The following contains spoilers for George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood and potential future spoilers for House of the Dragon.
As the most beautiful girl at court, Alicent Hightower used her connections to the throne to crown her son Aegon II Targaryen in House of the Dragon instead of the rightful heir, Rhaenyra Targaryen. In George R.R. Martin's novel Fire and BloodAlicent's portrayal of him is cold, manipulative and decidedly bitter about a child's claim to the Iron Throne. House of the DragonAlicent's portrayal sings the same song but in the context of a child bride and mother. While House of the DragonAlicent has yet to meet his end, his death in Fire and Blood It was poetic justice for his years-long plots against Rhaenyra.
House of the Dragon still has quite a bit of time to go before Alicent's death, unless the series decides to send the Green Queen away a bit sooner. The likelihood of that happening is low, however, considering Alicent's death is the unofficial epilogue to the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Alicent's death marks not only the end of her life, but also the end of Team Green.
Updated August 12, 2024 by Katie Doll: Alicent Hightower has had a tremendous arc in season two after giving up her power to her sons, Aegon and Aemond. Doing so meant losing her voice and realizing the position she put Rhaenyra in in season one. Now that she’s trying to right her wrongs, Alicent is well on her way to an emotionally satisfying death.
Alicent Hightower's Death in Fire & Blood, Explained

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Date of death |
133 AD |
---|---|
Cause |
Winter fever |
During the Dance of the Dragons, Alicent lost much of her family. The event that started the war was the death of her husband, King Viserys I Targaryen, which prompted Alicent to act quickly against the impending coronation of her stepdaughter Rhaenyra. Almost as if by premeditation, Alicent and Ser Criston Cole formed the small council to crown her son Aegon II as king in his place. Alicent had long since chosen her side before this cursed night, so she did not hesitate to betray Rhaenyra. House of the DragonAlicent, of course, fought to at least have Rhaenyra spared, since they were friends in distant memory.
In the two years it took to end the war, Alicent lost eight family members—her father Otto, her brother Gwayne, all her children, and two grandchildren. Alicent and her granddaughter Jaehaera were the only survivors of Team Green after the war. Considering the high number of casualties in the Dance of the Dragons, Alicent did well. Her life was spared numerous times by the enemies she had plotted against. If it were not for the mercy of others, Alicent would have died long ago.
Alicent was arrested by the Velaryons after the assassination of Aegon II, officially ending the war. A proposal was made to marry Jaehaera to Rhaenyra's son and King of the Seven Kingdoms, Aegon III, to reconcile the Greens and Blacks. Alicent refused the marriage, but her consent was never needed. The Hand of the King, Ser Tyland Lannister, had alreadysentenced Alicent to imprisonment in Maegor's Holdfast where he would spend the rest of his life. For the last year of her life, Alicent never left her chambers. The only people who accompanied her were her septa, her servants, and her guards.
George R. R. Martin does not specify the time of Alicent's death alongside Jaehaera, but both died in the same year. If Jaehaera took her own life before Alicent, it may have been the last thing holding Alicent together. The former Queen Mother began to talk to herself and cry constantly. In an ironic development, Alicent came to hate the color green. Her last words to her septa were: “I want to see my children again, and Helaena, my sweet girl, oh… and King Jaehaerys. I will read to him, like I did when I was little. He always said I had a beautiful voice.” Alicent died in 133 AD in his chambers during the Winter Fever epidemic.
Is Alicent Hightower responsible for her own death?
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It is unfair to say that a mother should ever watch her children die out of a sense of justice. Cersei Lannister's reaction to the loss of Joffrey Baratheon was heartbreaking, despite how evil her son was. Alicent's speaking about her children in her final moments showed who she was at her core: a mother who tried to protect her children but failed. Yet there is an elegance in Alicent's solitude that serves as a constant reminder of his selfish desires. which indirectly caused the death of his children.
“I want to see my children again, and Helaena, my sweet girl, oh… and King Jaehaerys. I will read to him, like I did when I was little. He always said I had a lovely voice.”
– Alicent Hightower's Last Words
Fire and BloodAlicent showed no mercy to those who opposed her son. She would have had people executed in a heartbeat for supporting blacks. Yet when it came time for Alicent to be treated with the same medicine, her enemies spared her. The blacks threw it in her face that they were better than her, not only in strength, but in balance. It's something that any religious person like Alicent would grit their teeth over. Ultimately, Alicent had no one to blame but herself for plunging a kingdom into war.
The show builds a compassionate journey towards Alicent's death

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As House of the Dragon will represent the end of Alicent is worrying. The series could stay on track with Alicent dying in her chambers during the Winter Fever, her last words expressing a desire to see her children, Helaena and King Jaehaerys, again. Since the TV adaptation did not explore Alicent's childhood bond with King Jaehaerys, House of the Dragon he could follow Alicent's path, eager to see Rhaenyra again. In the afterlife, perhaps Alicent will return to being the same teenager she was before she was forced into a marriage that severed ties with her best friend.
After the events of House of the DragonSeason 2 finale, a compassionate portrayal of Alicent's death is fitting. Alicent has come to terms with the consequences of her actions and accepted that she is partially responsible for Rhaenyra's losses. Her only wish now is to be free of duty, make things right for Rhaenyra, and break the cycle of emotional imprisonment for her daughter. However, Alicent still has a long way to go. She can't just run away from the war she moderately caused. After HotDseason finale, if Alicent wants to be redeemed, she must make an active effort to make amends. Only then can her death have an emotional weight.
When the House of the Dragon could represent Alicent's death

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Being one of the only survivors of the war, Alicent will probably be the final death of House of the Dragon. Alicent's death would be a fitting conclusion to the series, as she relives the mistakes of her past that led to her imprisonment. Her regretful obsession with legacy and power reflects the overall theme that also game of Thrones touched in its ending. As game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will likely end with the death of a power-corrupted queen. Only this time, the infamous shadow of game of Thrones'the end will loom House of the Dragon.
At this point in his life, it would be incredibly difficult for viewers to sympathize with Fire and BloodAlicent. But unlike the book version of Alicent, viewers have the context of Alicent's youthful years filled with the innocence that her father and Viserys have stained. Perhaps in those final moments, Alicent can find happiness one last time as she anticipates the people she loves most in her ill-fated life.
House of the Dragon Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Max. A third season is in development.