HOTD: Official Podcast Ep. 7 “Driftmark” with Olivia Cooke | House of the Dragon (HBO)

In this episode, Greta and Jason talk through the very intense family reunion after Laena’s funeral. Then, they speak with Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, about her approach to the character and Alicent’s transformation over the years.

[@michaelleano6629]

45:57 Olivia Cooke segment begins

[@ramses3223]

thanks

[@consuite5185]

I spent over half the video being mindblown that Olivia Cooke was American before I saw this comment

[@shadysorkin9214]

hero

[@jacktraister7853]

oh thank god

[@JeffsGoldblum]

may your feet always stay warm and your family and friends always enjoy good health

[@SJB2000]

Rhaenys comes off like she's blaming Rhaenyra for not producing true heirs. When in fact it's her son who didn't do his duty.

[@MyUniqueVibe]

They tried, but he might be infertile.

[@zippers987]

I think it's double duty for Rhaenys' relationship with Rhaenyra. For this episode we see that she doesn't care (that much) about getting her blood on the throne. She knew Laenor was gay and wouldn't produce heirs so she's angry at Corlys for having her children marry the Targarygens. Laena dies and Laenor's sexuality is under the spotlight as Rhaenyra's husband. For Rhaenyra to go forth and then produce children that don't even look Targaryen at all, invites further scrutiny and danger to Laenor.

[@J10005]

@@zippers987 Rhaenyra probably should have just bought a Valyrian male pleasure worker from Lys to produce her heirs. Probably would have been a win win with Laenor as well if he wanted 😂

[@ArqAngilberto]

@@MyUniqueVibe That's exactly what I thought, she said that they tried for years, first to Daemon and then to Laenor himself, so they in fact consumate the marriage, that was really unexpected.

[@ducminhduong9873]

And how would you know that ? Also, no shit it's Rhaenyra's fault when she doesn't even care to produce a child who resembles a Targaryan. If she's going around fucking knights and fathering bastards, she should at least try someone with Valyrian descent. Instead, she decided to birth 3 Strong children. Remember, as funny as it is, contraceptive is a thing in this fantasy world.

[@oshl4387]

This episode should be Olivia Cooke's submission for Emmy consideration. She really sold "unhinged" Alicent for me. If her scenes further intensify in the remaining episodes, we're in for a treat.

[@olebramserud59]

She’s an excellent actress. About time she got this kind of role

[@Dystisis]

She is not unhinged at all. She has acted the most reasonably of all characters. In this episode she acted believably as any mother would.

[@avi9066]

@@Dystisis agreed

[@SciFiPhiChiPsi]

@@Dystisis I think she is unhinged, but the audience has been shown how she's gotten to this point -- being gaslit by everyone about Rhaenyra's bastard children, Viserys in denial about it, her having followed the rules all her life while Rhaenyra keeps flouting the rules and getting away with it without punishment, and then this episode Viserys refusing to protect / avenge his own child out of affection for Rhaenyra

[@walker1tnranger]

@@Dystisis From what she says to Rhaenyra it’s show she doesn’t attack for her children, she attacks because of how much she spite she has for Rhaenyra. It’s not out of motherly love, we have already seen her physically and mentally abuse Aegon, she sees them as political pawns

[@ToneDesh]

This show, man…they just keep doing it…episode after episode. It’s just amazing television. It’s really captivating.

[@mydreaminorbit9297]

My new favorite episode, the scenes with the children, the adults, the Dragon, WOW!! this was good.

[@bongs1995]

Right!! When an episode slows down for set up it's almost always followed up by the best character pay off and momentum in the story.

[@tommysoliz3064]

Olivia Cooke is doing amazing in one of my favorite stories, Alicent Hightower is an intriguing and powerful figure.

[@iliaponomarev1624]

Yeah, that's a good point about Alicent being jealous about Rhaenyra's parenting skills. Her children are kinda weird in not a good sense: Aegon is all about drinking and banging, Aemond is an anagram of Daemon for a reason, Helaena is kinda cute but she's not here. Daeron is supposedly cool, but he's in Oldtown. Rhaenyra's kids are, like, normal. Nothing weird about them so far.

[@Haany663]

I can't believe that I just realized that Aemond is an anagram of Daemon 😂😂😂

[@Thrawn23.]

