Memories of 2019 where some creators tried their best to protect characters who started acting strange and out of character just to say "hey, no! she/he isn't guilty, look this new villain", grrm should have been more categorical about HBO's changes in his story, this will have a big butterfly effect in the future, I won't be impressed if a "season 8" occurs again

Hes not a villain. Fact is, if his daughter had not been a whore and had multiple bastards, there would have never been an issue in the first place. Alicents problem with rhaenyra boiled down to her having bastards instead of true born kids and flaunting it for all to see at court. How is that her fathers fault? Typical women running from accointability.

60k so they can evacuate to egypt? You mean the country they share a border with? The country that doesnt allow palestinians into their country? Sounds like a scam.

I like the idea of it but I get confused about the placement. Men tend to have leaner faces with longer vertical lines so bringing blush down on them tends to work with the flow of their straight sideburns and longer jaws. I think a slightly deeper more ruddy brown or cool-toned color would look supernatural on you to suit the natural theme of this look. It's cute though <3. Please let us know how those Fenty blushes wear over concealer or powder :).

the thing is... they changed show runners and writers, it looks like the same show, but it isn't... the inconsistencies is because of that

Great diplomat, good man, bad father, TERRIBLE king.

He's not a villain but he definitely is guilty of starting the war through inaction. Many well meaning ppl do bad things by turning the blind eye to problems, especially when their loved ones are involved in them. He was also a cold distant parent to his younger kids and obviously overprotective to R. whom he spoiled ,but failed to prepare for her role. That is a very common flaw and situation in westeros and the real world though. It makes him (a well meaning but flawed) human.

They really assassinated Alicent character in season 2 episode 8. I lost a lot of respect for the character after that.

I generally agree, but I beg to differ in one point. Given that Viserys’s uncle Aemon (oldest male child of Jaehaerys) and father Baelon (second oldest male child of Jaehaerys) died “prematurely” in the sense that their father outlived both of them, it was not too dumb of an idea to have more heirs in case something happens to Rhaenyra. Well, since nothing happened to her, this was ofc contraproductive. But seen from Viserys’s standpoint with the trauma of losing father, mother and uncle so young, it is kind of understandable.

A terrible king, father, and husband. He deserved his fate and to be honest he is probably in contention as the worst 5 kings of the seven kingdoms.

King V ignored all his kids by alicent and then he ignored everything rhaenyra did wrong. U put a different house in the hightower place the same result would happen with rhaenyra being usurped.

The only issue I take because I’m trying to separate the book from the show because I’m a huge asoiaf fan and in the book, she actually did start the dance like her, her father, and Cole. However Viserys made the entire thing possible but she let Viserys rot in his chamber for over a week and imprisoned all the servants who found him…pretty sure they died, not sure but they were silenced , but her and Cole literally started the dance and used that week to usurp Nyra. But tbf technically Aemond started the dance, they had the war of the ravens but Aemond intentionally did what he did. I liked the deviation in the show, but in the book he shouted out his intent. But that’s in the book. The problem that I have is in the show like on DriftMark during the funeral when aemond and Aegon are talking about his betrothal to Helaena and Aegon is ummm let’s say less than enthused 😂. Aemond literally tells him that he needs to show respect as *that will be his future Queen*. Who do you think they learned that from? Like things have gotten really weird since Miguel left as he genuinely understood the universe, but in the book like I started out completely Team Black because of how evil the greens were and because the book is so biased against rhaenyra. However, by the end, I was angry and just felt nothing but complete sympathy for all the innocents, especially the children and thought about how stupidly preventable all of this was. Viserys should have made rhaenyra and Aegon marry. Or when rhaenyra extended an olive branch by offering to Marry Jace and Helaena (which she (Helaena) would’ve genuinely been so much happier with) but Alicent won’t even hear about it. Although that would’ve guaranteed that her children would all have power in their own right and essentially drawn the family back together. He should’ve put his damn foot down and made it happen. Or abdicated instead of letting his wife rule and let Rhaenyra be Queen. Like that’s what so upsetting is how preventable all of this was. But they’ve made a lot of changes in the show, and I like the show version of her. But the book version of her? Ive read a lot of books over the years and she’s in the top five of my most hated characters. This is all my opinion. The show has not used a lot of source material and that’s what’s gotten a lot of book fans frustrated like of course on certain events You really don’t have material for, but some things have been good changes while others have been completely senseless. Alicent in the book has power and uses the hell out of it. Like in the end everyone’s evil and she gets the ending she deserves because honestly out of everyone I feel like she gets the most brutal ending. And I feel like that’s how George is trying to tell you how he feels about her because she played such a large role..

💯 He even called Rhaenyra his only child before he dies. His other children were just ornaments to expand the Targaryen line.

