hotd tells the story of an undying love between two women which consistently overcomes the violence of war, feudalism, and patriarchy. the affection between rhaenyra and alicent weaves through the narrative to tell us something larger about misogyny, gendered violence, etc., that is far more compelling than f&b's incessant and arguably banal “male primogeniture is bad,” thesis. rhaenyra and alicent are not “codependent,” and hotd’s writing (with regards to this relationship) is not “misogynistic;” this relationship is a representation of the power of love against seemingly insurmountable odds and the consequences of rejecting adherence to duty in an inherently corrupt sociopolitical system. rhaenyra and alicent’s dedication to one another sharply contrasts the brutality of the dance, compelling the audience to contemplate the futility of the conflict, the pervasive nature of misogyny, and, ultimately, the faculty of love as a means to combat suffering.