‘House of the Dragon’s Season 2 Finale Is the Perfect Send-Off for Alicent

Editor’s Observe: The next incorporates spoilers for Season 2 finale of Home of the Dragon.

Even amid the raging hearth and blood of HBO’sHouse of the Dragon, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) stands out as one in all the most compelling and captivating characters in the entire series. Charming, devoted, tragic— as attention-grabbing to observe when she’s at her strongest, as she is at her most powerless— Alicent is a central determine within the Dance of Dragons, even with out being a Targaryen or dragon rider. Nonetheless, regardless of taking part in a vital function within the escalating tensions that culminated on this civil battle, Alicent’s function within the story has dramatically modified, as her affect and energy had been drastically diminished within the newest season. Although this shift in standing stays a reason for turmoil for the Dowager Queen, the sequence would immensely profit from altering its framing of the battle away from Alicent, as a way to higher heart the dueling claimants to the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney).

Alicent will stay a related determine in Home of the Dragon so long as she’s alive, although the half she now has to play drastically differs from the one she started with. Season 1 centered the narrative round Alicent and Rhaenyra’s bittersweet friendship-turned-rivalry, however because the battle developed and was inherited by their kids, their connection now not stays a very powerful within the sequence. The transition in energy has been difficult for each characters, albeit in contrasting instructions. As Rhaenyra learns to command authority as Queen, Alicent has had her affect unceremoniously taken from her. Whereas Alicent struggled with this lack of energy all through the season, the finale episode, “The Queen Who Ever Was,” gave her a visually gorgeous and emotionally charged farewell scene that bids a superb send-off for this stage in her journey. Although her function within the sequence will proceed to be diminished in the coming days of war, Alicent’s clandestine assembly with Rhaenyra serves as a ravishing and haunting closing act within the story; an indication that the battle has developed far past their private relationship, a quietly impactful turning of the web page for the subsequent chapter within the legendary battle.

Alicent and Rhaenyra’s Relationship Was the Central Focus in ‘Home of the Dragon’

Alicent has been some of the integral characters in Home of the Dragon from the very starting. Regardless of the large presence and significance of the Targaryens and their dragons, the younger Hightower performed a vital and irreplaceable function within the narrative, with a presence that far exceeded her character’s class and station. The youthful Alicent (Emily Carey) was Rhaenyra’s (Milly Alcock) closest friend and confidante, a story foil to the Targaryen princess whose contrasting personalities made for dynamic storytelling. As younger ladies in a medieval kingdom, the 2 had been both forced to adhere to patriarchal expectations whereas trying to find methods to outlive and reach such a cutthroat setting. Nonetheless, whereas Rhaenyra had the assist of her royal lineage and the direct favor of King Viserys (Paddy Considine), Alicent had far fewer routes towards any type of affect, energy, or self-determination. However after the machinations of her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), Alicent endeared herself to the king, changing into his second spouse, and irreversibly leaving her mark on the Targaryen dynasty.

The connection between Rhaenyra and Alicent was one in all, if not the only, most vital relationships within the first season, because it served as the principle narrative lens via which to see the escalating tensions. The Dance of the Dragons was a legendary battle not only for the dimensions of its destruction, however for a way private the battle truly was. The descent of Rhaenyra and Alicent’s friendship wasn’t simply a person falling out, however a direct catalyst that triggered the civil battle, so the period of time spent on this relationship was utterly justifiable. As Rhaenyra stewed in anger at her pal’s obvious betrayal, Alicent, too, resented Rhaenyra’s seeming lack of dedication to her obligation. After years of silent jealousy and roiling bitterness, Alicent and Rhaenyra discover themselves on reverse sides of a succession battle. However what they, and the viewers, found was that the conflict had exceeded far beyond just their personal animosity however had fractured their whole household and the realm together with it.

Alicent Loses Energy and Function in Season 2 of ‘Home of the Dragon’

Alicent was profitable achieve the ability and affect that her father so covetously wished for his or her household, a genuinely large success regardless of the adverse penalties of such a transfer. However after attaining the summit of her aspirations, ruling within the stead of her sickly husband, all of Alicent’s energy was unceremoniously taken from her in season 2. After Aegon ascends to the throne, Alicent’s influence over the council is tremendously diminished in favor of the rising affect of Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), rashly appointed as Hand of the King, and Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), chosen as Grasp of Whisperers. Regardless of having earlier alliances, each in private {and professional} capability, with each of these figures, Alicent is successfully shut out from having a voice within the Small Council. After Aegon is incapacitated after the Battle of Rook’s Relaxation, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) minimizes Alicent’s presence much more comprehensively, shutting out his mom extra ferociously than his older brother ever may.

