#pro house hightower

[spacerockfloater]

In the show, Rhaenyra is just as weak and self centred as Viserys is.

The fact that she repeats her father’s mistake, remarrying and producing legitimate children who would overshadow her chosen yet questionable heir, is so stupid.

Viserys desires another woman and male heirs, therefore he gives into the temptation of obtaining Alicent and having male children, without realising that by doing this he’s making it difficult for Rhaenyra, a girl, to keep the throne.

Rhaenyra desires her uncle above everything else, therefore she gives into the temptation of obtaining Daemon and having children with him, without realising that by doing this she’s making it difficult for Jacaerys, a bastard, to keep the throne.

The dance would have happened anyway, maybe it could be postponed for one generation had Otto not been so eager to chase the throne, but it would still happen.

And let’s be real: had Viserys not chosen Alicent, he’d pick another girl, like Laena, whose father would want the exact same thing Otto wanted: his blood on the throne. Corlys admits that’s what he’s after. Anyone would do the same thing. All the great houses are ambitious. The issue is that Viserys and Rhaenyra kept making stupid choices that made it easier for them to be undermined and then they cry about it.

[crimsonbastard]

That's it. I've had it with these brain-dead takes

Rightful Queen:

Firstly, what the fuck do you mean when you say Rightful? There's no "Rightful" monarch in ASOIAF. There are only the ones who are elected as per the laws in which the Realm Functions. So There's only Lawful Queen or Lawful King.

Daenerys: Wasn't the Rightful Queen by blood, but by conquest (mass murdering an entire city that surrendered), but even then, she had contenders to the Throne in the form of her nephew. Her family was deposed through rebellion and they were in exile.

The throne no longer belonged to her unless she forcefully claimed it back. After Robert's death, the crown goes to Stannis, the next in line, followed by Shireen, considering Robert's children aren't his. But since all the legitimate Baratheons died and Gendry wasn't legitimized yet, the Lannisters covertly took the crown by continuing to pose Cersei's children as true borns (the children atleast took after one of the parents, making the argument for their legitimacy somwhat strong, Unlike Rhaenyra).

Daenerys took Kingslanding by force, decimating the city and it's populace with Dragon Fire and seated herself on the Throne. So yes, she has become the Lawful Queen by right of Conquest, all that's left is to eliminate the equally Lawful Contender to the throne, it being Jon.

Rhaenyra: Despite Viserys i (who was the younger of the two candidates, but got elected over Rhaenys who was older than him) naming her as his heir after Aemma's and Baelon's death he never really prepares her to rule in the future. He doesn't teach her the ways of Politics, nor does he reinforce the line of succession. He instead puts his daughter's claim in jeaprody and remarries, and sires THREE LEGITIMATE SONS. As unfair as it sounds, Westeros follows Male Primogeniture, the very system that made Viserys i heir to the throne over Rhaenys. As long as Aegon ii, Aemond and Daeron lived, Rhaenyra would always have challengers to the Throne.

"Half-Blooded" Murderer named Aegon:

Funny how TB thinks just because someone's Half-Targ (half inbred), It automatically makes them less of a claimant to the throne. Paternity goes a long way in Westeros.

Aegon ii is the first born son of King Viserys ii Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower. He's the result of a legitimate marriage between two ancient and powerful houses. He was anointed by a Septon of the Faith, crowned with thousands as a witness. As shitty as his character is in the show, he's a more legitimate claimant to the throne compared to Rhaenyra and her illegitimate children.

Jon Snow (Aegon) being confirmed to be R+L=J in the show doesn't make him a "half-blood" by any chance. He's the Son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. The show states that Rhaengar annulled his marriage with Elia Martell, making Jon a "legitimate" (as per TB) contender to the throne.

There's also the implication of the term "half-blooded" used in the post. Just because Jon and Aegon ii are half Targaruen doesn't make them less of a claimant. It also sheds light on the Targaryen Exceptionalism that TB drinks like kool-aid. Anyone who's non-targ or is half-targ and isn't on the Targaryen side is automatically treated as lesser.

[rosalinesurvived]

I am thinking of Alicent secretly adoring those big poofy dresses with dozens of stiff petticoats and wide skirts that lets you kinda flounce around but never lets herself wear them because she is Holy and Holy People Do Not Suffer Vanity, I am thinking of twenty-two year old Alicent stroking her mother’s extravagant Hightower dresses like a child playing pretend in secrecy, never allowing herself to try them on, never letting herself experience joy because of the pressure she’s put on herself

[hed184]

Sunfyre moved his wing to shield Aegon from Vhagar's fire.

He landed on his wounded belly, which means even though he fell out of the sky backwards, he angled his body to avoid crushing Aegon.

Eventually, when Aemond found him, he curled up around his rider.

[sunfyredefender77]

welcome back margaery and loras tyrell

[medusas-daughter]

This entire season is just Alicent realizing the patriarchy won't protect you just because you're upholding it. Yes girl, even if you help the council usurp the woman because of her gender, they won't see you as more than your gender. Yes girl, the man that started calling his ex a whore and a cunt once he was done with her will not respect you when he's done with you. No the problem was never the ex, the problem was always the man. Yes girl, if you teach your sons that they're better than their sister because they're men, they will think they're better than you because they're men. Proximity to men of power will never make you a man of power.

[bietrofastimoff23]

For every parent, their children are the best in the world.

