.” @flickrsoflight noted that Alicent’s longing for Rhaenyra significantly altered the anticipated course of the show: “Her potential homosexuality was so captivating it nullified the original material and permanently altered the direction of the series adaptation for seasons ahead. Truly groundbreaking, never before seen, my jaw is still dropped.”
Some people, such as @ellipsixm, noticed that Rhaenyra didn’t immediately reject Alicent’s suggestion for escape. Instead, she indicated a desire to go but couldn’t. Essentially, she still wanted Alicent, even after everything that had happened between them. Other users like @guoaei took a more humorous approach, imagining a scenario where you were in a war with your ex-wife, asked to betray your son, and then suggested running away together as you once dreamed when you were in love.
The director of the Season 2 finale, Geeta Patel, has her own thoughts on Alicent and Rhaenyra
In an interview with TheWrap, Geeta Patel — responsible for several episodes from “House of the Dragon’s” second season, like “The Queen Who Ever Was” — shared insights about the emotional scene between Rhaenyra and Alicent. She emphasized that despite years of intense, violent disagreements, there remains a lingering love between them. Patel explained, “It’s a depiction of two people who once loved each other, who believe they still do, but are struggling to acknowledge it.” This tension keeps viewers captivated, she added. Furthermore, in the interview, she likened their relationship to that of divorced or separated partners: “Their connection recalls a divorced or broken-up couple,” Patel stated. “Regardless of age, when you encounter the person who once caused you pain, your feelings can be as intense as those of a 15-year-old.”
Beyond this, Patel designed the visuals for the episode’s conclusion to convey a distinct message: after striking her bargain with Rhaenyra, Alicent experiences liberation from her regal existence, whereas Rhaenyra remains ensnared in what can be referred to as the “game of thrones.” By the season’s end, Alicent is depicted solitarily in the wilderness, while Rhaenyra is shown confined within Dragonstone, symbolizing her imprisonment. Patel explains that this contrast was intentional, stating, “This imagery reflects how they each felt at the story’s conclusion. One character is trapped… and that would be Rhaenyra. The other has discarded her burdens and is now liberated by giving them to Rhaenyra. In terms of visual representation, I envisioned Rhaenyra as ensnared in a web while Alicent was free.”
Fans aren’t wrong — there’s always been a unique connection between Alicent and Rhaenyra on House of the Dragon
From the start of the series, viewers have been speculating if Alicent and Rhaenyra might have had romantic feelings for each other, and it’s not entirely far-fetched. Throughout their teenage years, they appear to be very close friends, as evidenced by a scene in Season 1 where young Rhaenyra expresses her desire to fly away from King’s Landing with Alicent on dragonback and spend their lives adventuring and indulging in delicious pastries. Additionally, Season 2 confirms that Rhaenyra is canonically queer; in the sixth episode of the season titled “Smallfolk,” she shares a passionate kiss with her confidante Mysaria (played by Sonoya Mizuno).
Regardless, the notion of Alicent and Rhaenyra forming an alliance during the Targaryen conflict, the Dance of the Dragons, appears highly unlikely at this juncture. While Alicent proposes sacrificing her child to elevate Rhaenyra to the throne, she is unaware that Aegon has already departed King’s Landing under the orders of his trusted soldier Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). In the series “The Queen Who Never Was”, it becomes evident that there remains a deep rift between Alicent and Rhaenyra, which makes their situation both tragic and insightful as they continue to harbor affection for each other while confronting vastly disparate futures.
“House of the Dragon” is streaming on Max now.
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2024-08-06 00:30