House of the Dragon fans have spotted a devastating parallel between Alicent and Rhaenyra in season 2, episode 3.
Now, the following will delve into major spoilers for the new episode. Turn back now if you're not up to date!
In the new installment, Rhaenyra takes a huge risk and travels from Dragonstone to King's Landing so she can meet with Alicent. Rhaenyra is hoping that she can still find a path to peace by speaking to her old childhood best friend, though the odds are stacked against her. That results in Rhaenyra sneaking into the sept to join Alicent in prayer.
After getting over her initial shock, Alicent insists that Viserys changed his mind on his deathbed and named their son Aegon the new heir. She's so certain, in fact, that she swears it on the memory of her mother.
Cast your minds back to season 1, and you might remember that young Rhaenyra swears the same oath to Alicent when she promises she was not seen cavorting in a brothel with her uncle Daemon. This was actually a lie, which Alicent later discovered – which explains her repeating the oath now with such a furious look on her face. Check out a comparison of the moments below.
whoever came up with this parallel idea in the writers' room is so sick pic.twitter.com/A0tnHdWDvUJuly 1, 2024
Rhaenyra is able to clear up the misunderstanding with Alicent over that deathbed confession, too – Viserys was actually speaking of the Song of Ice and Fire prophecy, which involves Aegon the Conqueror, not Aegon II. It's too little too late to stop the war, sadly, but at least now Alicent knows the truth (and is aware of her catastrophic misunderstanding).
House of the Dragon continues weekly on Sky and NOW in the UK and HBO in the US. For even more on the show, check out our pieces on:
- House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1-4 review
- A guide to House of the Dragon season 2
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner on why Blood and Cheese is nothing like Game of Thrones' Red Wedding
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner doesn't feel the pressure of following the controversial Game of Thrones season 8: "Our challenge comes from within"
- House of the Dragon showrunner teases season 3: "You don't want to end up in that place where you're doing the same thing again and again"
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner breaks down the complicated relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra: "Conflict is the order of the day"
- House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner says Rhaenyra and Alicent's bond is still the heart of the show: "We understand that these two women are connected"
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 recap and Easter eggs
- House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 recap and Easter eggs
- Hugh Hammer explained
- How Blood and Cheese is different from the book
- Cregan Stark explained
- Addam of Hull explained
- Daeron Targaryen explained
- Alys Rivers explained
- The dragonseeds explained
- The House of the Dragon dragons, listed and explained
- Greens vs. Blacks, explained
- The White Worm, explained
- The Targaryen family tree
- The House of the Dragon timeline
- Who wins the Dance of the Dragons?
- The history of Vhagar
- House of the Dragon season 2 release schedule
