#noheteroexplanation

[maxanor]

Watched up until ep 9 so here are more of my abbreviated thoughts, don't want to make this ask too long but many thoughts head never empty about this show and my babygirls.

Ep 5: god what an episode, the official and final break up of my best girls. The scene where Alicent walks into the banquet in that green dress: lifechanging, actual chills, that scene is sooo good and other people don't seem to care about it as much as I do from what I saw online but like that scene is insane, I want to live inside of it; the meaning of the colours, the declaration of war, THE MUSIC (!!)

Ep 6: the shift to the older actors oooh we're here, they're both so excellent and just the tension in this episode, like that's sexual the small council scene uuhm Alicent babes look away and Rhaenyra stop touching that ball there is a touch starved lesbian across from you have some decorum (also Alicent was at her most bitchy (affectionate) this episode and I kind of lived for it)

Ep 7: THE episode. Now why did I have to see that Dae/myra sex scene?? Controversial opinion: the knife scene was more sexual than the Dae/myra sex scene, something something stabbing as a metaphor for gay sex, stabbing your homoerotic situationship after breaking up 10 years ago something something. WHERE IS DUTY WHERE IS SACRIFICE - Olivia that entire scene, yeah I was captivated (also Otto being proud, oh the toxic generational abuse continues yes tragedy)

Ep 8: Viserys losing an eye after not giving a shit Aemond lost an eye and not doing anything, oh I call that poetic justice. Rhaenicent making soft eyes at each other oh the gays are at it again, who let them out? The children continuing their fighting because of the damage their mothers already did, oh the generational conflict continues, cannot bury the hatchet when you have sown hate for years

Ep 9: no one seems to agree online from what I saw, but honestly maybe one of my favourite episodes of the season, maybe that is because I adore Alicent and this episode was all about her in my opinion. The scene between Rhaenys and Alicent, loved that, they could not have played that scene any gayer but maybe that's just me. Otto calling Alicent out about her feelings surrounding Rhaenyra, like at this point the closet is glass sweetie. "Childhood companion", the subtext is there if they ever make it maintext I will sob.

Question: I know the actors have discussed the queer subtext but have any of the writers or directors ever hinted at it as well? It can't be all coincidental right?

Anyways this got way way too long, my bad🩵 going to watch ep 10 soon, wish me luck🫡

making popcorn to answer this ask mwahahaha 🍿

ep5 – god this episode is heartbreaking, emily carey's acting is just incredible i love her so much!! this was actually the first episode i watched live and i know people were freaking out about it, but it does seem to get overlooked in light of everything that comes next

ep6 – EMMA AND OLIVIA 🫶 both their introductions are incredible and i'm forever thankful they were cast <3 the small council scene is insane 😵‍💫

ep7 – soooo true this is THEEE episode!!! although ofc every time i think of this episode i redact the dae/myra sex scene bc poor rhaenyra has been thru so much she doesnt need that as well!! also your opinion is not controversial, rhaenicent absolutely have more chemistry, both emma and olivia's performances in that scene are insane god i love them (bonus: the script from the scene)

ep8 – i loveeeee this episode sooo much, their children are so poisoned against each other but alicent and rhaenyra cannot help but want to mend their relationship like they yearn for each other so deeply they'll never be free!!!! also aemond is my best friend in this episode i love him <3

ep9 – i love this episode too!!! i don't necessarily subscribe to any "team" but the targtowers are just much more interesting than all of the team black characters (excluding rhaenyra) and i love seeing the inner-workings of the green council. also aegon's coronation scene is so incredible oh tgc the actor you are!!! and "you imbecile" being unscripted like oh that shit is insane 😵‍💫

to answer your question about the writers/directors supporting rhaenicent, yes they do! i'll put some quotes under the cut <3

"they are good friends with this potential romantic entanglement from earlier on that has always been a big thing for that, that i thought it was an essential component  of why they are such close friends. it seems like it’s a kind of unrequited love…rhaenyra has this deep longing for her best friend" – miguel sapochnik (co-showrunner involved in s1, he's not going to be involved in s2 due to some internal drama lmao)

