‘House of the Dragon’ Star Milly Alcock: Fans Pitting Rhaenyra and Alicent Against Each Other Is ‘F—ing Ironic’
Ethan Shanfeld Aside from Westerosi politics and fire-breathing beasts, HBO’s “House of the Dragon” plots the demise of a friendship between Young Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey), who marries Rhae’s father, King Viserys (Paddy Considine), and threatens her friend’s heirdom with a newborn son. As Alcock noted in an interview with Nylon, “‘House of the Dragon’ highlights yes, the patriarchy, yes, misogyny, but also the internalized misogyny that these two women are forced to face. They’re forced to be put at odds with one another by the choices by men.” Since the characters are set in opposition due to decisions made by their fathers, Alcock added that she finds it “ironic” that the show’s fan base — which is mostly men — is simultaneously pitting the characters against each other.