It's great to hear other perspectives. Otto started this war. I respect the love that you have for your girl Alicent Hightower.

Her son r'd somebody. I'd get if if she had another moral candidate but not him

I love it too! Penelope is amazing!

Sure, she got the short end, and I feel sorry for her….but yes, yes she did. Raynera gave her a chance to say she was mistaken and she just decided to keep up the lie.

He protected his daughter when Aemon lost his eye 1. If you look and listen alicent has raised them to be jealous like she is and Aemon was about to kill one of the girls with a BIG rock... HELLO 🙄 He had to defend her in that world if he let anyone say they were bastards they would kill his daughter and grandkids and then the kingdom would go to heck..! 2. Also Allison was a teenager yes in the book she was older and anyways she knew what she was doing she could have told him she didn't want to she could have said no to her father but she wanted to be Queen. See knew what she was doing when she went in his room every night and was there to comfort the king like her daddy said! She knew it seduced the king and did not tell her friend that she was doing this behind her friends back that's what no one seems to know on this site or whatever Allison acts like she's better and she's sacrificing everything but yet she did the lying first to ranerya .. she did not tell Rainier she was sneaking in her father's bedroom every night that would have hurt her best friend so she kept it to herself 3. You need to look at the way she raised her kids she let her son grape the maids .without consequences!. I'm going to stop now because I not going to my blood pressure up because if you choose to defend someone who is clearly not a good person or mother she raised murders . By the way everyone knows that in our world women died all the time trying to give their husbands a son it's sad it's wrong but you know also you were mentioning the fact that he was with his first wife she was 14 and he was 17 so don't put it that he has groomed her.

He named his daughter as Queen. The fault is with Otto Hightower, Criston Cole etc. for not accepting this and pushing Aegon to rule.

Your opinions are appropriate for OUR time and OUR world. Not for THEIR time and in THEIR world lol.

This is an insane take lol

I hate him

No, he isn't villain Stop blamig victims and excusing perpetrators.

Didn't even need to watch to like. (I did watch though)

It feels like some of your commentary is based on 21st century views. He chose he’s son over his wife because he believed in the song of ice and fire and keeping the realm intact.

Wth?!!! The guy sacrificed his one true love for the stability of the realm and in the end he lost everything. Rheanyra and daemon are both at fault.

Um...NO...unless you're blaming him for marrying Alicent Hightower. Everything would've been fine if the Hightowers had not plotted to usurp the throne.

One small tip: the beeping sound in the back is a bit distracting, not sure what that is

The king was weak just like his brother told him him he was. Too weak to right the wrongs he created in his family. He had time and options to make this right while he was alive. Its all very sad.

Good video, but that beeping sound made me think my fire alarm was out of battery 😂

He's what I'd call 'covert villain' LOL. They tried to make him seem honorable, etc but his actions are flawed and inactions/steps would push the next generation into the "Dance." First of all, his guilt has always been his decision to basically kill Aemma whom he actually loved. Obviously, not loved enough though. He could select to have Aemma take some milk of the poppy to ease her pain and perhaps rest to try again to get the baby out naturally, but nope, can't even do that because it'd endanger the 'son.' Viserys seemed to fancy himself some sort of a 'dreamer' (since imo, he wanted to have something 'special.') Remember, at this point in time, he's not a dragon rider. He only rode Balerion once and never again tried to claim any dragon. He's not a warrior like his brother, Daemon. He's so into history thou, so he fancied himself talented as a 'dreamer' and dreamed a 'son' of his would be on the Iron throne blablabla, hence he pushed to have Aemma cut open the way she did. Then his guilt and anger (anger that Daemon called Baelon-baby-'heir for a day') pushed him to declare Rhaenyra, his daughter, as his heir--this is only a few years after he became King because others, such as Rhaenys was overlooked due to gender base. Then...he ended up stunting Rhaenyra's growth anyway and married his daughter's friend and started popping up boys with Alicent lol. His inactions (example: Alicent was his regent, not Rhaenyra when he was ill, then after Lord Lyonel Strong died, it was Otto who was his Hand again..not Rhaenyra, why not have her as his hand? I mean, his father Baelon was King Jaehary's Hand for goodness sake, I thought ht wanted Rhaenyra to be the ruling queen?!) eventually pushed Rhaenyra aside and further away from court (as we learn now, proximity to court is very important per claiming the crown). Despite all those, he also 'nurtured' that sense of resentment from the Greens by his further inaction. Alicent already disliked Rhaenyra for not following rules at this point (plus the 3 Strong boys), but Viserys made it worse by not treating his children with Alicent like...his own kids. If anything, it felt like after he's done making the 'spares' (3 boys and a girl) he just went off and went to sleep LOL. Not parenting them, not nurturing them and creating some sort of bond between their families...not until very late anyway. That's why I am not too keen on Viserys, although overall, he didn't have bad intention, just bad executions that's all ....