From successfully ruling the realm to being forced to be a passive bystander by her own children, Alicent has felt starkly totally different in Season 2 in comparison with her function in Season 1, and the outcomes have been divisive amongst audiences. Fairly than seeing somebody ascend to energy, audiences see somebody shedding the final vestiges of their affect, unable to do something about it. Whereas some viewers have criticisms in regards to the relevance of Alicent’s plot and screentime because of how it affects the pacing of the show , the time spent with the Dowager Queen’s fall from energy is likely one of the vital character arcs, the consequence of a complete season of build-up, that wants time to simmer and dissolve.

Olivia Cooke’s efficiency as Alicent deserves bouquets upon bouquets but once more, because of her poignant and efficient expressiveness. From aching grief to debilitating rage, Cooke turns in a masterclass of nuanced performing greatest illustrated within the gradual, intentional close-ups that basically enable her to take a seat in these uncomfortable moments. The scene the place Aegon silences Alicent within the Small Council is a memorable instance, as the shot focuses on Prepare dinner’s refined expressions with the droning noise of panic within the background ratcheting the stress to a very unsettling diploma. To not be outdone by D’Arcy’s masterful performance with minimal dialogue, Cooke conveys unhappiness with such Shakespearean depth and charm.

Alicent’s Final Dialog with Rhaenyra Shifts Her Away from the Highlight

The lack of Alicent’s affect places the sequence in a precarious place. After centralizing the narrative round Alicent and Rhaenyra’s battle, the place ought to the sequence go now that one of many gamers is now not as important an element? The battle has nonetheless begun, the Greens and the Blacks severed past reconciliation, however Alicent is now not the principle determine rivaling Rhaenyra — it is her sons. Aemond guidelines as Prince Regent, and Aegon is smuggled away from King’s Touchdown, each remaining poised to be highly effective challengers to Rhaenyra’s declare to the throne; each are now not depending on their mom to wage battle. Nonetheless, slightly than have Alicent fade unceremoniously into the background, the Season 2 finale gave the proper alternative for Alicent’s function within the story to shift away from the middle of the battle.

When Alicent speaks with Rhaenyra about ending the battle, it nearly seems like an pointless repetition of their whispered meeting in the Sept during episode 3, however the outcomes are far totally different. Endeavoring to carry peace to Westeros, Alicent presents to assist Rhaenyra declare the Iron Throne when Aemond is away with Vhagar. And when Rhaenyra calls for Aegon’s head, Alicent tragically acquiesces. Whereas the pacifistic nature of the ladies in Home of the Dragon can also be a controversial alternative, Alicent’s current negotiation with Rhaenyra settles this arc in her character’s journey as she expresses her want to easily dwell out the remainder of her life free from obligation and battle, even when it means her title is without end tarnished in historical past. The rivalry between the 2 ladies is now not as related to the battle, it is already past their management. Each had been even capable of converse honestly to 1 one other for the primary time in years, placing their animosity to relaxation even when they hadn’t changed it with friendship. That is to not say that Alicent’s storyline is over utterly, as she has loads of skeletons left to bury. What occurs when she provides Rhaenyra King’s Touchdown, however not Aegon? What occurs if Aegon learns that his mom gave up his life to Rhaenyra? Will she be capable to defend Helaena (Phia Saban), keep away from Aemond, or reunite along with her father? There’s nonetheless loads of story left for Alicent, whilst she’s now not wanted to be such a central determine.

It might have all the time felt odd to have the central battle happen between the Queen and the Dowager Queen, slightly than the Queen and the King vying for the throne, so this shift in focus will enable the extra related battle to take heart stage. As has been the theme within the sequence to this point, choices made up to now set forth penalties that can not be prevented. Alicent’s battle with Rhaenyra has reached its fruits; she acknowledges her jealousy of her pal’s former freedom, however now could be the one free from accountability whereas Rhaenyra is tied down by obligation. Whereas she should nonetheless cope with the ramifications of her deal when dealing with her kids, Alicent and Rhaenyra’s storyline is now not each of their most important narrative connections, as they every produce other characters with whom their narratives are more personally intertwined. Although Olivia Cooke’s immutable charisma means Alicent will all the time stay a related presence within the present, her ending in season 2 opens up new prospects for brand spanking new relationships and conflicts to obtain extra focus.

Home of the Dragon is streaming now on Max.