In the Game of Thrones universe, villains either get a lot of hate or a lot of love — there’s no in-between. The same goes for House of the Dragon. However, the latest episode might be starting to change things up for the show’s biggest villain.
Is it possible to like Alicent Hightower? Could there be a chance for her redemption? Whether it’s true or not, a lot of fans are picking up on hints by comparing a key scene to a famous literary and dramatic story.
Alicent Hightower Might Turn The Tables In House Of The Dragon
The penultimate episode of season two didn’t give Alicent Hightower much screen time, but what people did see was crucial for moving the plot forward.
Since the beginning, she has been one of the most hated characters, not just because she’s on Team Green, but also because of her decisions from the start. But it looks like her story might be taking a turn that could totally change how everything plays out.
In episode seven, Alicent heads out of King’s Landing to the Kingswoods with a royal knight. When he asks her when she plans to come back, her response hints at a troubling future. She says she plans to stay isolated, which almost suggests she might be considering ending her own life. Her dramatic walk to the local lake really drives home this idea.
But her words weren’t meant to be taken so literally — they were more symbolic. When she steps into the water wearing just her white underdress and floats, it’s like she’s symbolically shedding her old self and trying to cleanse away the person she doesn’t want to be anymore.
This might be the most vulnerable we’ve ever seen Alicent, as it really shows her mental state. Her whole life, she’s been manipulated by her father to play her marital role, and after King Viserys’s death, the crown went to his son. While the series often focuses on men in power, this detail is key to understanding Alicent’s story.
She’s stuck in a cycle of suffering. Aemond kicked her out of the Small Council, her daughter’s fate mirrored hers by marrying Aegon, and she feels like a failure because she thinks not raising her son Daeron made him a better person. All this is pushing Alicent into a major identity crisis.
The Shakespearean Parallel Of Alicent Hightower’s Scene
It’s well known that the show doesn’t stick to the books exactly, giving the writers more freedom to interpret George R. R. Martin’s work. In the original writing, Alicent still has more to go through, but how will the show handle and justify her actions moving forward?
While some might find a literal death for her appealing, it seems more fitting for her to metaphorically say goodbye to the part of herself she wants to leave behind. Alicent has always seen herself as fair, obedient, and upright, especially with her strong faith. Now, though, she’s finding herself in a dirty game, which really shakes up her self-image.
This mirrors the internal struggle of Hamlet’s Ophelia, as both characters grapple with intense control and shifting identities (via Games Radar).
In Shakespeare’s play, Ophelia is a young noblewoman who falls for Hamlet but gets caught in a tug-of-war between him, her father, and her brother, who all try to control her. After Hamlet accidentally kills her father, Ophelia loses it and drowns herself in a river.
alicent hightower our very own ophelia. #hotd pic.twitter.com/CeiH8SIGON
— . (@livcookegf) July 25, 2024
The villain’s mistakes began when Rhaenyra lied to her about Daemon. Since then, there have been missteps like misinterpreting Viserys’s last words, struggling to control Aemond, and being responsible for the deaths caused. Now, she’s trying to wash away these regrets, symbolically linking moral purity with physical cleanliness.
Before this, Alicent had already shown signs of her troubled mental state. She was seen scrubbing her body aggressively in the bath after her involvement with Criston Cole, who, despite his actions, is still a knight. Basically, she’s really struggling with her own sins.
With that in mind, will she change how she treats her children? Will she stand up for herself? Could she try to reconnect with Rhaenyra? Or maybe there’s going to be a betrayal within the Team Green?
It’s worth noting that in the book, Alicent’s fate also parallels Ophelia’s, as she descends into madness by the end of her life. Will the show stay true to this part? Only time will tell.
House of the Dragon is available to stream on Max.
