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‘House of the Dragon’: Alicent's scene in episode 7 has this symbolic explanation.
The Dowager Queen enters the waters of the lake after her position in the court is questioned.
In episode 7 of the second season of ‘House of the Dragon’, Alicent Hightower decides to go into the woods alone. She contemplates the lake rising in front of her and does not think twice: she takes off her classic green dress and sinks her feet, her legs, her hips, her whole body into the water. In the shot, the queen’s disheveled hair can be seen under the crystalline liquid as she floats face up, silent, peaceful. Like many elements of the series, its creators wanted to express a symbolic idea related to the recent movements that have taken place in the kingdom.
The Kingdom Turns Its Back on Alicent Hightower
As a young woman, Alicent Hightower was forced to marry Viserys Targaryen on her father’s orders. She bore his children, produced potential heirs, and, after her husband’s death, participated in the political maneuvering that prevented Rhaenyra Targaryen from sitting on the Iron Throne. She was replaced by Aegon Targaryen, the firstborn of Viserys and Alicent. Previously, the queen had served as regent for years, but with the coronation of the new king, her position and influence diminished. Her complete defeat comes when Aegon is seriously wounded and the kingdom must appoint a new regent: Alicent applied, but the council chose Aemond.... with the betrayal of Criston Cole, who had been Alicent’s lover.
In an interview with Time, actress Olivia Cooke explained the scene as a kind of resurrection for the character: “There’s a theme with her feeling shamed and unclean throughout the season. We saw Alicent with Ser Criston Cole and what happened in the aftermath of her being romantically involved with him. She never felt pure from that moment on. There’s this compulsion to scrub her skin raw in order to purge the rot from what she did and how she feels she is to blame,” to exorcise the guilt. “This felt like a baptism,” the beginning “of the rest of her life.”
‘House of the Dragon’ will premiere the final episode of its second season next Monday, August 5. Parts of the final episode have been leaked on social media, so HBO is working to delete all the clips.