His name being an anagram for Daemon is at the bottom of the list. He's very similar to his grandfather Baelon. A 2nd son who is brave and ambitious for wanting and claming Vhagar like Baelon. A slim, fast yet fierce warrior. Loyal to elder brother and has a strong sense of justice for a wrongdoing done to them.

[@wyattrussell7496]

Daemon giggling at the thick blood line is so Daemon

[@RIAN-he8oo]

Young Aemond was impressive, a 10/10 episode

[@captainziggy82]

My mvp for sure!

[@soggyRATUwU]

no cuz he really carried so much of this episode, when i read the books (no spoilers) aemond was probably my least liked character but in just 2 episodes this show put him in my top 3 favorite characters

[@heizeking3557]

he is my fav now

[@calvitienonbinaire6023]

@@soggyRATUwU why didnt you like him in the book ?

[@soggyRATUwU]

@@calvitienonbinaire6023 i can’t really go into detail without putting spoilers out there but pretty much it came down to him not being fleshed out enough for his actions to seem understandable and in the books, he lacks nuance compared to some of the other characters so he comes across as a black and white villain.

[@BreLana]

*ABOUT HELENA* 🌟 The Dreamer! Her vision with the spider plays out in this episode to some degree! Not just Aemond's eye for a dragon. Dragon Flesh Weaving Dragon Threads... saying something about greens... Aemond (a green's dragon) climbing the rope (threads) to claim Vhaegar! And also sides taking shape... the Blacks versus Greens begins taking more shape after Aemond's eye is finally closed! And two dragons (riders & by blood) weave into a union via Rhaenrya & Daemon getting married!

[@andysmith107]

I read Ser Harold’s comment as a correction to the King when he said Aemma’s name

[@RadicalValkyrie]

I was gonna say that it sounded like you missed when the King called Alicent, 'Aemma'. 🙂 Well done, Producer.

[@ianschmitt4991]

Shout out to the Sunfyre & Dreamfyre cameos at the end when the greens are sailing away

[@soggyRATUwU]

you can also see sunfyre at the beginning of the episode and he looks beautiful :))

[@ianschmitt4991]

@@soggyRATUwU dang I missed that. Guess it's time for another rewatch lol

[@shockmesane4158]

What great and thoughtful insights from Olivia. Thanks!

[@Timurv1234]

its about the small things in the writing. i love how in episode 7, Viserys highlights the fact that he is the king by putting it last, but in episode 8 during the dinner speech, he highlights being a father, husband and grandsire by. putting that last. That in relation with his physical state and the time thats passed since they met last time, that makes this a great show.

[@SJB2000]

I find it rather interesting the way Alicent backdoors Viserys after he tells her to leave it alone in regards to speaking out on the illegitimacy of Rhaenyra's sons. Alicent knows the deadly risks of such an open allegation and she knows she isn't fully protected if she decides to go forward with it. So she plants it in the heads of the only people that can't get in trouble for saying such things, her own children. There's that moment when Aemond pauses before confessing and Viserys looks at Alicent knowing full well she's behind it but chooses to spare her. She seems to have this trampling grip on him, she speaks over him when he's giving commands and even tries to outrank him as if she's the king. His weakness knows no bounds apparently and it's quite frustrating.

[@Dystisis]

This is nonsense. Everyone knows the children aren't Laenor's - only the king chooses to ignore it.

[@bongs1995]

@@Dystisis doesn't make her insubordination right in the context of her rank. She should move more stealthily which I think her father will teach her.

[@SJB2000]

@@Dystisis ofc everyone knows, saying it out loud is different. Note that I used the phrase "open allegation"

[@gaius5901]

@@bongs1995 doesn't really matter since the show (even tho a lot would disagree) is very skewed towards the Greens and has so many plotholes and plot armor Criston getting away with blatant murder at a feast, Alicent acting like she's the king herself and Otto being accepted back as Hand Yikes

[@blahblah1939]

What a fantastic actress she is and not only that,extremely smart and articulate…wow

[@wizardfromthewest]

Why in the world did I not know that this was a podcast?! I must admit, the incredible talent from everyone involved in the show has completely captivated me and I am enamored with the show. Thanks for the extra content for me to devour second by second. :D

[@SJB2000]

When a dragon rider dies, that dragon is available to be claimed once more. I blame Daemon for not seeing the vulnerability in that. Vhagar in size and strength is worth 2 or 3 dragons, the Hightowers have evened the playing field, if not the upper hand.

