Alicent Hightower, portrayed by “House of the Dragon” actress Emily Carey, talks about their special bond with Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock). The series, which takes set hundreds of years before Daenerys Targaryen’s birth, is a prequel to the enormously famous Game of Thrones. Over 10 million people watched the debut of “House of the Dragon,” which has gotten positive reviews from reviewers and viewers.
Rhaenyra Targaryen has found herself in the position to become the first queen of the Seven Kingdoms in “House of the Dragon“ as the first signs of civil war begin to emerge in Westeros. Her father will shortly remarry and produce a male heir, as Game of Thrones viewers are aware, which will ultimately cause a terrible rift in Westeros and the Targaryen dynasty. The foundations for Alicent Hightower’s marriage to Viserys, the king and mother of Aegon Targaryen, had already been established in “House of the Dragon,” which also established the special bond between Alicent and Rhaenrya.
Regarding Alicent and Rhaenrya’s friendship, Carey explained to EW that teenage girls’ relationships are often characterized by intense love that can be confusing romantically. She draws attention to the disparities between best friends between girls and boys, demonstrating a deeper understanding and emotional openness. Because of how close they are, Alicent’s relationship with King Viserys will also have a bigger effect on Rhaenyra, possibly causing sadness and feelings of betrayal. Read Carey’s entire response down below.
“Fourteen-year-old girls are allowed to change in front of each other when boys aren’t, and you go to the bathroom together. Just like this tactile closeness and this emotional vulnerability that you share with one another, it’s almost like having a partner. You want to be with that person all the time, and all in all just encapsulating you with love. You just want to love that person so deeply, and you think your best friend of 14 is going to be your best friend for the rest of your life. It does toe the line between platonic and romantic. But I also think, at 14, you don’t know what those words mean. You don’t know what the feelings mean. It’s just love. That’s all it is. Whether it’s friendship or more than that, I think it’s up to how you want to see it, but it was talked about for sure. As a viewer, I like to read into it because I also think that it makes the demise of the friendship more heartbreaking to watch… I would love if they were a little bit fruity, but it’s up to you how you want to read it. It’s just a beautiful bond between two young girls, let’s put it that way.”
Rhaenyra and Alicent are implied to be more than just friends in “House of the Dragon,” with the two frequently engaging in physical contact and being completely honest with one another about their feelings. Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship appears to just be full of so much love that they express it in original ways, as Carey says, despite the fact that passion can be complicated for a teenager. Rhaenyra doesn’t have many relationships she can trust, especially since she is the heir to the iron throne, but she finds solace in Alicent’s constant presence.
The initial stages of Alicent and Rhaenyra’s relationship have been characterized by clever humor and playful shenanigans, but they will soon grow distant. Although Alicent’s marriage to Viserys will result in grave treachery that will impact both girls and all of Westeros, their interplay vividly illustrates the love between young girls. This change in their relationship will also be reflected in a recasting of Alicent and Rhaenrya for a time jump in upcoming episodes of “House of the Dragon.” Audiences may find this recasting startling at first, but considering their deteriorating relationship, the change to new performers may precisely capture this.
How the “House of the Dragon” Cast Overcame a Significant Age Gap