Warning: Spoilers ahead of House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, “Smallfolk.”
Summary
Alicent Hightower is often described asHouse of the Dragon’s Cersei Lannister “replacement,” and while that’s been up for debate, season 2 just confirmed a harsh reality that further connects the two characters. As the Queen Consort turned Queen Dowager, Olivia Cooke’s character remains a critical figure amongHouse of the Dragon’s ensemble cast, serving as a leader within Team Green. While the path she envisioned after marrying King Viserys I Targaryen may have gone off course, Alicent continuously attempts to steer her family in the right direction, even if they don’t always listen.
ThoughAlicent’s meeting with Rhaenyra inHouse of the Dragonseason 2proved a monumental error was made surrounding the true heir to the throne, the mother of the current king hasn’t given up. It’s been made clear that she never fully trusted Aegon’s ability to be king, and there’s obvious worry stemming from Aemond being the Prince Regent. Both have made questionable decisions while in power, putting their forces and the entire realm at risk. Alicent has been partially responsible for what has become of King’s Landing, but the harsh truth about her family was brutally confirmed in “Smallfolk.”
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House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6, “Smallfolk,” has unfortunately been review bombed by user ratings on IMDb, and the reason why is absurd.
Daeron Targaryen Is Alicent’s Only “Kind” Son, But He Grew Up Without Her
Alicent’s only son that turned out to be a good person is the one who she didn’t raise.
Including Aegon and Aemond,Alicent has four children inHouse of the Dragon. Aside from her only daughter, Helaena, Alicent’s third son and youngest child is Daeron Targaryen, who is currently 16 and residing in Oldtown as House Hightower’s ward. Interestingly,Daeron Targaryen hasn’t officially appeared inHouse of the Dragon, at least not yet. He’s been mentioned a few times, with the most recent namedrop coming in “Smallfolk.” When Alicent inquires about Daeron while talking to her brother about her youngest not writing much, he assures her that Daeron is “kind.”
The same can’t be said about Aegon and Aemond, proving that Alicent’s only son who turned out to be a good person is the one she didn’t raise. Seeing as his great-uncle looked after him from a young age,Daeron was raised away from King’s Landing and the brutal politics surrounding his family. He may have a dragon like other Targaryens, but he doesn’t suffer from the power-hungry and conniving demeanor driving his brothers. Based onGwayne’s comments about Daeron’s “stalwart” and kindness,it sure seems like keeping him away from King’s Landing and his family’s influence was the best option, which was something Cersei also discovered.
Alicent Hightower Is A Reminder Of How Tragic Cersei Lannister’s Role Was In Game Of Thrones
Alicent’s Story Is Mirroring What Cersei Experienced With Her Family
Alicent’s realization that her only decent son is the one she didn’t raise is undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow for her. Still, she likely knows she did the right thing by sending Daeron to Oldstown, no matter how difficult it was for her. What Alicent and her family have endured has been challenging, but it’s pretty similar to Cersei’s story inGame of Thrones. Both women became widows when their respective husbands died, resulting in their sons taking over the throne. Alicent and Cersei also ended up having children who turned out to be absolute monsters, especially when they came to power.
Episode 8
August 4
Like the case with Daeron being the “kind” one out of the bunch, Cersei’s kid with the most hope of being a genuinely good person was Myrcella, who was sent away from King’s Landing to live in Dorne. Whereas Joffrey Baratheon was pure evil, Tommen seemed good-natured but was easily manipulated into doing what others wanted. That never seemed to be the case with Mrycella, even though her innocence was taken advantage of before her death. If Daeron ever appears inHouse of the Dragon, he will likely be somewhat of a stranger to Alicent based on what she’s used to with her other sons.
