god it’s just like. otto was the reason everything between rhaenyra and alicent went sour. he was responsible for betrothing alicent to viserys, he continued to drive the wedge between them their entire adulthood, told alicent she’d have to choose between rhaenyra and her children, planted that seed of resentment and distrust that festered and twisted and decomposed until the love they still have for each other was almost snuffed out completely. and then rhaenyra kills him, and it’s the first person she’s ever killed, a man she’s known all her life and who at one time might have even held some affection for. she kills him and he is alicent’s father as well as the man responsible for taking alicent from her. and then she takes her throne, leaving behind a trail of his blood and locks eyes with alicent over her father’s body. this is the best show in the world

the way rhaenyra was hounded by requests all day and refused everyone and then the second alicent asked for something she said yes. LONG shot of her face looking up at alicent. alicent Lingering. rhaenyra asking for help. it's happening right in front of our eyes.

do you think Mysaria and Daemon know Alicent is getting the luxury spa version of imprisonment, do you think they know Alicent is cosplaying as queen’s hand because Rhaenyra keeps turning up in her chambers with a panic attack loaded, do you think they had another little emergency kiki on the cuck bench about it

Soooo attracted to the idea of Rhaenyra spending long, unproductive days going back and forth with indecisive and self interested advisors only end up in the queen dowager's room in the after hours, seeking council from Alicent and asking for advice that she'll actually heed because despite everything Alicent's word is still something Rhaenyra holds faith in.