totally agree. alicent and rhaenyra represent polar opposite responses to living under the misogyny in westeros. alicent is obedient to a fault - undermining her own agenda, intelligence, & agency in favor of a system & a son she doesn't actually believe in. rhaenyra is disobedient to a fault - she reacts to the restrictions of her gender by rebelling against it (the affairs with criston + harwin, etc) - which, while making her more free/self-actualized as a person, it also puts herself + her kids/her claim in danger ... the sad thing is that ultimately the dance of the dragon isn't really about either of them, it's driven into existence by their fathers & husbands. both of them fail to recognize the full extent in which they are trapped by the men around them - that's the ultimate tragedy in their relationship, IMO.

I’d say it’s entirely unfair to call him a villain. Yes his actions led to the dance of the dragons but he was the only thing keeping the realm together and his constant attempts to ensure his family got alone is constant throughout the show and his time as King. He’s certainly not the villain but he does make massive mistakes that play into other mistakes and leads into the dance.

I agree Viserys is the Villain however, it is not true he was given a choice between Aemma and Baelon II. He was told "if we kill your wife now, we MIGHT save the babe, but we need to know now or they both die.

It's not fair to say he didn't care about his wife. He believed in the song of ice and fire. He truly thought that he had to give birth to a male heir or the world would end. Intent is important, and viserys spend the later half of his life trying to prevent his family from being torn apart.

May Viserys rot in the seven hells

Alicent is not solely responsible, but she played a major role...Alicient, along with her father, turned her sons into monsters...Aegon into a sexual deviant, and Aemond into a murderous psychopaths...She taught them to hate and Rhaenyra and her kids, and to disrespect house Targaryen...Simply by wearing green, and having her Targaryen monsters (minus Helena) do the same, Alicient played a major role in dismantling House Targaryen....She may be a bit regretful now because she can see the harm that she has done, but regret does not absolve her from responsibility.

Good take,I think there is a lot of Monday night quarterbacking ,I feel they both are overwhelmed in very intense and complex situations.

18:48 - Viserys asked them to reconcile MULTIPLE times. He asbolutely saw things and trie dto prevent war but there is limited things one can do. He tried for them to leave in peace, he even oredered to be his sons and Velaryon boys to be raised together. But Alicent was constantly undermining her stepgrandchildren, runing Viserys's plan. Stop excusing her. It's easy for you to blame man who died without knowing future. Alicent is responsible for her own choices. Viserys made clear many times what his opinion is and even if he wasn't so affectionate towards his younger children liek to Rhaneyra, he declared during his last supper he loves them and wants both family faction to co-exist. Alicent decide to disregard this, instead of hiding Aegon from Otto.

15:38 - But Alicent's character is mean to be misogynistic.

Alicent projected her own fears on children. Rhaenyra - nor even Daemon - gave any indication Alicent's children would be harm. Daemon was dangerous but he never showed any animosity towrads his nephews until they started to conspire against Rhaenyra. 15:13 - There was no accountability because nothing was owed to Aemond. He was aggresor. Person in self-defense should never be held accountable. Aemond got what he deserved. Alicent should be horrified by what he tried to do and be thankful none demands to punish him for what he almost did to Jace. Alicent should realize she is reason why Aemond acted this way - and got eye gouged - and should from now try to repent. But she contiue undermining Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra having children with Harwin when her husband wa sunbale does not show her 'unfitness' - quite opposite, it shows she was fit, as she was cunning and able to got heirs and present them legitimate. Catherine the Great did the same - and she not only became powrful ruler fro decades, but she was chosen by her people as such; they preffered mother of bastards who wa soutside of dynasty than her incompetent husband who was true heir. And her descendants are known today as Romanovs even if most likely they were not. Infertile coupld have to find their way to get heirs and people do not care about true paternity as long as ruler is astute enough to retain their authority.

13:04 - Yeah, it's crime but one that cannot be proven. 🤷🏻‍♂

12:50 - Velaryon boys are legally legitimate. Period. You cannot prove child is 'illegitimate' in this world. If you could, Stannis wouldn't have to wage war, becuase he would be able simple present evidence why he is rightful heir; he wasn't able because was no hard evidence to present. Same with wit Aenys Targaryen - people were whispering he was bastard, but Aegon claimed him as his legitimate son and that was it. And why do you think neither Maegor and Visenya never used argument about Aenys potentially being illiegitimate, when they usurped Aeny's children? Because they both knew they aren't able to legally prove anything - and even if they proclaim such, people would gonna believe in what they want to belive (meaning: what currently align with their politics).

