House Of The Dragon Episode Four Review - 8 Ups & 2 Downs
7. Up - More twists and turns in Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship
The fascinating relationship between the Queen and the heir apparent took another raft of twists and turns this week.
After appearing almost irreparably distanced in the previous episode, the two young women almost appear on the verge of becoming friends once again. The audience cannot help feel for Alicent when she confides that she has become lonely as the Queen, highlighting the immense personal burden she bears as a result of her status of one of her father's political pawns; as the two clasp hands, it almost feels like the two friends might be on the right track.
Of course, this is Westeros however, and as such audiences aren't allowed to have nice things. Conflict soon breaks out once again as Alicent confronts Rhaenyra about the allegations surrounding her and Daemon. While Rhaenyra manages to placate her, the cracks in their relationship are visibly wider thanks to the usual polished performances from Milly Alcock and Emily Carey, who have done phenomenal work in adding fresh new layers to the relationship between these two vibrant characters.
The hints at the inevitable break are more visible than ever, particularly after Alicent defends her friend to the King. One can only surmise that when Alicent finds out that she has put her reputation on the line to defend a friend who has unflinchingly lied to her face, that this will be a key factor in influencing events that lead to the formation of the infamous Green and Black factions.
Where will the pair land next week? Fans can only guess and as such, will anxiously be returning for more.