The Real Reason Alicent Hates Rhaenyra So Much

Once friends, the girls' relationship went a bit sour when Alicent married Viserys, Rhaenyra's father. But things at least remained civil. Ten years on, though, it's clear that the resentment is strong. And why wouldn't it be?

After all, Alicent is a deeply religious person who expects certain standards of those on court – standards that she clearly believes Rhaenyra drops as often as her petticoat. And with good reason. In episode 4 of Dragon, Rhaenyra said to Alicent. "To question my virtue is an act of treason."

Believing her friend and trusting in Rhaenyra's virginity, Alicent told her father, Otto – who subsequently lost his role as Hand of the King partly as a result of this misinformation.

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Now knowing Rhaenyra to be a liar, it seems perfectly plausible that Alicent would believe that she slept with Daemon Targaryen, even if that issue remains unresolved. This, along with Rhaenyra's affair with Ser Criston Cole, and the fact that she has three illegitimate children with Harwin Strong, goes against Alicent's judgement. But that doesn't really explain the seething resentment.

Of course, there is also the little matter of Rhaenyra being heir to the throne. Aside from her fears that Rhaenyra would be a bit too progressive and fail to live up to the standards Alicent believes the role of monarch deserves, this will also directly impact her own children.

Arguably, Aegon and Aemond should, traditionally come before Rhaenyra in the line for the throne. But Viserys named his eldest daughter, which will almost certainly remove any power Alicent currently enjoys, following the king's death.

However, there is also the chance that this situation will lead to Rhaenyra's position on the throne coming under threat. And the easiest way to make that situation go away would be to have her step brothers killed.

This may well be what's going through the mind of Alicent. But with no indication it is actually going to happen, this would appear to be more of an underlying fear than a reason for outright hatred.

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And so we come to the real reason for Alicent's visceral loathing of her friend turned stepdaughter turned enemy.

Emily Carey recently let slip that Alicent had a crush on Ser Criston Cole – and that Rhaenyra knew this. And wounded love doesn't heal. So, it appears that for all her virtuousness and clear disapproval of the way Rhaenyra lives her life, the real reason that Alicent hates Rhaenyra so much is her own desire to have slept with Ser Criston. And that sort of loathing can simmer for a lifetime.

"She feels that Rhaenyra’s unseriousness, lack of duty, and courtly conduct severely lacking and disrespectful. In her mind, the mental real estate that this resentment holds is ginormous," Olivia Cooke said on the House of the Dragon podcast.