During a recent panel at CCXP Mexico, Olivia Cooke spoke candidly about the complicated relationship between Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen. Her remarks highlighted the tension between love and hate, and the uncertainty surrounding where Rhaenyra now stands in Alicent’s heart.
Quick read
- Olivia Cooke discussed Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship.
- She said hate requires passion once rooted in love.
- Cooke admitted she doesn’t know Alicent’s feelings now.
“To hate someone, there has to be passion”
Cooke explained that Alicent’s animosity toward Rhaenyra is not simple disdain but rooted in a deeper, more complex emotional history. She noted that hatred often stems from passion, which itself is born from love (via THR).
“To hate someone, there has to be a passion that you have to set fire to. And I think there was a great love there once upon a time.”
This perspective suggests that Alicent’s feelings are not entirely detached but rather tangled in the remnants of a once‑strong bond. The actress emphasized that their relationship was once built on genuine affection, which makes the current hostility all the more painful and layered.
Credits: Max
“I don’t know where she stands”
Cooke admitted uncertainty about Alicent’s present feelings toward Rhaenyra, underscoring the ambiguity that defines their dynamic. This uncertainty reflects the broader theme of fractured friendships and shifting loyalties in House of the Dragon.
“I don’t know where she sort of stands in Alicent’s heart anymore.”
By acknowledging that she doesn’t know where Rhaenyra stands in Alicent’s heart, Cooke captured the essence of a relationship that has been reshaped by betrayal, political conflict, and personal grief. Fans can expect this emotional complexity to play a central role in Season 3, as the civil war forces both women to confront the ghosts of their past bond.
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Read next: House of the Dragon Season 3 trailer is confirmed for release this Monday
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