In the most current “House of the Dragon” episode, Rhaenyra is furious with King Viserys’ choice to wed Alicent Hightower, yet she may have deeper grievances than the first surface. “House of the Dragon,” which is just in its second episode, is making good progress with its civil war prelude. The next event will be Viserys and Alicent’s wedding, and their union will produce more heirs and cause more controversy over who will rule on the Iron Throne.
The impact of Viserys and Alicent’s union on Rhaenyra will be most notable in the form of a son who will contest her rightful inheritance. Rhaenyra’s claim to be Viserys’ heir is already shaky. There has never been a governing Queen of the Seven Kingdoms before, and if given the chance, the lords of Westeros would be happy to replace her with a male heir. When her father announces his intention to remarry, Rhaenyra’s anger is undoubtedly a result of both this knowledge and the fact that it would take place just six months after the passing of her mother. But it would also hurt greatly that her father picked her best friend—possibly her only friend—to be his bride. There’s also a chance that Rhaenyra has feelings for Alicent that go beyond friendship, and that she won’t fully understand those feelings until she faces losing Alicent.
The first two episodes of “House of the Dragon“ have hinted at the possibility of romance developing between Rhaenyra and Alicent. The two girls are routinely pictured holding hands and spending almost all of their time together. In one scenario, Rhaenyra lies on Alicent’s knee with her head in her lap, daydreaming of a time when they will both ride dragons and traverse the world while indulging in cake. The Alicent actor Emily Carey compares Rhaenyra and Alicent’s friendship to “having a girlfriend” and describes it as representative of how young girls share a “tactile closeness” and “emotional vulnerability.” She continues by saying that these relationships indeed “edge the line between platonic and romantic, but she also notes that at 14, you’re too young to understand what those terms imply. It is only love.” There is no question in Rhaenyra’s mind that she loves Alicent, but it is less obvious whether she has explored the full extent of her affections. However, Rhaenyra’s reaction to Viserys’ announcement, particularly the look of betrayal and hurt she aimed at Alicent, strongly suggests that her love for Alicent may be stronger than she ever imagined.
In House of the Dragon, is Rhaenyra in love with Alicent? That Would Imply
In “House of the Dragon,” it is probable that Rhaenyra is in love with Alicent. She doesn’t seem to have a huge social circle, thus she has very few opportunities to form even a crush. The relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent is now the closest one; however, it will alter in upcoming episodes. In spite of this, there’s a slim probability that Rhaenyra will act on her feelings for Alicent, even if they have intensified into stronger, more passionate ones. There are gay partnerships in Westeros, although they are not often accepted. This is especially true for nobles, who face greater pressure to the wedding and have children than even royals like Rhaenyra do.
However, having feelings and acting on them are two very different things, and nothing would stop Rhaenyra from standing up for Alicent in the future. Rhaenyra’s hatred towards her father and his fiancee is really made even more tragic if it is partially motivated by jealousy. Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship will only deteriorate as Season 1 of “House of the Dragon” goes on, but it will be interesting to see if Rhaenyra ever realizes how intensely she truly loved Alicent (or is).