These are the facts: Daemon had Jaehaerys beheaded, leaving Helaena vulnerable and traumatised. Rhaenyra never punished him, instead she welcomes him back with open arms. She also still demands Aegon’s head claiming “a son for a son”, wants Aemond dead because he’s the one who killed Luke and will probably go after Daeron too as he’s a threat to Jace.
Is it cruel? Yes. Should Rhaenyra care that it’s cruel? No.
Rhaenyra’s proved she’ll let Daemon get away with kinslaying, and doesn’t give a crap about Helaena’s trauma. So how does Alicent benefit from this one sided deal?
She’s not going to let Alicent leave with her daughter and grandchild, they’re too valuable as hostages. Now that she’s been branded a traitor she has no one to defend her from Rhaenyra’s wrath and Daemon’s brutality.
Nothing about 2x08 can be justified as politically intelligent on Alicent’s part: she’s signed the death warrant for the men, and left the women at the mercy of a Queen who has no qualms with her husband killing children.
even if Rhaenyra (who technically has not agreed) did let Alicent, Helaena (who I guess the show thinks will just be fine with all her male relatives dying) and Jaehaera did manage to escape they don't know how to live a simple life the likely options wherever they end up is being taken hostage and held for ransom as they've made an enemy of both factions of the war, sold into sexual slavery, robbed and/or raped (especially during a war, commoners are already being raped and killed), maybe even working in a brothel out of desperation because they'd be starving, probably homeless and a sex work is sadly the only "work" they'd be qualified to do. It would really be a dark, miserable existence and I don't think the writers understand what running off to live an "unremarkable" life would actually mean, especially for two noble ladies out there alone.
yousharknotpass
kianamaiart
gracieabrams
discoholicmusic
dailybridgerton
origamiaround
