Hotd Analysis - Tumblr Posts
Alicent Hightower thinks to be loved is to be used, and there's no clearer example of that than how her children turn out. I don't think it's necessarily her fault, she doesn't know any better, she's never experienced normal parental love from her most prominent parental figure. Otto Hightower pratically sells his daughter out to a man old enough to be her father, and when Alicent married Viserys, Otto's love and pride comes only when that price is paid. She is used again by both Viserys and Otto in the birth of Aegon, and once again because she is useful, because she has given something away, she is momentarily granted affection she does not usually recieve. To Alicent, people have only loved her once they have used her, and I think this trauma cycle really echoes in all her children.
I saw someone suggest that Season 2 Aemond's "mummy issues" did not fit the image of Season 1 Aemond, who is objectively a mummy's boy. I get maybe where this view comes from, but I do disagree. I think, in a very unspoken manner, we see that Aemond's (and Aegon, but this post is already getting long) relationship with his mother is similar to Alicents relationship with her father. I don't think she does it intentionally at all, and she's obviously not selling Aemond out, but there's a lingering feeling of almost love bombing in their relationship. Alicent loves Aemond when he's of use to her, because that's the only way she knows how to love anyone. She loves him when he's hurt, when he gains a dragon, when he goes to find Aegon, when he's comforting her. But she cannot face him when he has disappointed her. I don't think it's her intention to come off that way, in private with Otto she defends him, almost understands his actions though she does not agree with them, but she doesn't know how to show she still loves him, because he's not of use to her at the moment.
And Aemond? Well, his issues develope from all of this. He has always been loved, because he has always been of use, especially emotionally, to his mother. He doesn't know how to deal with this absence of affection. To an extent, Alicent is prehaps the person who knows him best, especially in his anger at Lucerys, and without her, he seeks both love and understanding from a woman that looks and is aged close enough to her that he can delude himself.
I think something a lot of people overlook with Aemond is that he's, in the grand scheme of things, still very young. I thinks he's supposed to be 19 in the show, and though that of course is no excuse for his attack on Lucerys, it does shed light, and rationalise, his emotional instability. Here's a young adult who, in his eyes, has never been good enough to experience parental love from his father, and has seemingly ruined his relationship with the one person who might truly understand him. I think there's a big point to be made in Aemond's scarring to. He has been permanently disfigured by Lucerys, he's missing a main feature in his face, and has highly visible scarring. That's a big thing for anyone to deal with, but especially a young adult who's family, for all intensive purposes, are prehaps the most attractive in the seven kingdoms. There's a big insecurity there, seen in the fact that his face is always covered in all but once scene, and I think its fair to assume Aemond might feel that no one may ever love him romantically, or atleast choose him, when he is both a second son, and the scarred member of his family.
In my opinion, Aemond seeking out comfort makes perfect sense. He wants love and understanding, and is never quite sure if he'll get it again, due to his mother's distance, thus he pays for it.
Criston accidentally shit talking his way out of being a henchman and into someone who has to make decisions and then immediately looking like he wants to kill himself. That’s my man :) he just wanted to fuck around his ass did NOT want to find out
criston is sooo good at being a henchman he likes standing menacingly behind the people who make decisions he likes abusing the limited power he has to bully his underlings. i think it’s extremely funny the first thing he does after getting significant power is use it to go to war with aemond to scare lords around kl and to kill a lot of peasants hes getting back into his comfort zone and away from anyone asking him to make decisions. i think what fabien keeps saying about criston at this point hating the red keep feeling extremely trapped there and going steadily insane is so fun he wants to yell at gwayne hightower in a battlefield tent then kick a camp follower in the face so bad
Criston cleaning his sword in a pristine white cloak breaking up with alicent to “spare” her after putting her serial killer son in charge. most catholic man alive
lovee how explicitly they established the cleanliness of his physical white cloak as a hangup of his this season delighted every time there’s something new up with it. also really liked when alicent came up to him overseeing taking the ratcatchers down and was like ohh surprise surprise i knew i’d see you here obediently carrying out your beloved aemonds orders you’re going to eat his pussy next ? as if he hasnt been obediently carrying out her orders and agreeing with everything she says for like twenty years. implying she always found that shameful and emasculating in him but only makes a point of it now hes no longer doing it for her and shes hurt after the insane full council public rejection of her as regent
its so fun that we saw the exaggeratedly horrific scenes of dragon war from the ground last episode like he did and know exactly what point he’s trying to make by saying we need aemond because the dragons are terrible dragon war is terrible but hes completely failing to describe it and hes just going there were people on fire i was soso scared
Viserys is just as despicable as Daemon and Otto, except in a different way
It's weird enough how King Viserys is widely well seen by the audience despite his evident selfishness, which is perhaps one of the most pronounced traits throughout the show. This perception is predominantly fueled by Rhaenyra's camp, who views Viserys' unequal treatment of his children in her favor as a redeeming quality of his character.
