While HBO's House of the Dragon contains characters of every moral shade, Lady Alicent Hightower still manages to strike a chord with audiences for her brimming potential as a formidable character. Though she may initially be mistaken as naive in her youth, Alicent can be as cunning as she is kind.
While the show deviates slightly from George R. R. Martin's Fire & Blood, Alicent's loyalty to protect those dear to her rings true from its source material. Although Alicent cannot hold a candle to other Westerosi characters in terms of physical strength, she possesses other qualities that are as cutting as a slice from Valyrian steel. These qualities will only sharpen as she grows into a woman capable of challenging anyone who dares question her worth as queen.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon
10 Alincet Heart And Her Intention To Help Others Are Pure
In a place as power-hungry as King's Landing, it's rare to find people who are genuinely interested in helping others. Alicent is one of these rare individuals who is authentic in her actions to aid those in need.
This becomes apparent in the brief interactions shown between Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra, as her best friend vents her frustrations about her claim to the Iron Throne. Later, when Alicent becomes King Viserys' wife, her tenderness towards her ailing husband goes beyond her expected wifely duties. Alicent's true nature comes from her devotion to be an essential pillar of strength for her peers.
9 Alicent May Be Young, But She Is Not Naive
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Despite her youth, Alicent is far from being easily taken advantage of by others. She is painfully aware of when her peers are planning a swipe at power.
When Alicent's father Otto Hightower suggests she give comfort to a grieving King Viserys after the death of his wife, Alicent knows immediately the request is not for the benefit of their ruler. She is wise enough to know her father is using her as a pawn for when Viserys must eventually select his new queen. Even in situations she cannot fully control, Alicent fully understands the circumstances, as well as any ulterior motives.
8 Alicent Makes The Best Of Her Circumstances
While Alicent has no choice but to become the new queen, she makes the best of her situation. This includes coping with the expected tension her union with King Viserys brings to her friendship with Rhaenyra.
Despite Alicent's struggles with her new status as queen, she performs her expected duties and carves out a place for herself in court among the other ladies. Even if she does not feel at home by the king's side, she understands what she can control and what she must cope with on her own to preserve the natural order of King's Landing.
7 Alicent Is A Loyal Friend To Rhaenyra
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Wedding a best friend's father is a tough hurdle to jump, even for the closest of companions, but Alicent's devotion to her and Rhaenyra's friendship surmounts this understandably difficult situation. While the interactions between the two are stiff in the years following her marriage to the king, Alicent continually seeks out Rhaenyra to assure her that her feelings for her remain the same.
Alicent's powerful emotions for her friend are reiterated when she unshakably defends Rhaenyra's virtue after accusations arise that she lost her maidenhead to Prince Daemon. Despite the natural straining of their relationship, she stands by her friend's side without a second thought, even without knowing the details of the accusations.
6 Alicent Is Wise Enough To Give Good Counsel
Because Alicent is perceptive to the motives and emotions of those around her, she gives insightful counsel to those who seek it, even the ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. When her husband vents his frustrations about finding a marriage match for Rhaenyra, Alicent is able to provide him with a new perspective.
Alicent reminds Viserys of Rhaenyra's independent nature and emphasizes he must recognize this when considering the prospect of her marriage. As a result, her advice is the motivating influence for Viserys to initially decide his daughter should select her own partner for her betrothal.
5 Alicent Is Willing To Stand Up For Herself And Her Values
Although Alicent is generous at her core, that doesn't mean she is not willing to stand up for herself when she is crossed. This becomes most apparent when she defends her actions to support Rhaenyra to her father before his departure by the order of the king.
Otto Hightower blames his daughter for her defense of Rhaenyra, claiming her actions were the direct cause for his removal as Hand of the King. Alicent rebuffs him, pointing out it was actually her father's ambitions to snatch power that resulted in his falling out of favor with the king. Although she is dealing with a mix of emotions regarding the leave of her father, Alicent will not let herself be blamed for holding strong to her own values.
4 Alicent Is Aware Of Her Own Strengths And Weaknesses
Similar to a warrior on the field of battle, Alicent has the potential for strategizing against those who wish to do her wrong. Much of this strategizing comes from her ability to identify her own capabilities.
Alicent knows she lacks physical strength and access to the webs of informants that are available to some of her peers, so she is decisive in how she picks her battles. She knows she can be persuasive by appealing to others' emotions. She gathers information on her own terms, honing these skills and identifying surrounding individuals who can serve as her allies.
3 Alicent Is Able To Put Aside Her Attachments
Despite her desire to help others, Alicent is able to put aside her attachments for the betterment of King's Landing. This includes her feelings for the people she cares about deeply.
Even though her father's departure from King's Landing pains her, Alicent knows that dwelling on it will not help her current situation, nor the kingdom, so she pushes past that pain. Similarly, after Alicent discovers Rhaenyra lied to her about her virtue, she must let go of the devotion she once so strongly held for her best friend. Following Rhaenyra's betrayal, Alicent is able to readjust her priorities to better protect herself and the throne.
2 Alicent Will Fiercely Protect Those She Cares For
In the brief glimpses viewers have seen of Alicent as queen, it's become apparent that underneath her kind heart is a fierceness that should give enemies pause. Audiences already know she will unflinchingly defend the honor of those she cares about, so it stands to reason she will also do anything in her power to protect them from physical harm.
When her father warns her that her children with Viserys are a threat to Rhaenyra's claim to the throne, Alicent must make a difficult choice. She can either ignore the implications that her best friend will slaughter her children, or she can take action. Knowing what viewers know about Alicent's nature, it's understandable why she would choose to personally renounce her ties to Rhaenyra in order to protect those dearest to her.
1 Alicent Will Fight For What Is Best For The Kingdom
Alicent has always been unwaveringly supportive in her friendship with Rhaenyra, but not even she can deny the unlikelihood of King's Landing's people accepting the princess as their rightful ruler. This acknowledgment not only puts her own children in danger but also the way of Westerosi life.
Whether Alicent believes Rhaenyra will be a just queen does not matter if the people of King's Landing do not embrace Rhaenyra. Alicent recognizes this difficult truth, and in doing so she must prepare for the inevitable fight to come with Rhaenyra's ascension, even if that means abandoning parts of her past in favor of a better future for the kingdom.