Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, has given fans a tantalizing look at what to expect from the complex bond between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent in the upcoming Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
In a new Radio Times interview, Cooke discussed how the events of Season 2 have dramatically altered the power balance between the two former friends-turned-rivals.
Quick read:
- Olivia Cooke affirms that Rhaenyra and Alicent both will be stepping into a new world
- They will navigate through their similarities and differences
- It would be really interesting to watch she says
Credits: HBO
The flipped power dynamic
“Their power dynamic is completely flipped. We do see a lot more of them together, but it’s a new world for both of them… uhm I’m trying not to give spoilers. It’s an interesting alchemy.”
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Cooke’s comments suggest that Season 3 will explore a very different version of the Rhaenyra-Alicent relationship. After the chaos and betrayals of Season 2, both women find themselves in unfamiliar territory, with shifting power, new pressures, and a fractured but still deeply personal connection.
This “flipped” dynamic has excited fans of the Rhaenyra-Alicent (often called “Rhaenicent”) pairing. While the two will share more screen time together, it won’t necessarily be the tender reunion many hope for. Instead, it sounds like a tense, layered, and emotionally complex evolution shaped by war, betrayal, and survival.
Cooke has repeatedly emphasized how much she enjoys filming with Emma D’Arcy, calling their scenes some of the most rewarding parts of the show. Their real-life friendship often translates into compelling on-screen chemistry, whether the characters are at odds or finding moments of understanding.
