#otto and aegon

[mhsdatgo]

No, it's not Alicent's orders that Aegon pays mind to, in fact, I think Alicent's words have long since stopped mattering to him.

I say long since because it hasn't always been this way. Believe it or not, no matter how much rage and callousness grew in him from his young age to adulthood, he too was a boy once, with a need for an authority figure just like everyone else. Alicent took upon that role, in the only way she knew how.

See, Alicent's changed. She is turned cunning, politically savvy, extremely smart, albeit incredibly emotional and paranoid, no longer passive. She's aware she's the only one siding with her children in those dire times, she knows they are threats to Rhaenyra's rule, and as such, must be eliminated. She's aware, yes, but all along she feels like she's the only one who truly cares, at least cares enough to do something about it. She's already felt like she was the only one noticing the elephant in the room, but she's always bitten her tongue. Now those days are over.

Unfortunately when it comes to generational cycles, Alicent is a woman that is packing with those. She's the daughter of a politically savvy man himself who used her for the fulfillment of one of his ambitions, no regards for the way she felt, no resistance met in this girl who is only trying to please her father, to serve her King with kindness. In terms of scheming, Alicent and Otto perfectly mirror each other: they turn to the only ones they truly feel they can spur to their side (their children). The reaction they're met with, on the other hand, not so much: Alicent is compliant since the start, Aegon is extremely rebellious. He evades from her in every way he can.

From episode 6, at first, we see that Alicent does indeed hold influence on Aegon: since it was really necessary to HAVE TY'S ASS ON SCREEN before anything that shapes Aegon into something else other than a bully, there's a scene of him pleasuring himself on the edge of a window, literally for everyone to see. The moment he's apprehended by Alicent, however, he immediately tries to recompose himself in the best way possible, he practically throws himself away from the window, drapes a blanket over himself, tries to speak coherently the moment she questions him. It's clear he wouldn't have even tried if he didn't see some kind of authority in her.

Here is another parallel between Otto and Alicent: assuming their plans will always align with their childrens', not only are they convinced their plans will result in the greater good (although for personal reasons), they are bluntly honest about the consequences the neglect of these ambitions will bring. Otto downright tells Alicent that Rhaenyra will put her children to the sword the moment she wavers and shows to be siding with Rhaenyra, Alicent grabs her son's face and practically yells the same thing at him, saying that their family's survival depends on his compliance.

Both are enormous burdens thrust into these two's shoulders, but they register differently in their minds: for Alicent, it's about survival, to Aegon, it appears to be way more about compliance. Because Alicent has turned so paranoid, so overprotective, that she's perceived as domineering. And because Aegon had ways to run from his duties and responsibilities, Alicent has always been forced to make the best out of them. And this speech DOES affect young Aegon! He looks shocked and even distraught after his mother leaves him to his devices, meekly inviting him to get dressed.

Now how do we go from THIS Aegon, who is indeed fucked up and a bit of a little shit, to the absolute devil incarnate that is adult Aegon? The answer is very simple: Otto's arrival, AKA granddaddy issues arc.

Now there are NO scenes between Aegon and Otto, nor are there scenes in the timeskip between Driftmark and Lord of The Tides (thanks writers) so let's base stuff off of what we know of these two. What do we know about Otto? He's cunning, extremely manipulative, cold, imposing, ambitious, intolerant to any sign of rebellion. What do we know of Aegon? Mainly, I'd say he's extremely defensive and protective of what he believes to be his freedom, which he perceives as something to enjoy alone, or away from anyone who knows him. (mainly, his family) Quite a hellish mix if you ask me.

Otto sees the potential in Aegon, but not as a human being: as a tool, a path to greatness, with protection and survival as a plus. Aegon sees a tyrant in Otto, nothing but a tyrant, something who squashes him and his every defiance. It shows in episode 7 first and foremost: I'd assume it hasn't been long ever since Otto came back to court at this point, because Aegon wouldn't be so STUPID to drink himself stupid while none other than Otto was around. He learns it the hard way, getting kicked awake and dragged to bed while in hungover.

If Aegon in the next episode literally tells us anything, is that Otto's treatment of him had the opposite of his desired outcome: Aegon is even WORSE than before. A LOT WORSE, if Dyana and her telling is capable of telling us something.

Even with how he acts with Alicent, everything's changed: he isn't scared of her authority anymore, it doesn't matter to him. He doesn't wake up when she screams at him, he flinches only when his covers are pulled from him. (thanks for flashing us again HBO) He fights back: no more does he treat her as someone to respect, he disregards her, he tries to go back to sleep, he faces her with defiance,

"Why? What is it today?"

And when she tries to discipline him, using force again, (this time rightfully so, and she should've done more) he talks back: still, he doesn't relent. That's what he sees Alicent as, now: challenge. Obstacle. She isn't something he worries about anymore, but rather who she follows. We all know who that is.