The subtle detail of Rhaenyra eagerly desiring a sister while her mother is still pregnant often goes unnoticed, just like her displease of the life she is supposed to endure going through many difficult pregnancies. Her strong insistence that it will be a girl contrasts with her father's wishes, hinting at an awareness of the changing dynamics within the royal family in case a boy is born. Despite spending her early years as the king's only child, the frequent pregnancies of Rhaella imply the king's persistent efforts to secure a male heir to the throne.
Therefore, Rhaenyra is effectively being sidelined as a potential heir in favor of a yet-to-be-born phantom brother. The king's intense desire for a male heir leads him to make the drastic decision of sacrificing his own wife during childbirth. While it's understandable that a mother would prioritize her child's life over her own, the scene becomes disturbing due to Aemma's clear distress and pleas for help let alone the fact that she was literally cut open while being awake, highlighting the king's unwavering determination that will lead to others suffering and this is a leit motive for the rest of his life, be it physically or emotionally.
The claim that Viserys, a now seasoned king, was manipulated by a teenager into marriage is one of the most absurd ones in this fandom, especially if we take into account how Alicent is portrayed. In reality, it was another self-centered choice driven by his own desires. Alicent, despite being urged by her ambitious father to seduce the grieving king (much to her horror), maintains the demeanor of a respectable lady. During her time with Viserys, the focus is on shared interests such as history and books, creating a dynamic more akin to a father spending time with his daughter. Alicent even mends the temporary rift between him and Rhaenyra giving him genuine advice. Viserys undoubtedly married Alicent out of his own desire, not coercion as some suggest. The scene where he announces it reveals Alicent's almost shocked reaction, indicating her lingering hope that he might not proceed with the idea. If Viserys were a virtuous man, he would have found Alicent a suitable match with a respected lord to acknowledge her services and simultaneously spite her father's ulterior motives.
Viserys continues to treat Alicent as an object throughout their marriage, often demanding her to fulfill his physical needs, even after he is plagued by illness and Alicent shown to be visibly uncomfortable because of it. After a somewhat "honeymoon" phase, which is still marred by a strained relationship between Alicent and Rhaenyra which puts the former in isolation despite her efforts to show support for her as the heir, Viserys is suddenly consumed by guilt for his actions towards Aemma. At this point, Alicent and their son Aegon (and by consequence their future three children) cease to exist for him. It's important to highlight that despite this epiphany and subsequent emotional neglect, Viserys' requests for physical intimacy with Alicent persist, which only makes him more of an hypocrite who still can't help but indulge in his selfish needs at the expense of others.
Viserys' insensitivity towards Alicent is further emphasized when Daemon returns to King's Landing and both he and Viserys mock Alicent's attempts at conversation about the new tapestries. Even Rhaenyra is visibly appalled by their behavior and chooses to support Alicent to prevent her from feeling humiliated. The temporary resumption of friendship between the two women adds layers to their tragedy, as their later falling out is ultimately induced by the men who view them merely as tools of power.
In addition to Daemon's emotional hold on Rhaenyra that will lead to their scandalous marriage, Otto's influence over Alicent, and his manipulative schemes, Viserys perpetuates the conflict through his inaction and convenient stance in the middle ground. He neglects his other children, projecting guilt towards Aemma onto them and Alicent. While he outwardly shows love and favoritism for Rhaenyra and ignores her infractions, it seems more like a projection of guilt rather than genuine support, as he fails to take concrete steps to legitimize her ascension, especially now with the presence of sons. Viserys' actions ultimately work against Rhaenyra's favor, rather than supporting her. His handling of the family feud after Laena's funeral closes the door for any potential reconciliation between the queen and the princess.
The truce dinner in episode 8 is unmistakably a ticking time bomb. The Rubicon was crossed years ago, but Viserys prefers to maintain the illusion of a happy family, akin to the illusion of Alicent being Aemma, for his own peace of mind. Rather than addressing the underlying issues, he opts to create a facade to avoid dealing with the potential chaos of his family members turning against each other once he is gone.
In conclusion, Viserys embodies those problematic people who often evade accountability for their actions due to their seemingly kind and sympathetic demeanor. His ability to project an amiable facade masks the deeper issues and consequences of his decisions, allowing him to avoid the scrutiny he might otherwise face.