‘House of the Dragon’ Showcases the Limits of Girlboss Feminism
(Warning: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 5.)
Throughout much of House of the Dragon Season 2, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) have operated as two sides of the same coin. Although they’ve only shared one scene together thus far, both have been thrust to the sidelines in favor of hotter heads, bigger egos, and sheer violence. But in Episode 5, their parallel challenges came to a head as each sovereign faced heated exchanges and pushback, once again showcasing the limits of what the only woman in a room full of men in a world that’s openly hostile toward them can accomplish.
Rhaenyra’s frustration boiled over in what’s now a recurring refrain in her small council meetings. Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) had long been her sole ally against her male advisers, who’d prefer she sequester herself away while the men fight her war. But after “Rook’s Rest,” nothing stands between her and her men’s anger.