Sharing my thoughts on how Alicent as a character is portrayed in hotd, and her role as a parallel to Rhaenyra.
The new episode of HOTD S3 shows Alicent being assaulted by Jasper Wylde, and I've noticed a lot of backlash against it. That it does nothing for her character, and that it was completely unnecessary. This got me thinking: what is alicent's character? What is her purpose to the story? The evil stepmother? Rhaenyra's greatest companion turned against her? The villain? The victim?
Let's start with her relationship to Rhaenyra. Alicent's background derails from the book quite significantly. Most importantly, she's the same age as Rhaenyra rather than older, the girls share a close bond, and Alicent's age gap with Viserys is significantly bigger.
Changing the narrative to include Rhaenyra and Alicent's friendship causes internal conflict within the two characters. We see how the two of them jump between cursing each other and then wanting to trust each other over and over again. More than just internal conflict, having such close characters on opposite sides causes parallels for the audience to see what our protagonist could've been under different circumstances.
Rhaenyra is a princess, and she is the heir. Her relationship to power and men needs to be held differently from Alicent's because being in the position of absolute power means she needs to be in control of her own autonomy. Yet, we see the consequences of such defiance with her being scorned, betrayed, and mocked by others. People will hate what they cannot control! Regardless of the importance of resistance in instances of misogyny, we see that it costs Rhaenyra deeply.
Alicent, on the other hand, is the queen. The wife of the king, and set to be the mother of one too. Her entire title is centered around a man giving her power: she either marries a man or births one. She also isn't a royal, but rather a noble with significant influence, but not total. Alicent, like Rhaenyra and every other woman in the GOT universe, is oppressed by the patriarchy that only willing grants a woman power through the men in her life.
Therefore, if she were to rebel like Rhaenyra, her position of power would be shaken enormously because her position was never meant to hold without male authority and support. That being said, I don't feel that the scene of her assault was necessary or even added to the narrative of her oppression because while she is a woman, she is still a queen. Lord Wylde is a man of a significantly lesser position than her, so such an act feels reckless and stupid (which he is) but ultimately adds nothing to her character because she experiences, like Rhaenyra, oppression in ways that aren't physical when it comes from men like Wylde.
Not to say that it could NEVER happen to her, but the way the writers built this scene feels like a forced parallel, and if they were going for something else they absolutely missed the mark.
Alicent is still oppressed by men of Wylde's rank, but this is more seen in how the world scrutinizes her. They expect and praise her piety, place her son above her (a far more experienced ruler), and use her as a contradiction to Rhaenyra for how a woman "should be." If Alicent steps out of line, she is punished similarly to Rhaenyra, but the effect of it would be far more dire.
Now, in terms of her age, Alicent's parallel to Rhaenyra is reiterated because we can see how both girls grow and shape themselves under the scrutiny of men. Alicent is forced to marry Viserys, who in the books is only 10 years older but in the show is about 30 years older instead. That gap is significant.
Alicent, who doesn't really have much of a choice in an older, more powerful man, parallels Rhaenyra's marriage where she and Laenor are somewhat equals. Similar and age and power for the most part as heirs.
We can criticize Alicent as much as we like, yes. Someone's terrible actions are something they have to take accountability for, but we can still have sympathy and recognize the oppressive systems that get them there.
Alicent is backed into a corner, subservient to her father, her husband, and the societal and religious expectations of her position. She cannot move freely without risking everything, and she has no security besides her sons and their own power, which even then ultimately backfires on her.
You could say she should've turned to lean on Rhaenyra, but keep in mind she had never experienced life as the heir, only as the wife of the king and the daughter of the hand. She doesn't understand fully what it means to stand against these men like Rhaenyra, only seeing and hearing the repercussions.
Alicent's entire plot line isn't just about hate but about fear and being left vulnerable to the evils and scrutiny of men.
Rhaenyra is an example of a woman fighting to break out of the cycle of oppression, but Alicent is an example of a woman fighting to survive in it.
