Did Alicent actually believe that Viserys's final words were about her son, or was she simply interpreting them in a way that suited her own wishes? (And, more critically, should a serious drama base its central conflict on a misunderstanding more suited to a sitcom? Resolving that question at this point may be beyond the scope of this summary.)
Rhaenyra's brave secret return to King's Landing, aided by Mysaria, to confront her arch-enemy-friend sets the record straight. Alicent is convinced that Viserys means Aegon. Rhaenyra, for her part, truly believes that Alicent holds this belief. But when the Queen Mother mentions the Conqueror's “A Song of Ice and Fire,” Rhaenyra sees the mistake and tries to explain… only to have Alicent dismiss it, even though he seems to know, deep down, that it's the truth.
So, the conflict rages on as the leader of Team Green cannot accept the truth. Alicent’s stubbornness not only hinders Rhaenyra’s (and previously Princess Rhaenys’) peace efforts, but also his own. This is sure to spark some heated discussion among fans.
More than unraveling the central confusion, the real value of the scene lies in the dynamic between Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy. Their on-screen chemistry is as compelling and natural as theirs on television. Their character interactions are as intense and intertwined as the dueling dragons in the series logo; their confrontations produce explosive results. It's fair to criticize Rhaenyra's risky decision to meet the Queen unprotected in King's Landing, but adding this scene, which isn't in the book, has improved the series.
As Rhaenyra and Alicent struggle to maintain peace, the men around them seem intent on fomenting conflict. Rhaenyra's Black Council, composed largely of minor lords fearful of losing their limited power, calls for immediate aggression. Her ex-husband, Daemon, heads straight for the crumbling Harrenhal, a key location in the Riverlands. There, he encounters the pragmatic castellan, Sir Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale), who surrenders the castle without resistance, and the enigmatic servant, Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), who ominously tells him that Harrenhal will be his place of death. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, it seems.