Interestingly enough, Alicent still continues to act according to what her father has out in her mind, although to her own accord. But she doesn't fool Aegon: he knows where it all comes from, which idea spurs in both of their minds. I adore Alicent, but she isn't nearly as demanding, as imposing and as callous as Otto is. They are two halves of a whole in Aegon's eyes, with how similar their words and the reasonings are, but Otto has toughened him up, and has turned him into a man so full of rage that he WILL fight back against anything about him he has a chance to fight back against. And we know exactly who that "thing" is, don't we.

That's part of why he's so ecstatic when he becomes King. He had the chance to turn to the smallfolk the moment the crown was placed on his head, but he doesn't: he waits for everyone, everyone, to bow. He doesn't stop at his mother and siblings, but finally turns to Otto. Only when HE bows as well, is he satisfied. He has power over him too. That's all he needed to know to confirm that he's now unstoppable. He's above everyone, and he'll prove it.

[darejani-artist]

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒’𝓈 𝓃𝑜 𝓌𝒶𝓇 𝓈𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓉𝑒𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒢𝑜𝒹𝓈 𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝓌𝒶𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓀𝒾𝓃, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓃𝑜 𝓌𝒶𝓇 𝓈𝑜 𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝒹𝓎 𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝓌𝒶𝓇 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝑔𝑜𝓃𝓈…” ❤️‍🔥

[houseofyax]

The Casting BTS ✨

[sugurugetos]

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: 2.02 (Rhaenyra the Cruel)

[tarth]

it's always two dumb bitches telling eachother "exactlyyyy"

[franzkafkagf]

the funeral (a grotesque display of two queens’ grief, forced on them against their will) being interjected by images of aegon beating blood into a bloody ruin says something about how women’s grief is exploited and paraded around as a virtue while male grief is only allowed to exist in conjunction with violence.

female sorrow is expected to be public, dignified, and even noble, it serves as a symbol of quiet strength and resilience. otto uses it as a tool to gain sympathy for their cause. notice how he forced alicent and helaena into it, while he allowed aegon not to participate. wouldn‘t the king being at the funeral send a powerful message? yes, it would. but otto looks at aegon with contempt, the other councilmen and alicent do not know what to do with his tears. the realm cannot be allowed to see the king grieve. not like this.

male grief is denied its own space and validity unless it manifests in aggressive or destructive acts. aegon realizes this to some degree too— he lashes out publicly by killing the rat catchers. he shows his grief by being violent, by spilling blood.

the toxicity of it all is very effectively shown at the end when aegon is crying by himself. did he retreat there to be alone and finally let it all out? his mother is either letting him have that moment alone or she’s deeply uncomfortable with it and chooses to leave. no matter what motivated alicent in acting the way she did— the moment still reveals how male vulnerability is something people fear. it shows that even the most human expressions of pain are not acceptable for some.

[ophelieverse]

“i was abed” yeah sure😒

[cassianandfenrysaremyboyos]

Aegon giving away all the crowns resources back to the small folk

Otto Hightower:

[hed184]

Let's see, Aegon was right about...

1. Considering smallfolk

2. Securing Harrenhal before Daemon builds an army

3. Securing Grover Tully's support after Lucerys' death

4. Burning the blockade sooner

5. Wanting a dragon to accompany Criston and Gwayne (they could've killed Moondancer and captured Baela)

And STILL many people are saying he was a dumb king! Even with him not recieving any preparation, his ideas would've eliminated the biggest problems that the Greens are facing now.

[cthaehart]

Someone help him

[seamayweed]

Aemond is your brother. We are family. You may cuff him about as you wish at home, but in the world, we must defend our own.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON — 1x01 // 2x01

[northcodex]

stressed the fuck out familial quirk

[princessofmarvel]

Petition for all team Black and team Green fans to not be at each other's throats this upcoming season, and instead, we all just root for our favorite war criminals in peace? And normalize liking characters from each team and just have a preference on teams? Because that sounds like a fun time to me, thank you 🫶

[allyriadayne]

another theme that i found fascinating this ep was the greens' inability to connect with the other. otto cannot comfort alicent who cannot comfort neither of her children, each having to look for another. they are breaking apart but neither can do anything about it and it's so poignant to see otto not knowing how to comfort alicent, while she can't touch helaena unless she gets uncomfortable. and the son who might welcome her embrace, aegon, she is unable to offer him anything! she's only touched him with violence. she's helpless! and this is also shown when helaena and aegon meet on the stairs. she tries to maybe say something and he even stops to listen! but there's no protocol for this. neither of them have ever comforted the other. no one taught them how to connect. even aemond who is not as affected by the toddler murder has replaced alicent or some parental figure with the brothel madam. it's crazy

like, that first scene with otto and alicent is crazy. she's so visibly distressed and he stops behind her to maybe comfort her but he can't! that's not something they've done often. and when he gets the courage, she turns away!!!!!! and in case you didn't notice the theme, alicent gets another scene just like the other except it's her who can't comfort her child. and she turns away too!!!! parents are not for comfort.

[bladeofdreadfort]

the greens + tarot cards

[cinemapix]

#A dysfunctional family