In a shocking House of the Dragon Season 3 throne room scene, Alicent Hightower witnesses the execution of her father, Otto Hightower, at the hands of Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent, has revealed that her character’s immediate reaction was one of raw, unfiltered rage.
Quick read:
- Alicent gets very furious over Rhaenyra killing her father
- Alicent is still under the misunderstanding that Otto was Rhaenyra’s prisoner
- She is gonna gove Rhaenyra a “f— you” atitude over this
“She just beheaded my dad”
For People magazine, Cooke described Alicent’s shock and fury in blunt terms.
“She just beheaded my dad. In front of everyone. She doesn’t know where Otto has been, so for all she knows, he’s been held prisoner by [Rhaenyra]. This feels like a very public display of this assertion of power. I think Alicent is just like, ‘Okay, well, f— you.’”
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This visceral response captures Alicent’s emotional state perfectly. The public nature of the execution, in the very heart of the Red Keep makes it feel like a deliberate humiliation, not just a political move.
Fácilmente la mejor escena del episodio. Rhaenyra pasa por completo de estar destrozada y vulnerable a ser un muro de acero como la reina que es. Alicent lo dice absolutamente todo con los ojos. CAPITULAZO de House of the Dragon pic.twitter.com/rgz4tkKoyZ
— Cris❄️ (@crisfdez007) June 29, 2026
What happens in the scene?
In the tense throne room scene, Rhaenyra Targaryen orders the execution of Otto Hightower after reclaiming King’s Landing. Otto is brought forward and beheaded in front of the court in a deliberately messy and grim manner by Rhaenyra herself, with the first attempt proving inadequate, forcing a grim second effort.
Alicent Hightower along with daughter Helaena is caught by the guards and brought into the room. She reacts with pure shock that quickly turns into raw rage, interpreting it as Rhaenyra’s bold assertion of power and a personal “f— you” after years of conflict. The camera lingers on Alicent’s furious expression, capturing her grief and defiance as the moment becomes a strong ending of Episode 2.
A public display of power
Cooke emphasized how Alicent interprets the moment. From her perspective, Rhaenyra’s decision isn’t merely revenge but is a bold statement of dominance. The beheading happens openly, in front of the court, amplifying the sense of personal and political violation for Alicent.
This scene marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the two former friends. What began as a rivalry rooted in childhood grievances has now become deeply personal, with both women losing fathers and loved ones in the war.
The “pure rage” Alicent describes feels earned after seasons of her watching her family’s power slip away. Her immediate “f— you” mindset sets the tone for how she will respond to Rhaenyra’s reign moving forward.
