My dream plot for House of the Dragon S2? Alicent and Daemon as narrative foils.
Look, changing ages and plot points in S1 to make Rhaenyra and Alicent the two narrative antagonists was a great decision: it added pathos to Alicent’s world view and truly emphasised how impactful the gendered roles in that world were in deciding who would be the legitimate heir to the throne. It made both women more sympathetic and highlighted how so many women in these settings were victims of circumstance playing the cards they had been dealt.
But maintaining Alicent and Rhaenyra as the ‘main’ enemies for S2 made no sense and undercut their true roles and limitations. Rhanaera and Aegon needed to be the clear antagonists in S2 as they stand on either side of the legal, moral and ethical arguments for the throne. Furthermore any discussions of ceasefire or compromises needed to be between the two claimants OR their representatives, not a mixture of the two. Otherwise one side looks like it’s capitulating to the other, as they are having discussions with mere advisors and supporters which the other claimant might not hold to.
For a comparison (if it had ever got to that point) Robb wouldn’t have met with Tyrion or Kevin Lannister to discuss The North seceding from the 7 kingdoms or he would have looked like the weaker of the two sides of the war, and no one would have believed that Tyrion had the authority to make decisions on behalf of his father. It would have been Robb and Tywin across the negotiating table, as they are the only two who could truly make concessions and decisions for either side.
Alicent should have had the same narrative role as Daemon, and they should have had mirrored character arcs throughout S2.
Here are two characters who are used to a certain level of independence and autonomy but for contrasting reasons: both via Viserys but both allowed to operate ‘in his name’ pretty freely with limited reprecussions. Both characters are used to their actions only really impacting themselves: Dameon as he was viewed as a law unto himself and his actions/decisons were rarely seen to have been endorsed by Viserys, and Alicent as she was seen as acting on behalf of her son, father or husband and so her actions were never seen to be soley her own.
Both are characterised as advocating on behalf of a claimant, and both are each heirs main defender and supporter, the one who is present in their darkest moments and reminds them of their claim. And again in contrast Dameon is supportive to Rhaenyra’s fears and concerns in those moments while Alicent is the person heaping those fears and concerns onto Aegon.
However as we move into S2 both characters have to grapple with a practical loss of agency and autonomy, as their opinions are not listened to and their advice is not taken, while also stepping into a supporting role of someone who they feel isn’t as capable of doing the job as they are. Both characters want to have their seat at the table but are dismissed due to things they cannot change, be it their gender or their reputation for violence. And both characters make decisions on behalf of their claimant which backfire and cause reputational damage to their faction; Daemon with Blood and Cheese, and Alicent with parading Jaehaerys’ body through the streets of Kings Landing.
It would have been poetic to see both characters grapple with their diminished standing on either side of the civil war, having to justify their presence in meetings, and come to terms with their new lots in life. Their S2 character arc would be for both to truly accept their new roles and commit to supporting their claimant in anyway they could from the wings.
And as narrative foils and mirrors it would have been truly satisfying to set them up as direct antagonists to one another, especially as you also have Otto having to take a step back (as Aegon dismisses him) and Corlys being sidelined (as Rhanaera doesn’t listen to advice regarding the Triarcy). Take the opportunity to show that Alicent understands the politicking of the Great Houses better than Daemon and is shoring up support he can’t find, while Daemons military knowledge and dragon fighting expertise is helping them win battles that Alicent cannot advice on.
Even the genders would have been contrasting, showing a women struggling to be an advisor to a regime she installed that sidelines women’s options while Daemon struggles to have similar advice acted upon due to the assumption he is bloody thirsty and overly violent.
Showing both as advisors struggling with their new lots in life would have been so delicious and allowed both a more satisfying character arc then ‘trips balls in Harrenhall’ and ‘gives up her son to flee into the woods’. But we’ll have to see what S3 brings us for both I guess….
