Where Is Duty. Where Is Sacrifice.

"For some, it will be enough to say they have looked on a queen."

If your world is to survive, I must light the way. Because I am the Shield of the People. I am Rhaenyra the Chosen. I am the Prince That Was Promised.

Phia Saban reflects on Queen Helaena's last season story arc and what it means

Bonus (some fun facts/details):

rhaenyra is in a state of entrapment in both scenarios but before, she was mostly where she wanted to be. she was going to take back her birthright and take the enemy out at the head. it was a stable plan that wasn't full of corruption. now she has been pushed by her limit and is choosing to shut the world out and become a tyrannical leader when she has wanted to remain merciful

alicent is, in her own way, free now. she's surrounded by nature in both instances, wearing the blue that represents her freedom and true identity. she has been unburdened by the weight of the crown. but unlike before, she is now lacking purpose. she entered the season with the goal to save helaena, she ended it alone

I found it really delicious that Helaena could be like, “There are things in the world that you’ll never know how beautiful they are, and they’re not even beautiful.” And that’s truly what she wants to get back to: having a relationship with the world and not being kept and silenced and used.

Did not simply burn town with dragon immediately

Did not simply burn battlements full of child hostages with dragon and instead sent crazy Stark men to charge them

Waited several minutes before getting impatient about the Stark-based gate opening plan before deciding to apply dragon

Waved child hostages away from gate and waited until 80% of them were clear before burning the gate with dragon