In House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower are depicted as best friends from their youth, sharing confidences and forming a strong bond. However, their relationship undergoes a significant change when Alicent becomes the wife of King Viserys, Rhaenyra’s father. This union changes the dynamic between the two women, culminating in a profound division. However, there’s something more that’s bothering them.
How Rhaenyra and Alicent have pent-up rage
Rhaenyra and Alicent are undergoing a similar predicament, as perfectly directed by Clare Kilner. Kilner told The Wrap, “I think it’s very much about rage that’s sort of building inside them because they have their hands tied behind their back. They can’t go out and do what everyone else is doing. They feel muffled.
I think in one hand there’s this sort of rage and anger building in them, but rage can be fire and fuel for change. They aren’t really even allowed to show that or demonstrate that as much as the men are. The grief and sadness is building fuel to try to look at their world and find a different way to change their mindset and think outside the box.”
Credits: Max
Clare Kilner praises Olivia Cooke
Olivia Cooke has given a standout performance in House of the Dragon Season 2 as Alicent. Kilner said, “For every scene, I do loads of prep beforehand in terms of breaking down the scene and looking at the characters, but I also walk onto the set with my DP and we talk about if we had just one long shot how would we shoot it.
I was just like ‘this would all be on Alicent. I could shoot this whole scene on Alicent.’ Also because Olivia Cooke just quietly brings everything. Behind those eyes there is so much going on.”
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