In the novel, Alicent Hightower comes off as very one-note.
She is selfish and cunning, but most of her desire is driven by her wanting power.
So, of course, the series had to expand on the characters and her motivations.
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But how are they able to do so?
And it benefits Alicent the most.
But it also drives the downfall of her relationship with Rhaenyra.
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She isnt the cunning and manipulative woman that the book describes.
Adult Alicent hides behind the facade of holding up righteousness and the values of the land.
Alicents point of view consistently returns to her youth and what happened to her.
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Its a choice that makes her point of view so much more nuanced but also creates tension.
It decides to have Alicent hide behind her faith because of her outburst fromEpisode 7.
It creates this character that gives Olivia Cooke so much to play with.
Image via HBO
That was until the end of episode eight.
Alicent chose to hear what she wanted.
Alicent chose to hear what she wanted.
She is someone who hides behind other peoples choices to conceal her desires and ambitions.
The series shows that her choices are still her own, but her past very much influences them.