[@vecna2502]

Dunno about "claiming dragons rules" when you already have one, but yeah. Vhagar is massive.

[@SciFiPhiChiPsi]

You can only claim one dragon in your life (dragons can have multiple riders, just not simultaneously). That's why Viserys doesn't have a dragon, because his one (Balerion, Aegon the Conqueror's original dragon) died and he wasn't able to take a new one. He was better off either killing Vhagar or egging on his daughter Rhaena to take her before anyone else could.

[@mattsavage9960]

It will only take one dragon to kill Vhagar and you just mentioned the riders name

[@Anthony_Gx]

@@mattsavage9960 don’t spoil

[@ScavverSamMae]

hats off to Laenor for goin off to live his best life free from his title and alllll the shit that’s about to go down lol

[@19EHF]

LOL right I said the same thing. My man really said "im bout to dip cuz i see whats about to go down"

[@tacituskilgore875]

Specially if you know how everyone dies... Horribly.

[@TheTwinklinglilstar]

I really do wonder what will happen to his dragon now that's he's gone but not dead. No book spoilers please!😅

[@Factboy12]

Yeah, sure, hats off to Laenor for : - Participating or being complicit to the murder of an INNOCENT GUARD. - A GUARD who would've probably given his life to defend him. - The desecration of that INNOCENT GUARD's body. Burned beyond recognition. - Letting his OWN MOTHER believe that he is dead. Yep, all that so THE COOL KIDS (Daemon & Rhaenyra) can have their marriage and he can spent quality time in Essos with his lover. Hats off. I HOPE AEMOND KILLS THEM ALL !

[@naruto20021000]

@@Factboy12 Aye man, gotta make the death belivable, he chilling now

[@Joebonesy]

olivia cooke is a gem

[@KalvinPatel]

I love these after show podcasts. Y’all are killing it!

[@laurenmichero9003]

If Helaena rides her dragon and starts spouting off her dragon dream stuff then her dragon is gonna be like WTF is my rider saying😂

[@XiyuYang]

Her dragon Dreamfyre is also the weird one of the bunch. I'd say they make a good match :D

[@daviddavison6391]

I love how the hair is the question when Allicent has dark hair and silver hair kids.

[@DR.DisInfect]

How do all the black kids in the sea crew have blonde dreads 😆

[@heathernbruce6975]

P.S. I love you guys podcast for this. First one I have listened to ever...

[@Suiram82]

I love this podcast. It's a shame it wasn't around for GoT so we could have had more in-depth interviews with cast and crew then as well.

[@oglocop4693]

I honestly don't think there was that much to talk about after each episode of GoT. Some episodes, sure, but not every single one like this show. House of the Dragon is really something else in this regard. I think it's one of the great strengths of this time jump format, where you get thrown into a new situation every episode and get to explore new themes and old themes in a new light.

[@FuzzyDlop]

@@oglocop4693 No you're simply overrating this show to the point of the delusion. The first season of GOT is a lot better than this and there's really nothing to talk about this show after any episode. It's just miscarriages or pregnancies, betrayals, incest and the usual stuff. To be fair there wasn't much to talk about GOT either. They're not relevant or meaningful shows. It's just fantasy and dragons. But you're nonsensically overrating this show compared to GOT. This show isn't even as good as season 6 or 5 of GOT.

[@kebrongurara1612]

@Fuzzy you sound extemely pressed. Why do you make yourself unhappy by watching extra content for something you clearly don't enjoy?

[@enlighten92]

I thought Harrold wanted to politely correct Viserys by mentioning Alicent's name after the former called her Aemma.

[@jocirlei]

😱😱😱👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Amazing Episode

[@BelleZish]

The first part with viserys had me 💀 😂

[@dudigutman3215]

As far as i heard, In the books ser laenor body was broght befor his father before it was burned, thus confirming his death. Also its was during a fight with much more eye witneses. But i like the twist

[@Hardcore_Drug_Abuse95]

Got serious flashbacks to the incident on the kings road. "Another wolf then..."

