#is this bc i said that people use rhaenyra as a daenerys-stand-in and project their angry fandom energy in her defence?

[lemonhemlock]

dany and rhaenyra really couldn't be more different considering dany grew up in abject poverty and rhaenyra was constantly shielded by her status and name. for dany, her name was a death sentence, so they exist in totally different frameworks of what being a “targaryen” even means. it’s this vast difference in upbringing that informs how they rule as well with daenerys giving a lot of attention to how her actions/rule affect the oppressed while rhaenyra doesn’t particularly care about the common people at all!

i don't even disagree with this, but their differences don't negate them also having similarities (thematic especially) and having fan bases that almost entirely overlap

[cjbolan]

i think you should def take a try in listening to the interviews or podcasts of the writers and actors for hotd esp alicent’s character (or looking up the characters on tvtropes!) bc saying hotd alicent isnt morally gray but the book is … is a bit of a misguided interpretation! most of the main cast is to be flawed and grey (or will be grey) in their own ways! none of them meant to be role models but to have the full range of emotion ugly or otherwise that their male counterparts naturally get! (olivia cooke said this specifically.) and i think it makes them more interesting and empathetic

I’ve heard interviews from the cast, and still stand by what I said. Yes all the characters are morally gray. But IMO some characters are more likeable than others. I think some characters have more redeeming qualities. Like Rhaenyra. Despite being a stubborn deceptive liar: Rhaenyra’s also a good mom who’s kind to her kids, treats them all equally , keeps them in line with trust and respect rather than fear, comforts her kids for making mistakes instead of scolding and punishing them. Also loved Rhaenyra and Laenor’s friendship. From their open acceptance of their paramours keeping their politically arranged marriage happy, to how she forgives him for being gay, and fakes his death so he can run away to live a happy life.

As for Alicent…I can’t find anything likeable about her. I can sympathize for how she was used and manipulated by all the men around her into an unpleasant uncompromising situation. But just because I sympathize with her, doesn’t mean I like her. I guess I liked Alicent until Episode 6, when she started projecting all her pent-up frustrations onto her son Aegon. She not only has high standards for him. She abuses him physically, verbally, and emotionally many times. And not once does she ever show any guilt for this. To the point that Aegon eventually calls her out and straight up asks her: “Do you love me?” How hard was it really for her to just say “yes”? Even if she didn’t mean it? Or just give him a hug? If Alicent has ANY redeeming qualities , I guess it’s her trying to stay on good terms with Rhaenyra. But that doesn’t last long.

I agree Alicent is an interesting character. She starts out likeable until tragic circumstances gradually transform her into a terrible person. Much like Daenerys in Season 8. I like Alicent not because she’s an admirable person, but because she’s an interesting character study of how a kind and loveable person can become cruel and horrid to the people they love(d).