#there are no pure parallels but the way that envy and jealousy can curdle a friendship…. it hits

[melrosing]

I can understand some of the criticisms of the way the Alicent v Rhaenyra feud is being handled if we’re simply to understand it as Alicent being angry that Rhaenyra’s slept with someone and lied about it - that isn’t much to feud over, like girl what do you care lol.

buuut thinking about it through the lens of last week’s ep, where it’s clear that for Alicent sex has meant nothing but duty and suffering…. I do see where this has gotten twisted in her mind. Coming from a place of envy and resentment at seeing Rhaenyra enjoy partners of her choice and (relatively speaking) no consequences for doing so, as well as a father who will cover up for her and look the other way - the same father that routinely rapes Alicent, no less….

And then the threat against her own children she’s been warned of by her father (who in turn lost is position and his ability to protect Alicent, her children and House Hightower because of Rhaenyra [or his accusations against her anyway])…. idk I can see it 🤷🏻‍♀️ envy is a vicious motivator, and a fear for your kids never really goes amiss if they’re anywhere in a Westerosi line for succession lol. So imo it does lay the groundwork for their feud and eventually a full blown war. Could’ve used some tweaking maybe but doesn’t necessarily need it

Obviously this could all be avoided if Alicent could maybe just sit and talk to Rhaenyra and understand her perspective but then like. You could say that about essentially every conflict in this damn series lmao