[@enola_xan]

man this is good TV

[@moonriver_moon]

Feel bad for Rhaenys. She loss her Laena and now she thinks she loss Laenor too.

[@nibhanraheem]

1:09:55 what's the name of the music track as they are closing the podcast?

[@Tormund_Giantsbrain]

Olivia is the only queen to support as far as I'm concerned.

[@elidasilva5558]

36:03 - We dont get alot of wins...I thought of "We dont get a lot of Winds". Yes..no winds. So many Winters. No winds hahah

[@smarti1144]

Rhaenys is Rhaenerya's aunt. So her kids are her blood but not Corlys. Interesting.

[@iamthesayyadina]

Vaemond's eulogy speech was laughable with the inclusion of the "blood" comments... "Our will never be thinned." Uhm, what? Laena herself is only 50% Velaryon. Her children are 25%. If he was alluding to Valyrian blood, then the King & Alicent's three children are only 50%. So... yeah. Daemon laughing was perfection. Helaena: "Hand turns loom. Spool of Green. Spool of Black. Dragons of flesh weaving dragons of thread." Foretelling the Dance which basically begins with the children fighting after Aemond claims Vahgar. The only one of hers I can't figure out is the first bug she's talking about in ep 6. So far everything they've given her to say, including, "He did it again." involves the Sight. Maybe the bug does too.

[@AC-ik2qq]

Wait did they not do a recap in this podcast episode? 😮

[@Hopefulgeek]

Thank you for the subtitles, certain really high pitch voices are bad for me

[@BuruIgeru]

@0:21 Lord Tywin always says it best: "Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king."

[@sheritamullings6533]

um excuse me, what do you mean what is she waiting for? Rhaena claiming her mother's dragon before the body is even cold is like a kid running to the insurance company to claim the benefit the day after a parents tragic death. When you are genuinely grieving that's just a bit more important than grabbing what you can get. Aemond picking a rock was an escalation if you ask me, it's sad that as such a young child Lucerys feels like he needs a weapon to defend himself from his own relative

[@KAstarGod]

I agree with all you wrote here. I though it was interesting that Jason saw it so differently.

[@Despair505]

Talk about bias. Lucerys was probably carrying that weapon because they didn't knew who it was, not because his relatives, who have done nothing to him.

[@sheritamullings6533]

@@Despair505whatever the reason behind him taking it with him (and we can speculate all day about that until the show runners confirm that you're right and im wrong) my point remains that he was desperate enough in that moment to not only pull it out but use it. Could just be my bias talking again tho. Would you have suggested he just wait until his brother's skull was bashed in?

[@april-ludgate-karate-dwyer9556]

Do you think they just teleported to drift mark or smth 😭 and yeah aemond picking up a rock was escalation definitely not the 4 people that decided to jump him...

[@sheritamullings6533]

@@april-ludgate-karate-dwyer9556I guess you woke up and chose ignorance today. The time it took them to get to driftmark is relevant because there is an expiry date on grief and timeline for closure? Regarding Aemond, if that sarcastic comment made you feel great then I'm happy for you

[@chickenwings273]

Olivia joins at 45:57

[@wycliffe_ndiba]

It took me a while to reconcile with Game of Thrones having distance between characters and House of the Dragon being so cramped together. They could talk crap about each other because they weren't close to hearing each other even through rumours, like Lord Varys when he was updating the king on Daenerys' progress by belittling her. But Greta's take on this situation (7:40) makes me see it in a new light because you get to see almost in real time the reactions to accusations, rumours, all sorts of tomfoolery that happen unfolding fast while keeping the big moments to the pace that we're used to in Game of Thrones.

[@wolfboyforest]

GOAT Episode

[@rorschachs1889]

45:57 👑💚

[@michallepimentel4208]

I thought the scene with Viserys calling Alicient Aemma was a hint of what’s to come. That Viserys is going to say things to Alicient thinking she’s Aemma or Rhaenyra and Alicient isn’t even gonna realize… I’ll give an example but it’s a spoiler for non book readers *Spoiler* Rhaenyra is going to have a son Aegon too pretty soon. What if Viserys is talking and says one day your boy Aegon will take the throne and he thinks it Rhaenyra but it’s Alicient. Alicient can run with that. Only thing is Aegon is 4th in line for the throne so not a great example but you see what I mean that Viserys being confused on who’s who is VERY BAD. And the show runners put that slip in there for a reason. 🧐

[@lucidmemory4146]

Hot D official podcast: “Fascinating”…

[@gabzpot]

It was very cool to watch all the "dragons" grunting and attacking on a another, in a funeral of one of their own.

