The Ultimate Game of Thrones Theory Unveils House of the Dragon Season 2's Rhaenyra & Alicent Enigma

House of the Dragon season 2 faces a challenge with the narratives of Alicent Hightower and Rhaenyra Targaryen. However, there is a straightforward and intelligent solution for the Game of Thrones spinoff to address this issue. One of the standout aspects of House of the Dragon season 1 was the dynamic between Alicent and Rhaenyra, portrayed initially by Emily Carey and Molly Alcock, and later recast with Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy. Their relationship, from Alicent's marriage to Viserys to the growing tension between their sons, played a significant role in shaping the narrative.

In House of the Dragon season 2, the story will delve further into these elements. With Aemond Targaryen's fatal encounter with Lucerys Velaryon, the Dance of the Dragons will truly ignite. This will necessitate a greater focus on their children, such as Aegon Targaryen and Jacaerys Velaryon, as they step up to lead the greens and blacks factions, respectively. While this development is intriguing in its own right, what does it mean for Alicent and Rhaenyra?

House Of The Dragon Season 2 Will Separate Alicent & Rhaenyra (& That's A Problem)

Alicent and Rhaenyra have not seen each other since their last encounter in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 8, when Rhaenyra returned to Dragonstone. Since then, significant events have unfolded, including the death of King Viserys, the declaration of two rival rulers in Westeros (one of them being Rhaenyra herself), and the tragic killing of one of Rhaenyra's sons by one of Alicent's sons. It is clear that reconciliation is not a possibility, and a reunion is also unlikely in the near future. Alicent has no incentive to leave the safety of King's Landing, and Rhaenyra has no reason to return until she can reclaim the city.

As a result, it is highly probable that Alicent and Rhaenyra will remain separated throughout House of the Dragon season 2. In George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, they only come together again after Rhaenyra successfully takes control of King's Landing, a development that may not occur until season 3, especially given the limited number of episodes in season 2 (only eight). The transformation of Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship into a rivalry is the core of House of the Dragon. It provides an intimate aspect to the story, balancing the grand scale of the Dance of the Dragons. While the plot necessitates their separation, the absence of their dynamic together deprives the narrative of one of its most significant strengths.

Alicent Having Visions Of Rhaenyra Would Solve House Of The Dragon Season 2's Problem

Exploring the earlier years of Alicent and Rhaenyra through flashbacks.

Rhaenyra sneaking into King’s Landing for some reason.

Alicent going to Dragonstone.

There are several possibilities for the direction of Rhaenyra's storyline in House of the Dragon season 2. However, it appears that Milly Alcock, the actor portraying the younger Rhaenyra, will not be returning. This rules out the option of using flashbacks with older versions of the character, as there are not enough gaps in the story to make this approach effective. Additionally, the scenarios of Rhaenyra going to King's Landing or Alicent going to Dragonstone are not feasible due to the high level of danger involved. Another potential option is Rhaenyra taking control of King's Landing, but this would require rushing through a significant amount of the story too quickly.

Alicent and Rhaenyra being together can be achieved through the incorporation of visions, where Alicent appears to Rhaenyra. This approach would effectively address any potential plot issues while still allowing their reunion to have a strong emotional impact. This choice is particularly clever considering the direction of the plot. In the second season of House of the Dragon, Alicent will experience the loss of her grandchild, Prince Jaehaerys, who will be killed by Blood and Cheese on the orders of Daemon Targaryen as a form of revenge for Lucerys Velaryon's death.

Through set photos and videos, it has been revealed that Rhaenyra will be wrongly blamed for Jaehaerys' death. During the funeral procession, the people of King's Landing will be encouraged to view Rhaenyra as "Rhaenyra the Cruel" in connection to the incident. Alicent, consumed by grief and rage, having visions of her former friend due to Jaehaerys' death would add an emotional layer that further poisons their relationship. This would also align with one of the primary themes of the show: misunderstandings.

In the book, Rhaenyra and Alicent are not involved in the respective schemes of Blood and Cheese and Aemond killing Lucerys. However, it would be fitting for them to blame each other for the loss of their sons, considering their history. Given their physical distance, it could be a powerful narrative device to have Alicent convey these conversations through her actions with food.

Adding weight to this theory is the fact that Emma D'Arcy was present in Cáceres‎, Spain during the filming of season 2 of House of the Dragon, which included scenes set in King's Landing, including Prince Jaehaerys's funeral procession. While no details were revealed about D'Arcy's specific filming, their arrival prompted heightened secrecy. It is possible that this was intentional misdirection, but if D'Arcy did indeed film scenes as Rhaenyra in King's Landing, incorporating visions of some sort would be the wisest and most impactful choice for House of the Dragon season 2.