"the underlying theme is that rhaenyra is actually in love with alicent. with milly as young rhaenyra, it was very much about seeing how she experiences this constant series of small rejections from alicent" – miguel sapochnik

"alicent is feeling very alone. so when rhaenyra enters, that’s what she wants. she wants the love in her life, and it’s a bit of a love story in a way, of these two women" – geeta patel (directed 1x08)

"[rhaenyra and alicent] are in my mind a divorced couple. they were in love as friends, and now they are apart" – geeta patel

"these two young women who were friends as girls, who grew up deeply loving each other...and then how they were forced into this situation by the pressures put on them by the aristocracy and by the patriarchy, by these ancient political constructs around them" – ryan condal (main showrunner)

"there is an element of queerness to it, whether you see it that way or as just the unbelievably passionate friendships that women have with each other at that age. i think understanding that element of it sort of informs the entire rest of their relationship...at the core of it, they knew each other as children, and they loved each other and that doesn't go away" – sara hess (executive producer/writer/lesbian)

"despite everything that happened, there is a deep connection and ultimately you can’t erase the fact that you loved and cared for someone. it can get twisted, but it cannot be deleted" – clare kilner (directed 1x04, 1x05, and 1x09)

"i saw the love and romance of these two girls, which makes it all the more tragic when they become estranged" – greg yaitanes (director of 1x02)

honestly there are more and this isnt even getting into everything emma, olivia, emily, and milly have said but 🤗 rhaenicent is canon change my mind!!!!

[fadeintoyou1993]

Hey maybe random, but just wanted to wish your cat archie the best of luck with his surgery and hope you can have an okay day, a pet going into surgery is always hard, so take care and he'll be back in no time <33

omg thank u 🥺🥺🥺🥺 i appreciate it, this is really sweet of u ♡♡♡

[theridervhagar]

"it's massive that alicent travels to rhaenyra. it's treason. if aemond found out that she'd gone, [her] head [would be] on a spike. [...]"

— olivia cooke.

@ noheteroexplanation

[invisiblue]

Ghostly Kisses, The city holds my heart || Vilhelm Hammershøi, Strandgade 30 || Christina Marie Brown, My body is a haunted house || Ghostly Kisses, The city holds my heart || House of the Dragon, S1E9 || House of the Dragon, S1E9 || Ghostly Kisses, The city holds my heart || House of the Dragon, S2E6 || House of the Dragon, S2E7 || Lately i've been crying (like a tall child) by ao3 user noheteroexplanation || House of the Dragon, S2E7

A 3-part web weaving for Alicent Hightower

Marriage, Motherhood, Childhood x

Castle, Prison, Ghost x

Solitude, Grief, Silence x

[backjustforberena]

It's a full-circle moment for the couple, who begin the episode at odds, with Rhaenys confronting Alyn at Driftmark before returning to Dragonstone, where she finds herself attempting to wrangle a squabbling council in Rhaenyra's absence. Corlys's unexpected arrival allows Rhaenys to reassert her authority, and his show of support signals a softening of tensions between them. "They've found a kind of peace, which is great," says Taylor. "Then, of course, she dies." (quote from "Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon: Inside the Dawn of the Targaryen Civil War", thanks to @noheteroexplanation for providing.)

[noheteroexplanation]

Chapters: 7/7 Fandom: House of the Dragon (TV) Relationships: Alicent Hightower/Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alicent Hightower & Helaena Targaryen Summary:

Drip, drip, drip.

The sound of rain hitting the windows of the Great Sept comforts her. Three candles are lit: her mother, her late husband, Lucerys. The candles are burning and burning and burning, but the heat of the fire does not reach her. She has not felt warm since Aemond’s return from Storm’s End.

Or: Following Alicent through her journey of disillusionment and her exploration of sexuality, gender and motherhood. Canon compliant for season 2 (chapter 1), after which the story continues as a speculative work for seasons 3 and 4 based on Fire & Blood.

aka: Alicent has a bad few weeks (read: years), but she gets to kiss a girl (Rhaenyra), so her life gets better. Or does it?