[@CaptainSawyer]

Can anyone provide a timestamp of when Olivia is on?

[@LaReinaZorra]

Aemond is their uncle! Baela & Rhaena are his cousins. Aemond One-Eye

[@monicaalexandru9638]

The scenes between Rhaenyra and Daemon and the stealing of Vhagar by Aemond were so dark that I saw mostly nothing!!!!!!! I was squinting at a greyish blackish screen with the luminosity turned full on and could barely see the silver heads of the characters and the contour of Vhagar with the moon behind her. WTH?

[@SHARKVADERS]

GOT!!!!!

[@jasperjon5931]

Ok so this is what's missing on the interview. Can we recognize how amazing Olivia Cooke in this episode, And how she really gets the story of her own character and what technique or creative style she do to relate to the Alicent you all hate that I personally love, because Alicent have so much layer and the characters writing is spectacular and also Olivia's outstanding portrayals bring more fire to it. What an amazing episode.

[@joel5956]

Larys has strong Scorpio energy.

[@giselle1929]

not me thinking larys also exudes virgo energy 👀

[@aengusog3415]

46:16 Olivia Cooke

[@sneza3204]

I mean, it's a fair battle, basterds or not. Aemond holds a huge amount of unsolved emotions stemming from the situation in the dragon pit and him being made fun of. And he is vengeful; "do it once again, and I'll feed you to my dragon." While the other kids act for themselves without any weapon, he gets himself a stone, puts a dragon in front of him. There was no need for him, to accounce personally, that he is Vhagar's rider; he obviously wanted to make up for all the time, he hadn't had one. And why, just by the way, he didn't think of Aegon, who was also involved in the fun-making of him, too. Just to mention. As Viserys said, Aegon is overcredoulus, yet Alicent works at every occasion against Rhaenyra. There is no in-between; Alicent wants Rhaenyra "gone" out of Viserys's life. Alicent seems to be overprotective of her kids; and she won't listen to Viserys, as he tries to make her see on her own weaknesses, that blank spaces of hers.

[@NathTMcC]

I think the podcasters missed that Sir Harold said “shall I see after queen Alicent?” Because Viserys called her Aemma by mistake.

[@Lionsgala]

Why would Allison allow her son to marry her daughter when she was so disgusted when she originally thought that her best friend slept with her uncle

[@lemonadelemon1960]

Because in those times a maidenhood was the most important thing a noble woman could have at that time. could put the entire line of succession at risk because she was heir. And not to mention she was backing Rhanera's claim to the throne even over her own son.

[@debodiptapaul]

Because she's a hypocrite

[@CelibateCetologist]

Because she’ll do anything to weaken Rhaenyra’s claim to the throne, such as preventing a marriage between their children by betrothing her own son to her own daughter.

[@ZombiCTRL]

The guy who got thrown in the fire place was actually someone hired to kill Laenor, not a random guard. If that's what part you were talking about.

[@aeisharodriguez1567]

10:59 right? I'm saying the same thing

[@ben1ben2ben1]

Aemond doesn't have a point about claiming her dragon lol. It was the night of her moms funeral. She wasn't going to claim her moms dragon at the funeral

[@SJB2000]

When a dragon rider dies, that dragon is available to be claimed once more. I blame Daemon for not seeing the vulnerability in that. Vaegar in size and strength is worth 2 or 3 dragons, the Hightowers have evened the playing field, if not the upper hand.

[@zippers987]

@@SJB2000 I think you're correct but to be honest, the adults probably were going to have conversations about that the next day. they just didn't expect the brazeness of aemond.

[@Ghost-kn9bd]

Too bad, aemond claimed them fair and square. Gave them some good punches to the face too

[@pithicusthen554]

Okay… and what about the weeks in between the episode where daemon and his family had to get back to Westeros from pentos? You think the funeral was held an hour after Laena died? 😂

[@tadeuvi]

There no dibs on dragons son

[@KseniaRatushnaya]

Wow, that's the best directing I've seen from Miguel so far. And truly outstanding editing! The whole funeral sequence was soo perfect. No chemistry between Matt Smith and Emma D'Arcy though, sigh. They should have kept brilliant Milly Alcock (even though I do understand all the thoughts behind recasting).

