House of the Dragon takes place at a time when women like Alicent Hightower had very little agency. At the beginning of the series, Rhaenyra and Alicent are still children at the mercy of the desires of the men around them.

The series has already established that violence against women is commonplace. Alicent has a nervous habit that comes up briefly in the first two episodes. That’s what it means.

‘House of the Dragon’ says they will handle female characters better than ‘Game of Thrones

Image Credit: HBO Max

House of the Dragon hoped to address the abuse of female characters in Game of Thrones. The prequel series focuses heavily on the issue of succession and that patriarchy would do anything to keep a woman out of power. The series begins with fifteen-year-old Rhaenyra being named as her father’s successor. Meanwhile, after the death of her mother, her friend Alicent Hightower is being pressured by her own father to bond with the recently widowed King Viserys. In episode 2, Viserys announces his intention to marry Alicent.

Midway through the series, House of the Dragon moves forward ten years in time, with Olivia Cooke and Emma D’Arcy taking on the roles of Alicent and Rhaenyra. “Sometimes Emma’s on one stage and I’m on the other, and we’re both surrounded by [male characters] who are jerks,” Cooke told The Hollywood Reporter. The empire would be fine. It’s the interference, that Strutting and the egos obscuring everything.

A close bond. pic.twitter.com/2eh74V1f1v

— House of the Dragon (@HouseofDragon) August 23, 2022

Alicent has a weird habit in ‘House of the Dragon’

Image Credit: HBO Max

House of the Dragon is inspired by medieval Europe, a time when violence against women was all too common. In the first two episodes, a teenager Alicent nervously plucks at her fingers and nails until blood comes out. A disorder that causes the affected person to scratch their skin uncontrollably. According to the NHS, when afraid or stressed, the affected person can scratch their skin and may not even be aware of it. The condition can also cause bleeding or bruising.

Alicent’s habit doesn’t go unnoticed. In episode 2, his father, Otto Hightower, notices his bloody fingers. “You are the most beautiful girl at court,” he tells her. “Why are you destroying yourself?” is a Disturbing comment related to the fact that Otto is pressuring her to become Viserys’ next wife.

Alicent Hightower has gained sympathy from fans

Alicent is an interesting character in House of the Dragon and many fans have sympathy for the young woman. “Poor Alicent, I really felt sorry for her every time she started biting/gnawing her fingers/nails. His fear was palpable. And when Otto mentioned that she ‘could wear one of your mother’s dresses,’ that’s when she stopped being a girl,” wrote one Reddit user. “Reading F&B, Alicent struck me as more of a tragic figure than an evil one. one,” said another fan.

“As the daughter of a second son in a noble family, she doesn’t necessarily have a bright future. In episode one we see her coming to terms with the fact that she must sacrifice her innocence in order to survive and climb the social ladder. New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays on HBO Max.

next instalment of @HouseofDragon drops tonight on @hbomax 💅🏼 pic.twitter.com/8O11MYyZY8

— Emily Carey (@TheEmilyCarey) August 28, 2022

Read More: Will we see Emilia Clarke’s Khaleesi in House of the Dragon?