______

IT’S COMPLETE! I actually did it, I’m so happy <3

For those that have followed along and left kudos or comments, thank you so much it means the world to me. I hope you enjoy chapter 7 and please let me know your thoughts! The alternate happier ending will (probably) be posted next week.

[greenqueenhightower]

I just finished watching Episode 3 and wow, that scene at the sept was absolutely gripping! the tension between rhaenyra and alicent reached peak rhaenicent fic levels. I just loved their mannerisms and the symbolism of it all: something something about how the real root of the conflict is lost in time and having that be the scope and focus of the episode in the general scheme of things with rhaenyra and alicent... in years to come who will remember the real reason the dance of the dragons even began? would anyone know about the fall out between two childhood friends? this made me think of Shireen discussing the events of the dance in got and how 'thousands were dead' and 'the targaryens never recovered' and how that was all that remained from a history's pov...

What an interesting take, anon! 💚

The scene at the sept holds a dear place in my heart because of the nuances it gives the characters and because Olivia and Emma did such a marvelous job with it. The tension and the tragedy are delicious and I loved the parallelism with Alicent and Rhaenyra's childhood scenes at the sept and the inference of how things have changed so much since then.

Rhaenys mentioned something similar to your point about when the real conflict actually began and the difficulty of pinpointing a root cause becoming even more obscure as the war develops.

The episode opening with the feud between the Blackwoods and the Brackens in the "Battle of the Burning Mill" is foreshadowing the development of the Dance since the root cause of the Blackwood-Bracken feud is lost in time, much like the root cause of the Dance will be. A mutual of mine @noheteroexplanation (I hope you don't mind the tag!) noted how the ending scene is shot with the circular sept spinning much like a burning mill with all the candles lit and aflame and how it emphasizes the idea that Rhaenyra's and Alicent's relationship has suffered irreparable damage and will definitely be one of the Dance's least memorable casualties since violence will only accumulate.

[mistoffeleesisawitch]

rules: list 5 things you can talk about for an hour and tag (at least) 5 people.

Tagged by: @galindascrown thanks!

Tagging: @noheteroexplanation @galindathegay @hurremsultanns @amatres

Literally anything Oz related. The original l Frank Baum books, the 1939 movie, Wicked (book musical or movie), Return to Oz, Oz adaptations, ect ect. Just love talking about Oz

Alicent Hightower, Alicent Hightower, Alicent Hightower. I would love to talk about her all day

Arthuriana, not modern Arthurian literature though

Medieval Mystics

My Keychain collection

[mistoffeleesisawitch]

@noheteroexplanation

[maxanor]

Watched ep 3 and 4 and I'm back with more thoughts (mainly on ep 4)🫡

The scenes in episode 4 contrasting Rhaenyra and Alicent's stories, oh that's that excellent content. They're actually the heart of the show, I don't care about the rest just them.

Anyways the parallel of the rats though: when we see them for Rhaenyra's side as she is sneaking out of the Red Keep near the Dragon skull, representing her fleeing to freedom from her duty; while then seeing the rats on the bedframe in Alicent's story after she was forced to do her "marital duty" (that's rape :/ when he touched her face and she was forced to smile during that, I was raging, like oh Viserys count your days!)

Anyways after 4 episodes my thoughts can mostly be narrowed down to that meme "get a job. stay away from her" about both Rhaenyra and Alicent. (Ps let me know if you don't need to know my thoughts and I'll shut up, I yap too much haha)

OMG im so sorry this took so long to answer i've been on vacation and bridgerton part 1 is taking over my life 🙈 but YES oh episode 4 is absolutely heartbreaking like rhaenyra and alicent are both children being taken advantage of by these crusty old men when all they want is each other </3 they're the heart of the show and it will stay that way everyone say thank you ryan condal and sara hess!!!!!!

trust me your thoughts are not annoying i love hearing them 🤗

[teamgreengalore]

https://www.tumblr.com/noheteroexplanation/768669081038651392?source=share the

THE MOST INCEST FEEL RELATIONSHIP and they are not even Targaryens ;)

[jennifersminds]

14 and 16 for the weird writers questions :)

oooooo ty !! asks game <3

14. Do you lend your books to people? Are people scared to borrow books from you? Do you know exactly where all your “lost” books are and which specific friend from school you haven’t seen in twelve years still possesses them? Will you ever get them back

I do not lmao, hypocritical? Maybe, since I myself don’t take amazing care of my books (see: leaving my emotional support book to the ravishment of my bag and all it’s content) but if anyones gonna ruin my books, it’s gonna be me.

16. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark?

I’m currently using a drunk polaroid my friend took of me getting ready so maybe that. Otherwise it’s usually movie tickets since i’ve literally never thrown one away.

[jessmalia]

#the way these scenes are shot to purposely leave space for the other#their other half#and then within moment leading to the scenes where the other one is there#and they're filling the space#and they fall back into old patterns of bickering#and you can see the love there and they keep coming back to that#because yes the love is still there#but it doesn't change anything#the war and its end have been written they are both doomed by the narrative#what comes next is inevitable#but isn't there a tragedy in the fact that they loved each other so much and it still wasn't enough?#the system was set up for them to fail which left them alone with holes in their hearts and empty space where the other one used to reside#sorry to op needed to let out my rhaenicent feelings for a moment <3 (tags via @noheteroexplanation)

they're each other's missing half

[invisiblue]

The first blood has been spilled, now there will be more.

Inspired by ao3 fic Lately I've been crying (like a tall child)

For you @noheteroexplanation 💛

[backjustforberena]

When the season opens, [Rhaenys] is the queen's most trusted advisor, though not officially her Hand - two women in power would simply be too much for the men on the Council, Hess notes. "Obviously, Rhaenyra can't have a lady Hand, because that would be crazy," she says with a sarcastic laugh.

Okay, okay, good stuff. The idea of a lady Hand not being tolerated is a logical conclusion except... except... the show does absolutely bugger all with it. Whilst we have Rhaenys functioning as Hand pretty plainly, and, indeed, it's only after her loss that Rhaenyra actually officially appoints a Hand, the actual politics of the position and, specifically, this idea that it is not done because Rhaenyra recognises the gender issues associated isn't there.

The subject of making Rhaenys Hand, even to dismiss or explain, is never brought up within the show. The idea of the men being unable to stomach Rhaenys as a Hand isn't ever illustrated beyond generalised feelings of sexism within those council scenes. Rhaenys never has to explain, defend or prove her position on the council. She is very rarely interacted with, during those scenes because she is not particularly vocal. There is displeasure shown at her, but nothing loud or targeted - not like we see with Rhaenyra.

The one concrete moment we have, actually, of Rhaenys having to defend her power comes in Episode 04 and, ironically, it is because she has NOT been named Hand that Alfred Broome can call her out and attempt to dismiss her in front of everyone:

"Why should your voice be any louder than ours, Princess? The queen did not name you Hand."

Rhaenys is trying to lead, but it's not her sex that he finds fault with (though no doubt that comes into it - given she is able to maintain control due to Corlys's intervention) but her lack of official authority. Something that being Hand would have given her. So, he can challenge her. She is no higher than he is. And she has no rebuttal because Rhaenyra has not empowered her.

If they had wanted to pull this off, they needed to consolidate Rhaenys's role on the council and the limitations of it and why there were limitations on it. Have patronising language levelled at her, not just Rhaenyra or Baela. Have her offer advice only to be spoken over. Have Rhaenyra even speak to her on the matter. Let them talk about the position of Hand. Or have Rhaenys raise the matter with Corlys. Something. As it is, the role is never floated or mentioned until after Rhaenys's death. A lady Hand is not an idea presented in that narrative.

That's largely why I always attributed the lack of Hand not to a recognition of politics, but as a symptom of an ad-hoc war council and the infancy of Rhaenyra's rule - an unorganised collection due to the war, without the formal roles of a Small Council. And then the appointment of a Hand indicates Rhaenyra's commitment to the war as it is now and her engagement going forward (even if, again, the role in all it's uses isn't fully illustrated as we pretty much lose the council scenes following the initial Dragonseed idea and Corlys has little to do in any of them).

(quote from the new HOTD BTS book, with many thanks to @noheteroexplanation)