Why I Think Alicent Hightower Might Be House of the Dragon's Best Character

In the final episode of the season, I noticed Alicent Hightower make numerous active decisions for the first time, and it is why I think she might be one of the best written characters in House of the Dragon.

This matters because Alicent has often been framed as a passive pawn in the show's political games, so watching her finally take control changes how I read her entire arc.

Alicent Stands Up To Otto And Sends Criston Cole To Find Aegon

In that final episode, Alicent stands up to her father Otto for the first time. She sends her son and Criston Cole to find Aegon, which I read as her basically competing against her own father. Through this move, Alicent actively helps Aegon's rise to the throne, and I am sure that in subsequent seasons she will face the consequences of that decision.

Her Line To Otto About Murder Reveals Who She Really Is

Alicent also delivers what I think is a great line when she is talking to Otto, saying something like \"reluctance to murder is not a weakness.\" I think that line showed a lot about her personality and that she is not some evil woman, despite everything she has done.

Showing Her Feet To Larys For Information Was A Funny Power Move

Another active decision Alicent makes is showing her feet to Larys in order to gain information from him. I just thought that was really funny, and it is another example of her using whatever leverage she has in a world that gives her very little of it.

Why I Think Alicent Is Just As Three-Dimensional As Rhaenyra

Alicent is a great character because we understand her personality, we understand her flaws, we understand her motivations, and we understand her goals. She goes on an interesting arc of asserting herself within this patriarchal world. Her actions piss me off immensely, but there is no denying that she is just as three-dimensional as Rhaenyra.

Do you think Alicent's late-season power moves make her more compelling than Rhaenyra, or do her choices still frustrate you too much to root for her?