#every so often i go insane over a piece of media I voluntarily analyse it like an english paper

[busybee-studies]

Ok i am so late to the party but I am actually going insane. I love to hate these characters. I really thought Alicent finally wanted to put her kids on the throne, but she was ready to give in to Rhaenyra. All of this is based off a mistake (a tragedy) and out of misguided loyalty to her husband. She toils in service to the men around her. Blood and loyalty to the house and family, that's everything to her.

And she lives by "counting the cost". A curious phrase; possibly an allusion to Luke 14:28, which came up in my google search. We see that she wants to avoid battle and war, she is selflessly devoted to the people. I found that curious because we see that faith to the seven gods is important to her. She dresses like a nun, rebuilt the castle in that seven pointed star she also wears around her neck. She says grace before the supper table.

That passage is a little weird. It talks about the cost of faith (renounce all---even your own life) as well as sending peace offerings when you are outmatched. (She doesn't want to fight, she just wants to follow orders.)

Alicent tries her hand at manipulation and diplomacy (You should've been queen, you can handle Driftmark), she knows that some people are awfully suited to the crown (Viserys the peaceful didn't further the good of the realm. He maintained the status quo.) She knows Aegon will make a terrible King but will follow through anyways. (Raping the handmaid, "You are no son of mine" "You imbecile")

Men are simultaneously to be obeyed and yet guided from their violent and destructive ways.

She reveals though, that she is lost without them (men). Your husband abandoned you for six years, she says, and yet Rhaenys seems to have done fine on her own. We see that she rules in her husband's absence, and originally wanted to petition her own claim. She doesn't really believe that woman can or should rule on their own. Really she resented her father for leaving her when he got fired as position of the hand. We see her venting to that crispy rat about how she has nobody "on her side" and that her father would've been. And we see that he doesn't care about her, he plots to put his grandson on the throne behind her back.

Rhaenys sees right through all of this. And the look on Alicent's face is so haunted and filled with both longing and revulsion at the idea of she herself ruling on the iron throne.

It is so clear that while Rhaenys has a lot to resent team black for, her desires and ambition more closely match team black. She could never be team green because she would never submit and toil in the service of men. She allies with Rhaenyra because she can relate to her, being in the same position all those years ago. All of that is the only reason she can tolerate being on the same team as Daemon.

I do think there is a bias against team green in the writers room, but it's not a turn off for me, because I love to hate Alicent. She is so uptight and repressed, a pawn in her father's game, her children become chess pieces, she's forced into a lonely life as queen with no friends, forced to bear four children as a child herself. She sees it as her duty to guide the king, but we can see that even after all these years she hasn't amassed the love of the people, or power in the courts. She has a place at the table but she is not in charge, she never has the final word. Being Queen, to her, is about duty, not power.

She's the fantasy puritan and I hate her for it. She represents the women that resent the patriarchy but still uphold it. She feels that she can never be free, so she will make the best of it all. She would've been much happier if she were a man. ("but...here we are" we must accept our place in the world) She is a good girl because she fulfills her role.

Her character is so compelling as a foil to Rhaenyra, who we see "does as she pleases." This is not to say that Rhaenyra is a feminist icon, she isn't. She's fiery and ambitious, but also a bit bland. If she wants firstborns to inherit regardless of gender, but would she feel the same if she were a man? In my opinion we haven't seen much personality or initiative, nothing that makes her stand out as a good ruler.

I will do you the considerable courtesy of assuming there is a good reason for the outrage of my treatment here this morning.

My sincerest regrets for the lack of ceremony. 

The King? … And you are usurping the throne?

It was my husband's dying wish. 

scoffs 

Believe it or no, it is of no consequence. Aegon will be king. I came here to ask your support. 

Well, I must credit you for your boldness. 

House Velaryon has long allied itself with the Princess Rhaenyra and what has it gained you? Your daughter dead, alone in Pentos. Your son, cuckolded. Rhaenyra’s heirs are none of yours. It is your husband who grasps so heedlessly for the throne. And even he has abandoned you; gone these six long years to fight a desperate battle, returning grievously, if not mortally wounded; leaving the Lady of Driftmark to chart her course alone. 

The word of my house is not fickle.

No, but, dear cousin, but you understand more than any soul alive understand what I say now—Princess Rhaenys, I loved my husband, but I will speak the truth we both know—you should have been Queen.

I little thought to hear those words from you.

The iron throne was yours by blood and by temperament. Viserys would have lived his days a country Lord content to hunt and study his histories but…here we are. We do not rule, but we may guide the men that do. Gently, away from violence and sure destruction and instead towards peace. 

Ugh. Is it in the name of peace that you’ve imprisoned me? And what of my dragon?

If we are overmatched Rhaenyra will be tempted to strike us and war will ensue. 

Sighs

Without your dragon, she may be persuaded to negotiate. If it’s Driftmark you want, you shall have it, for you and your granddaughters to pass on as you see fit. 

You are wiser than I believed you to be, Alicent Hightower. 

A true queen counts the cost to her people. 

And yet you toil still in service to men. Your father, your husband, your son. You desire not to be free, but to make a window in the wall of your prison. Have you never imagined yourself…on the iron throne?

I’ll leave you with your thoughts. Ring the bell when you have an answer. 

Alicent Hightower and Rhaenys Velaryon

House of the Dragon 1x09 The Green Council