[@elidasilva5558]

I love the first two actresses but I love the older versions too

[@Lionsgala]

I wasn't just that he demanded a male heir the realm demanded a male heir to sit on the throne

[@iqa5i]

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@jacksparrow9227]

You can also see how is with what team as one team is just Hightower, Larry, and Lannisters

[@herbertschulz4313]

And the redwhynes, and a few other Familien like spoiler Baratheon, bracken, Connington, many other minor houses and the triarchy

[@IndieJenny]

They say they have read the books but pretend not to know the visions that Haelena is having. Either say you don't want to talk about it because it involves saying spoilers or just not say anything. It makes no sense to act dumb.

[@jacksparrow9227]

I thought Harrold said if he should go with the Queen because Viserys just called her Aemma

[@akilahbee]

I was waiting for SOMEONE to point this out. Thank you!

[@jacksparrow9227]

@@akilahbee Also they fucked up the ages

[@madhurimadas1]

Yes!! It was his subtle way of saying “dude you just called her Aemma”

[@sgt.yarpyarp144]

Wasn’t Westerling Rhaenyras ward at the start of the show. I’m sure he’ll end up on team black

[@myheartleila9058]

I think Larys - is OBSESSED with the Queen, like a Stalker Fan. He killed his family and his made himself a LORD, which makes him an appropriate match for the Queen, if she were to suddenly become single again. She would have no choice but to marry Larys and make him King Consort, or else he will expose her. Im also suspicious of the "prepared wine" Alicent orders for the ship home. I think they are about to kill the King. If in episode 8, he falls ill after that boat ride. Im calling it now - POISON.

[@laurenmichero9003]

It’s nice to see Daemon and Rhaenyra finally getting what they want, but I think the real winner is Laenor. Finally the good guy catches a break. Now he can be whoever he wants and do whatever he wants. Everyone has shades of grey (good and bad) on this show but he seemed to be one of the genuinely good guys. From losing his lover to sacrificing several years to be the husband and father he needed to be, he finally gets his happy ending and it’s really satisfying as a viewer to see someone be able to escape all of the chaos of the moment and just be happy. D and R seem happy but they’re still very much embroiled in the chaos and it’s only the beginning of the coming storm. I knew there was going to be an elaborate scheme to fake Laenor’s death when he was talking to Rhaenyra about how she needed a real husband. She knew she needed to marry Daemon but she also wanted to help Laenor in the process. It just made sense and solved all of their immediate problems.

[@pfchim2012]

I think he has been spared for a reason. He could come back and it enables the writers of the show some creative separate storyline rather than just follow the book.

[@sakshamjain4067]

❤️

[@jacksparrow9227]

How did you not expect them to get married it was in the trailer you just brought up?

[@DaysieRose]

I could be crazy, but I think Rhaenys is going to refuse to fight, then find out somehow that Laenor is alive, then don her armor and fight. Just a theory involving this new twist

[@DaysieRose]

How do I flag for spam?

[@jacksparrow9227]

She is jealous toward Rhaenerya as she has freedom to do whatever that Alicent does not because of Otto

[@rebeccaschadt7136]

Alicent's son was going to smash Rhaenyra's son's head with a rock and possibly kill him!!! He defended himself!!!!

[@april-ludgate-karate-dwyer9556]

Bro he literally puts the rock down and doesn't do anything with it, it was just an intimidation tactic, HE was the one who was defending himself

[@Dani-rz8dj]

Why put this on KZbin with absolutely no visual aide? Seems like an obvious and big miss? At least add shots of the episode they’re referring to

[@SeeFair23]

It’s a PODCAST!! Duh

[@jacksparrow9227]

Rheanerya being one with Syrax in horse form

[@BreLana]

I think Laenor was in on the fake death! If you notice he & Rheanrya were discussing things prior to her talking to Daemon... When he suggest that his lover will have to go back out to war, so he'll be a better husband to her, and she says his name like he doesnt need to worry or say such a thing... And then she says to Daemon she wont rule as a Tyrant... U see Deamon kill the guy by the stairs to use as the body double, to fake Laenor being burned, meaning they never intended for lover to kill Laenor... They were all in on it! THIS IS WHY you'll see his mother (Rhaenys) join the Blacks later. She'd never take Rhaenrya's side if she truly thought they played a part in killing her son. They likely tell her, he's still alive, but living happily with his male lover. Cuz his mom always knew he was gay, preferred men. So she'd accept this!

