House Of The Dragon Episode Seven Review - 7 Ups & 3 Downs

"He can choose which eye to keep, a privilege he did not grant my son!"

Olivia Cooke's Alicent was truly ghastly last week, one of the more superbly unlikable debut performances in HBO's Westeros universe to date. It seemed impossible that she would be able to exceed her levels of said ghastliness in the space of one follow up episode but do so the maniacal Queen does.

Fortunately for viewers, this makes for absolutely compelling viewing. Cooke's performance in the focal scene of the episode following Aemond's blinding is absolutely sensational. The Queen is quite literally hysterical with a perceived sense of injustice and betrayal.

Audiences knew they had an unhinged commodity on their hands following last week's instalment, but are still open mouthed at the levels of depraved instability Alicent displays in Driftmark; the frenzied Hightower daughter demands Lucerys' eye in recompense and when Viserys refuses, openly defies the King, ordering Criston, who also refuses the wicked command.

Just as viewers think they can relax, the demented Queen grabs a dagger and charges at the boys, determined to carry out the grisly sentence herself before eventually being held back by none other than Rhaenyra. Arguably the most disturbing thing about this entire traumatic sequence is that despite Rhaenyra's complete lack of involvement, Alicent holds her former friend entirely and utterly responsible for the loss of her son's eye. Rhaenyra's words perfectly reflected the current state of affairs following the eldest Hightower daughter's extremely public meltdown.

"But now they see you as you are."