Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
In theGame of Thronesuniverse, villains either get a lot of hate or a lot of love — there’s no in-between. The same goes forHouse 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 InHouse Of The Dragon
Thepenultimate episodeof 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.
House of the Dragon Season 2: Bombshell Episode 7 Reveal Nods at Saera Targaryen, King Jaehaerys’ Daughter Who Became a Pr-stitute
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 understandingAlicent’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 interpretGeorge 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 ofHamlet’s Ophelia, as both characters grapple with intense control and shifting identities (viaGames 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 attempt to control her. After Hamlet accidentally kills her father, Ophelia loses it and drowns herself in a river.
alicent hightower our very own ophelia.#hotdpic.twitter.com/CeiH8SIGON
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.
House of the Dragon Episode 7: Jace’s Contradictory Reaction to Dragonseeds Feels More Realistic for 1 Reason Despite Majorly Deviating from the Book
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 Dragonis available to stream on Max.
Catherine Delgado
Articles Published :141
A geek enthusiast of fantasy and sci-fi, Catherine is also a screenwriter, completely obsessed with pop culture. Graduated in Audiovisual Production, she creates characters and writes about fictional universes when not writing articles, binge-watching shows, or reading sagas.
More from Catherine Delgado
Wes Bentley: ‘It’s even how I got Yellowstone’ on the Oscar Winning Movie That Avenged Steven Spielberg’s Loss
You Need to Watch This Martin Scorsese Movie With Leonardo DiCaprio 2 Times to Fully Appreciate How Good It Is
Cobra Kai Season 6: Return of a Legendary Dead Character in Karate Kid Franchise is Upsetting
Recommended
You Can Finally Watch Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Blockbuster at Home: Digital Release Date Revealed - Report
Top 5 Best Time Skips in Anime
Dark Crime Shows With Mike-Like Antiheroes to Watch Before Mayor of Kingstown Season 4
Did Dustin Hoffman Really Slap Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer – Entire Fight Explained
Helldivers 2 Major Order Update: Arrowhead’s Last-Minute Assist Helps Complete Impossible Charger Challenge
Real Reason Why Minx on Starz Will Not Return for Season 3
House of the Dragon
