Dragon House
How will HOTD focus on misogyny? Based on George RR Martin’s 2018 Fire & Blood, the novel House of the Dragon introduces readers to the Targaryen dynasty before the events of Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon aims to replicate the success of GoT’s early seasons, which made the series one of the most important cultural phenomena of the 21st century despite its polarizing conclusion in 2019.
The prequel will be presented from the perspective of two multi-faceted female characters, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and Lady Alicent Hightower, which sets it significantly apart from Game of Thrones. The sitcom will star Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as the younger of the two main leads before Emma D’Arcy, and Olivia Cooke takes over as an adult. While Rhaenyra and Alicent were close as children, their dispute over the Targaryen succession would ultimately place them on opposite sides of the impending civil war.
During a recent panel discussion, Alcock and Carey discussed the dynamic between their characters Rhaenyra and Alicent in House of the Dragon, as well as the misogyny and patriarchy they face in Westeros. Alicent does not try to defend herself, while Rhaenyra highlights a critical distinction between the two protagonists.
Carey: I think part of the key for Alicent is that she doesn’t fight back. I think she doesn’t know how to do it, and I think parts of her don’t want to – until she’s there. And then maybe she regrets certain decisions and choices. But I think she doesn’t have the power to defend herself, mainly because she’s a child when you find her.
But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: My favorite thing about this show is that, yeah, we show misogyny and we show how that’s affected women in this world, and how that relates to these characters – whether it’s Alicent or Rhaenyra or Rhaenys herself. But when you take away the script and the theme of misogyny, these characters still have an arc and are still complex women on screen. They are not just there to serve the purpose and show misogyny; they are human beings on screen. And I think that’s a brilliant thing.
Alcock: I think ultimately it’s because of the writing. And what the show really builds on is how these two women encounter the same kind of patriarchy, but they react in totally different ways. Because of their special circumstances, who they are, and the privileges that have been granted to them in their lives.
I think Rhaenyra is mostly a fighter. She fights for what she wants and she doesn’t like being told no. But I think these two women approach it in completely different ways, and that’s what makes the show quite interesting. Because I think a lot of people can see themselves in Rhaenyra as much as Alicent.
Deepening the Conversation on Misogyny
House of the Dragon will set itself apart by focusing on a connection between two women, unlike Game of Thrones, which featured many powerful and nuanced female characters ranging from Daenerys and Cersei to Arya and Sansa Brienne.
Rhaenyra will assert her rightful claim to the throne, while Alicent will strive to place her son, Prince Aegon, in this position. Whether Rhaenyra or Alicent emerge victorious in this game of thrones is anyone’s guess, but it will allow House of the Dragon to delve deeper into issues of sexism and patriarchy.
It remains to be seen if House of the Dragon can bring back the wonder that made Game of Thrones so popular in its early seasons. House of the Dragon should be pretty famous because it has the expected levels of deception, political intrigue, and bloody battles based on what we’ve seen from the franchise so far.