Criston: aren't they adorable? 😍🥰

[very-straight-blog]

Why is everyone pretending that Aegon stole the throne almost behind Alicent's back? Have you already forgotten that he wanted to escape? That he was crying during the coronation? Alicent, you put him on the throne, and now you're sacrificing him like he's a lamb for the slaughter? A son for a son? What about Jaehaerys? Exactly how many sons must die to repay Luke's death? That's just...argh...

[tessarionbestgirl]

Ewan having to explain that Aemond fired Alicent because she's his kryptonite, the one thing that breaks his front. Meanwhile the fandom run-in with the idea he is a misogynistic and that's why he fires her. Is just a prove how dead is the media literacy on this fandom.

Specially after that scene when she read his mind so fast, and he almost break Infront of her. Like at this point I feel the show need a narrator explaining what people are seeing.

[lilycatttt]

TAKE NOTES SER CRISPY

[spacerockfloater]

Honestly, the house Stark (specifically Sansa) stan to house Hightower (specifically Alicent) stan pipeline is so real. It warms my heart that most of the GOT fans who have a soft spot for the Starks sympathise with the Targtowers.

I am genuinely offended that the Team Black folks think they’re one with the Stark fans because Cregan promised Rhaenyra he’d side with her on the war (despite not thinking that she’s important enough to come to her aid immediately, marching down only when the war was over and executing those who poisoned Aegon II). It gives off the same icky energy as when someone who looks entirely different than you calls you ‘twin’: bitch, no the fuck we ain’t! Did you miss Cregan’s first ever voice line in the show? “Duty is sacrifice.” That’s a whole ass parallel to Alicent’s “Where is duty? Where is sacrifice?” that you can’t ignore.

And I can’t help but laugh each time someone says that Ned would do right by Rhaenyra. Like, no the fuck he wouldn’t! One look at her firstborns and he would have marched straight to Dragonstone! We’re just completely overriding show canon for the shake of delusion at this point.

Anyways, stan house Stark and house Baratheon for wiping the Targaryens off the face of the earth forevermore!

[greenqueenhightower]

Alicole was underwhelming, but B&C takes the cake as the worst adaptation of a single asoiaf/f&b event so far:

It was so rushed and whitewashed and did not focus on Helaena at all. Where is Helaena pleading for her son's life and offering up her own life instead? Where is Maelor whom Helaena was coerced to offer up as a sacrifice and does not bear to look at? Where is Heleana being forced to make a decision that haunts her entire life? She is obviously traumatized by what happened, but having her just say "they killed the boy" does not do her character and her grief justice. I really hope we get to see more of Helaena in episode 2 because it would be really upsetting if the show just brushes her off.

Not to mention Alicent's absence from the events of B&C. Alicent was really there, worried for her daughter's and grandchildren's lives, and was the first person to offer Helaena some comfort and consolation. The more I think about it the more mad I get because we got robbed of what could have been a truly harrowing and distressing scene that would do the events and the characters justice. Book!B&C was about two mothers and their shared agony, pain, and grief. It could have been powerful and shocking from an acting perspective alone if they had followed the events of the book.

[pinkiscent]

otto reconsidering all his life choices because aegon is a dumbass is not something i thought i would ever see but im happy nonetheless AND THE FACT HE KNOWS VISERYS NEVER WANTED AEGON TO SUCCEED HIM OH!!! THAT'S RIGHT!!! one step closer to admit he usurped the rightful queen. rare W from otto

[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.

[sunfyredefender77]

leave helaena alone you poor bitches

[the-daily-dreamer]

Alicent’s relationships with her children can never be perfect and healthy because they’re objectively broken from their onset. And I’m so tired of seeing brain dead takes comparing the “superior” relationship Rhaenyra has with her kids to Alicent and her kids as some sort of gotcha.

Alicent’s exposure to motherhood isn’t on her terms in any conceivable way. Her children are the products of marital rape and coercion. They are conceived and born when she is a young teenage girl 15-18, well before she is ready to have them. They are born in quick succession with no opportunity for her to recover. And, they are from a man that not only does she not love but who neglects and belittles her.

All these factors severely damage Alicent’s ability to connect with her children in their infancy. And can you blame her given the circumstances?

She’s not ready to have them at all, so she doesn’t know how to properly mother them. And she likely resents them at least a bit in the early stages because they are the physical manifestation of not only her rape but the life she is trapped in. And that likely compounds with severe guilt because these are her babies, why doesn’t she feel the love and joy she’s supposed to?

And yet. She still loves and cares for them. She holds them as babies (despite being a baby herself) and dutifully cares for them even though she could simply dump them off with a nursemaid. She charges with a knife at Rhaenyra for them. She stands between them and a dragon from them. She betrays her closest companion of her childhood for them. She defies the king and their father for them.

I know that Alicent makes some crucial mistakes that ends up hurting her children. And I know that the scenes we see with Alicent and her kids often show her lack of connection to them. But despite the fact that her relationship to them can be nothing but fractured at the onset. There is so much passion and love and devotion she has for them.

These are not scenes of a woman who is a bad mother. These are scenes of a mother who adores her children and would do anything for them. But who can only love them roughly because she never had an opportunity to love them gently. Their very existence was never gentle for her and never fostered through love.

Alicent’s relationship with her kids may be broken. But it’s not her fault that it is. And no matter what there is love and it is her motivation. So stop acting like she is a bad mother when she’s fighting like hell to breed a relationship with them that is fostered in connection.