[@monicaalexandru9638]

Ya think?

[@julianazacheu528]

apae americana juju 👑👑👑

[@dziendobre111]

Alicent is ABSOLUTELY not a Virgo!!!! Speaking for all Virgos 😂

[@pwnagenuss]

Cold, reading. Wake up

[@april-ludgate-karate-dwyer9556]

Alicent is absolutely a virgo we happily claim her

[@robertmarginean164]

Olivia Cooke is fucking awesome as Alicent. Equally as good as Milly Alcock in my opinion

[@WilyStankCoyote]

George Washington’s dads name was George Washington, Sr. 😌 the general.

[@Goldfinger1718]

Tell where is my boy Prince Daeron please don't tell me you cut him from the show due to budget reasons.

[@jacksparrow9227]

Why prevent Criston Cole from moving it's not like he's going to kill anyone, Alicent has the dagger

[@herbertschulz4313]

He did beat someone to death that one time

[@rinmartell2678]

Dude is psycho! He can’t control his temper. He will do even worse things during the war.

[@myheartleila9058]

Hug and Go to bed! everyone, ignores. Tis reminded me of GOT. When Joeffrey yelled, "I am the KING!" and Tywin, said "No true King has to say, I am the King." and then Joeffrey calls Tywin a coward and refers to his "Father" winning the real battle, while Tywin hid at Casterly rock. Then, Tywin simply tells the Maester to give him something so he can sleep. not even acknowledging the title. "Power resides where men think it resides." Took me back to the days of GOT, the excellent writing, the breathtaking moments when the dynamics suddenly change in the room. This is the story, at its greatest. No one respects Viserys. His words are hollow. His threats are empty. He and the realm began dying, the moment he banished Daemon. The tension in the air.... Rhaenyra has been stigmatized all her life, for the thing she did NOT do. And now... she has messed up. Which validated the lie about her. Viserys was jealous of his wayward, fearless, dragon riding, warrior brother. And he should have given Rhaenyras hand to him. Made him King Consort and prepared Rhaenyra to ascend. He is so into the future and is not present in the present. His biggest mistake was allowing Otto Hightower, convince him that abandoning his own brother, in a time of war, for 3 years. Was a KINGLY decision. That was not all Otto. That came from deeply rooted envy. Dragon lords have been keeping it in the family for centuries. It made no political sense to deny Daemon. He told Alicent not to rule with her emotions, but she learned that from him.

[@myheartleila9058]

And Olivia Cook - Her facial expressions. Her Silent Acting. then her explosion. Honestly - Some of the best acting I have ever scene. I would love to hear about her method and process. She IS ALICENT HIGHTOWER. She was breath taking!!!! I literally stood up and yelled BRAVO and threw roses at the screen - like I was at the opera! And its just starting!

[@jacksparrow9227]

Cole is her protector so that makes sense he would be with Alicent

[@jacksparrow9227]

Lyonel Strong was also the best Hand up there with Tyrion and Ned

[@bridge4]

Bloodraven

[@tsheporabekane4172]

Lyonel lied to the king about Rhaenyra's kids for 10 years, lol. He was not a good hand.

[@jacksparrow9227]

@@tsheporabekane4172 Much better advice than Otto. Viserys willingly refused to see the truth of the bastardy no one made him so it didn't matter he "lied"

[@tsheporabekane4172]

@@jacksparrow9227: Deception is deception whether done by Otto or Lyonel. They are both liars.

