They are seemingly inseparable.
They are close in age and study with the same Septa.
They joke together and discuss Rhaenyra’s feelings about her father’s potential new son.
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After a time jump of three years, things have not improved between Alicent and Rhaenyra.
Now they are stepmother and stepdaughter, and their daily lives include the tension between them.
Rhaenyra is searching to make a match for herself, and Alicent tries to encourage her.
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They share a kind moment that hints at a reunion but then enter Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).
Rhaenyra sneaks out of the castle to spend a night in the city with Daemon.
They stopjust short of having sex, but one of Otto’s spies sees them in a brothel.
Image via HBO
When Otto levels accusations on Rhaenyra, Alicent confronts her.
Rhaenyra swears on her mother’s life that Daemon “never touched [her].”
While you could argue this is the truth, it depends on a technicality.
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The intent of that statement was to deceive Alicent.
She talks toCriston Cole(Fabien Frankel) and discovers that Rhaenyra slept with him.
Though this was not the crime she was accused of, Alicent finds it just as bad.
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And Alicent decides to be done.
The Next Generation
Yet another time jump and the story picks up ten years later.
Alicent is determined to point this fact out to everyone.
She and Rhaenyra’s relationship has only deteriorated, and Alicent wants to discredit her former friend.
Viserys attempts to talk Alicent down, but his willful blindness towards his daughter only drives her on.
The resentment between the two women is passed down to their children.
Alicent demands that Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys (Harvey Sadler), lose an eye as well.
She ends up cutting Rhaenyra in front of the entire court.
After that, the two women and their families are separated for nearly six years.
Viserys is sick, and Alicent and Otto have been ruling in his place.
Viserys also insists on a family dinner.
So, Westeros divides itself intothe Blacks and the Greens.
Otto and the small council have already planned the coup, much to Alicent’s surprise.
But she does her best to prevent violence and spare Rhaenyra.
Alicent wins out, but only just.
Alicent claims she is respecting Viserys and honoring his love for his daughter by trying to spare Rhaenyra.
But Otto accuses her of trying to protect her childhood friend.
Otto goes to treat with Rhaenyra, bringing her a memento of their shared childhood sent by Alicent.
Rhaenyra does not surrender, but against the advice of Daemon and her advisors, she spares Otto.
Rhaenyra decides not to incite the war but to wait for her enemies to act.
But dragons are hard to control, and Aemond’s dragon, Vhagar,eats Luke.
With blood spilled, it is only a matter of time before a full-scale war begins.
Odds have been working against these women since their childhood.
Their friendship may be the best thingthe show changed from the book.
Their broken relationship has driven Westeros into a civil war.
After all the death and destruction faced by their families, it will be impossible to reconcile.
