Despite the constant foreshadowing of the character’s eventual villainous turn, Alicent was defined as gullible and as someone who genuinely cares for the well-being of her childhood best friend, Rhaenyra. However, when Episode 6 premiered, the audience saw a massive transition in Alicent, who suddenly became a cruel and stone-hearted queen.
In a recent interview with Collider, House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke was asked about Alicent’s turning point and where her priorities actually shift, which the actress entirely blames on bad parenting. Check out her response below:
For a daughter who was forced to marry King Viserys (Paddy Considine) at the age of 18, it’s not surprising to see Alicent wildly evolve into a cold-blooded character as she continues to secure her power. Aside from that, Alicent’s villainous traits are also rooted in her motherly qualities, desperately wanting his son, Aegon II, to inherit the Iron Throne.
Is Alicent really the main antagonist of the Game of Thrones prequel? At this point, it’s still hard to figure out considering how the series is filled with various grey characters. More importantly, Alicent only turned her back on Rhaenyra after the Targaryen heir lied to her about her sexual activities, prompting the queen to fully embrace her Hightower heritage. Nonetheless, Alicent and Rhaenyra’s rivalry has just started, and we can certainly expect more as the Dance of the Dragons brews.
House of the Dragon is streaming on HBO Max.
Also read: House of the Dragon: Olivia Cooke Explains Why She Disagreed with Alicent’s Initial Characterization