[@jacksparrow9227]

@@tsheporabekane4172 Lyonel was not deceiving or lying Viserys would not have believed anyone saying they were bastards even though he knew it was true he could not handle the truth

[@chaba.abir.Cleopatre31]

Respect from Algéria 🇩🇿🇩🇿❤️🇩🇿🇩🇿❤️🇩🇿❤️

[@snowbabe001]

Well, I seem to be the only one who thinks Miguel Sapochnik is a good director for certain themes, his battles are epic, but I don't feel the tension building between the characters is very strong, beyond what is clearly coming from the story itself. As the story itself is full of tension, the lack of it is not so noticeable. These were Daemon and Rhaenyra's (with Emma) first scenes together, and the tension between them was nowhere near what the same two characters vibrated in the first 5 episodes. I didn't even feel a spark of desire between the two characters, even though the spark was there earlier.

[@Paul-ch4sr]

Is just me or HOTD is a bit fast-pacing series. Like they could have ended the entire 1st season with Milly's Rhaenyra. Like they grow up so fast, it's so hard to get attached to characters coz they get killed at 2nd or 3rd episodes... it's not giving me trauma like GOT's Ned Stark's death or the red wedding.... Right?????

[@REChronic54]

Well in defense of Hotd, the characters who die aren’t that important in the meat of the story. But they do serve to provide implications in current events or as a way to segue into the next event. It’s less about being emotionally invested. I’m sure that now that we’re actually settling into the main plot and have all the key players, a death from any of the characters will be a big deal in the future. But the timeskip is still one of my critiques on the show.

[@torelarsenn]

Love Olivia Cooke, but sorry...there is no way Alicent and Rhaenyra are the most intelligent characters in the show. Her character is basically shaped by her more intelligent father from an early age, and she is basically able to have a quarter of his panorama of the world of scheming. Its kind of like Cersei/Tywin, no way Cersei is as intelligent as her father, though I think Tywin is more intelligent than Otto and Alicent is more intelligent and stable than crazy ass Cersei. Daemon is a demon who has really amazing scheming short term, but not really have patience for long game. Rhaenyra kind of completes him on that department, but the other side is the underdog and survives on incredible schemers like Otto and Larys. In any case, dragons decide this game and Aemond+Daemon are the mvps on that department. As for the most worthy ruler, that is a difficult one to unravel, you have to go deep into philosophy to get there, but there is no Jaeharys or Alyssane in this war. No ruler endowed with such a balanced array of good attributes. All of them, including the schemers obviously, are too self-centered and their scheming is limited as in the end that justify the means all come down to their family´s interests. The series basically comes down to maternal instincts thrown into a patriarchal bonfire, and the conclusion is that Westeros will burn. I also would not simplify the female agency in this story as beeing pawns to patriarchal structures, they have pawns of their own and manipulate male characters to do their biding. As much as Alicent is Otto´s pawn, Aegon is also Alicent´s pawn who doesnt want to partake in the game of thrones between mothers, and just want to have a good time. Rhaenyra and Alicent wield great emotional power over many men in the show beside their own sons, but also constantly at war over the good will or love of the easily manipulated king Viserys, but also characters like Cole, Leanor, etc.

[@user-nv2wt4hi8t]

Literally cannot agree more. Came here to try to write something half as good as this.

[@alisinaakbari5551]

Aemond had it planned

[@TheKefelder]

It's a pity that she wasn't able to procreate with her husband, but gosh - she was supposed to multiply and be happy AS HER FATHER WANTED! She did her duty. She sacrificed (open) true love. She tried to be happy. What more do y'all want?

[@chubbywoo]

We need to see this chunky horse!

[@rorschachs1889]

1:06:27 phew

[@tmarie2720]

Do any of the hightowers even know high Valyrian or?

[@SeeFair23]

No

[@ExquisiteKinkyCoils]

😊😊😊

[@jacksparrow9227]

I love that I am on Blacks and my friend on Greens so adamantly when he liked rhaenerya until she started fucking around with all the GQ knights in Planetos

[@rhylelobo1062]

Where is Daeron Targaryen!!! Alicent and Viserys third son!! I wanted to see him and the dragon tessarion!!

[@aengusog3415]

He’s in old town

[@jeneaneally6279]

Think they wrote him out of it. They changed ages of kids and timelines already, so I bet he wont exist in the show.

[@aengusog3415]

@@jeneaneally6279 he’s in old town

[@jeneaneally6279]

@@aengusog3415 we don't know that yet. They haven't even casted an actor for that role

[@Zveebo]

In the book he is in Old Town, so he wouldn’t appear in the episodes anyway. If he is to show up it will be next season.