One of the most conflicting scenes in the final episode of House of the Dragon was that of Rhaenyra and Alicent’s conversation. It wasn’t the first time they interacted in the show after the civil war commenced, as fans remembered the Black queen took a secret trip to the Grand Sept in hopes of a peaceful resolution.
Episode 8 took another slice of that highly craved reunion, as showrunner Ryan Condal once claimed, with Alicent sailing to Driftmark to ask clemency for her and her daughter, Helaena, and she will happily deliver the Iron Throne to its rightful heiress.
Olivia Cooke On Alicent Hightower’s Confession In House Of The Dragon Season Finale
In her interview with GQ magazine, actress Olivia Cooke reflects on the season finale of House of the Dragon and shares what’s going on inside Alicent’s mind during those delicate moments of confession.
It was really trying to find those moments where [Alicent] was on her own, to study and digest what Rhaenyra has told her, what state the realm is in, and what her part in all of this has been. When she comes to Rhaenyra [in the finale], it’s as close to ego death as Alicent will possibly allow herself to come to.
It truly takes a lot of courage to admit she’s wrong. Cooke reveals that Alicent has been pondering on what she has been told at the Grand Sept, that she might have been wrong all this time and Viserys was actually talking about Aegon the Conqueror and not their son.
“I think by the time Alicent gets to Rhaenyra, she knows that she’s made a massive, massive mistake,” Cooke said, eventually revealing how hard it was for her character to admit her error despite knowing she caused all of it. “I think that’s what’s propelling her to go to Driftmark,” the actress added.
When asked if she was sincere the entire time she confronted her former friend, the British star said it came from a place of truth. Therefore, Alicent already resigned her fate on Rhaenyra’s mercy and only thought, “I have nothing else up my sleeve. This is it. All I want is for my daughter and myself to be safe.”
Did Alicent Beg For Mercy In The Book?
As heartfelt as Alicent’s confession was, this wasn’t the case in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. The character was massively modified in the show ever since Season 1. She was ambitious and ruthless in the novel, and relentlessly sought power for her children.
The change was adapted in the show to accommodate the theme of patriarchy being the root cause of the civil war, and that she was a victim wedged between those who sought real power.
It didn’t make sense that Alicent was so firm when she refused to admit her mistake in Episode 3 only to soften up in the end. The book version would never do such a thing because the character continued to believe she was right until the end.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is streaming on HBO.