Rhaenyra did not lie to Alicent - Alicent asked her about Daemon and Rhaenyra told her truth. Yes, Rhaenyra was not completely honest, but neither was Alicent when she hid from her friend she is seeing her father. Alicent should have more understanding and compassione towards Rhaenyra, especially Alicent JUST regained her favour - it is obvious Rhaenyra had trust issues with her stepmother and Queen should be able to understand it. Trueth - she wanted Cole for herself and this is why it all happened: because she couldn't have him herself and became bitter Rhaenyra had him.

Rhaenyra did not lie to Alicent - Alicent asked her about Daemon and Rhaenyra told her truth. Yes, Rhaenyra was not completely honest, but neither was Alicent when she hid from her friend she is seeing her father. Alicent should have more understanding and compassione towards Rhaenyra, especially Alicent JUST regained her favour - it is obvious Rhaenyra had trust issues with her stepmother and Queen should be able to understand it. Trueth - she wanted Cole for herself and this is why it all happened: because she couldn't have him herself and became bitter Rhaenyra had him.

This is what I've been saying lol. It was Viserys, and in part Otto. Viserys was a terrible father and a weak king. He neglected all of his children, including Rhaenyra, but most of all his children with Alicent. What I don't understand is why he remarried and had more children if he was already dead set on making Rhaenyra his heir. If he wanted to remarry, he could have chosen any other noblewoman, but he went for his daughter's best friend, knowing this would destroy their friendship, and yet he didn't care. He didn't prepare Rhaenyra to rule, he killed his first wife for a male heir and when he finally got a male heir through Alicent he wanted nothing to do with that male heir. Honestly Viserys was just horrible.

You should try to use them both on each side! I've seen someone use the Rhode blushes to make the viral sunset blush and it's so pretty!

Yes! Viserys is the true source of this conflict and carries most of the responsibility for the Dance. His aversion to court politics, his fear of displeasing people when making tough decisions, his submission to his heart and it's desires instead of duty to the realm and the way he constantly avoids dealing with conflict in his family: a good man and great character but weak king that doomed his family. 1) Viserys breaks thousands of years of tradition by naming his daughter heir (the very tradition which made him king over Rhaenys if the first place) and then proceeds to do nothing effective to clarify the succession, prepare Rhaenyra to rule and strengthen her claim. Viserys had the power to codify gender-neautral primogeniture into law, he could have made Rhaenyra hand or regent, he could have spent years teaching her histories, having her trained in diplomacy, negotiation or military strategy, he could have taken her on tours of the 7 kingdoms to endear her to powerful houses. But nah, his daughter is about to walk a difficult path and he does almost nothing to protect her. 2) Viserys emotionally neglects his children by Alicent and gives them no reason to demonstrate loyalty towards his wishes once he's gone. His daughter is a dreamer and for a dude obsessed with prophecy he barely notices. Aemond is a history and philosophy nerd and yet Mr "obsessed with the histories" doesn't notice or give a shit. Aegon has a powerful bond with Sunfyre and again, Viserys doesn't care. When Aemond gets his eye ripped out, instead of discipling both kids (Aemond for disrespecting his nephews + Luke for cutting the eye out) Viserys focuses on chastising his two sons, ignoring the animosity between the kids and protecting Rhaenyra's lies. The look Aemond gives Viserys when the king shouts "we are a family!" perfectly captures how much his sons don't like him. 3) Viserys constantly ignores the good advice from his council. He ignores Otto when the Hand rightly suggests wedding Rhaenyra to Aegon. He ignores Corlys when called to take action in the Step Stones. He ignores Lord Strong when he has a very good suggestion of marrying Laena. There are multiple opportunities for Viserys to solve problems in his family and realm but they're difficult decisions so he takes the easy route out. 4) Viserys then brings Otto back as Hand (stupid move if you know the man could potentially usurp your daughter) and then Vizzy does nothing to ensure Alicent will be confident that Rhaenyra's ascension will not threaten the lives of her children. It sucks but the truth is, unless the house of the dragon is united, Rhaenyra's ascension requires that Aemond, Aegon and Daeron die (Daemon wouldn't have a problem doing this if it meant securing Rhaenyra's position in the instance where her authority is challenged as the first ruling Queen). So because does nothing to ease Alicent's reasonable anxiety and fear for her children's lives, Alicent proceeds to instil animosity towards Rhaenyra in her kids, which is then solidified when Aemond gets scarred and Daemon kills Vaemond

Honestly theres so much more to be said even beyond this video. Alicent is incredibly deep and imo to be truly understood and empathized with you NEED to view her from a perspective of gender politics and in some cases even the lesbian lens is needed for contextualizing her actions surrounding rhaenyra. The vast amount of people misunderstanding alicent almost always miss these two areas.