Fans were just as confused as the characters in the newest episode of House of the Dragon when Viserys said, “I am going to bed, Aemma.” Fans have always speculated about the nature of the King’s (Paddy Considine) romance with his young queen. Actress Olivia Cooke, who recently spoke with the Game of Thrones podcast and took over the part from Emily Carey, said that Alicent loves Viserys but expressed doubt about whether or not she “respects” him. After Otto Hightower’s (Rhys Ifans) wife Aemma died in childbirth, he urged Alicent to spend time with the King.
The King and Rhaenyra (formerly Milly Alcock and now Emma D’Arcy) become fast friends over their shared interest in history and legends, and finally, the King declares his intentions to marry the young girl, causing tension between him and his daughter. Due to the time jumps, viewers have only had brief glimpses of their growing family. Cooke was asked about the nature of their connection, and she answered, “I guess so. Honestly, I believe she cares deeply about Viserys. I believe there is a deeper affection and love between them now that they have children.
Additionally, Alicent has become what amounts to Viserys’ principal caregiver for his many illnesses. Though he has excellent intentions and seeks to maintain peace in his realm, Viserys lacks the leadership qualities necessary to be an effective monarch. He may come out as weak and naive, yet he has always been a staunch defender of Rhaenyra when necessary. She has his back when Otto attempted to poison him by spilling the beans about Rhaenyra and Daemon’s (Matt Smith) night out at a pleasure house.
In the most recent incident, when the authenticity of her children was openly questioned, he stepped in to defend her. Cooke says, “But I don’t know whether she respects him. “, alluding to the fact that Rhaenyra doesn’t appreciate him because he is devoted to her and ignores her wrongdoings. I can’t say for sure if she believes he’s a good leader or not. She probably has this impression of him as being too weak due to how he treats Rhaenyra.
In the most recent episode, the Blacks and Greens of House of the Dragon regained their footing and Viserys’ decision to stand with Rhaenyra deepened the rift between his families because, as Cooke put it, “he’s so blinded by his love for his children that he doesn’t perceive their wrongdoings.” When Viserys makes a decision, it will have repercussions that drive the Dance of the Dragon forward.
Every week on Sunday, new episodes of House of the Dragon may be seen.