House of the Dragon: Alicent Discovers Aemond and Alys’ Plot to Seize Westeros Power
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
In the penultimate episode of House of the Dragon's third season, Alicent Hightower travels to Harrenhal to confront her son Aemond, only to discover that he has forged an unsettling alliance with Alys Rivers, the castle's enigmatic resident. Over a tense dinner shared by all three characters, Alicent realises that Aemond and Alys are not simply allies but are conspiring to seize control of Westeros for themselves, a revelation that shatters her assumptions about family loyalty and shifts the balance of the wider war for the Iron Throne.
The discovery leaves Alicent trapped in a precarious position, unable to safely expose or act against a plot she now understands puts her firmly at risk while she remains within Harrenhal's walls. The episode also introduces a further significant development in the broader conflict, altering the political landscape and deepening the sense of danger surrounding her presence at the castle, setting up the tension carried into the season's final instalment.
- Alicent uncovers Aemond and Alys Rivers' secret power-seizing plot at Harrenhal.
- The revelation upends Alicent's trust and reshapes the war for the throne.
- She is left stranded, unable to act safely against the conspiracy.
New here? Start with this
House of the Dragon is a fantasy drama set generations before Game of Thrones, following the Targaryen royal family as it tears itself apart over who has the rightful claim to the Iron Throne. The conflict, known as the Dance of the Dragons, pits the dragon-riding claimant Rhaenyra Targaryen against her younger half-brother Aegon and his supporters within House Hightower and House Targaryen, who back a rival claim to the crown.
Alicent Hightower is Aegon's mother and a former queen who has spent the series torn between loyalty to her own children and doubts about the war they have started. Her son Aemond, an ambitious and volatile dragon rider, has become one of the most dangerous figures on his side of the conflict, while Alys Rivers is a mysterious woman residing at the castle of Harrenhal who has taken on a role as an adviser and confidante there.
The power struggle matters because it determines who sits on the Iron Throne and rules the Seven Kingdoms, with each new alliance or betrayal shifting which side holds the advantage as the war escalates. Harrenhal itself is significant as a strategically important stronghold, making any scheming that happens within its walls directly relevant to the wider battle for control of Westeros.
Coverage
- Variety — ‘House of the Dragon’: Gayle Rankin on That ‘F — ed Up’ Aemond-Alys-Alicent Scene, ‘Unbearable’ Family Dinner and Dragon Egg Plans
- Collider — ‘House of the Dragon’s Gayle Rankin Teases Alys’ Ultimate Endgame After That “Weird and Freaky” Dinner Scene
- Collider — Aemond and Alicent’s dinner turns deadly as war shifts
Americas Art Culture Entertainment Offbeat Travel TV Weird & Viral World