Ho Yay in House of the Dragon.
For the original books, see here. For Game of Thrones, see here.
Season 1
Pretty much all of the subtext revolves around the close friendship of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, which turns sour as they grow old and eventually degenerates into a war that will engulf all of Westeros.
- When they were young, the two had an incredibly close friendship that included spending time in the garden of the Red Keep together, Rhaenyra wanting to give Alicent dragon rides, and sitting together at the tournament.Alicent: You aren't worried about your position?
Rhaenyra: (With her head planted in Alicent's lap) I like this position. It's quite comfortable. - While Alicent is dressing Rhaenyra for the ceremony where Rhaenyra will be officially proclaimed heir to King Viserys, the two hold hands, with their heads very close to each other, and gaze into a mirror.
- Even Episode 3 still shows Alicent trying to mend her bridge with Rhaenyra—with their interactions inadvertently coming off as a mutual case of Woman Scorned—likelier to give their coming conflict at the Dance a very tragic edge.
- To their credit, Milly Alcock and Emily Carey discuss having consciously invoked it as they performed
. - Episode 4 has Alicent becoming furious and upset to learn that Rhaenyra might have slept with her uncle Daemon. It comes off like Alicent is a Clingy Jealous Girl with a crush, rather than being simply worried about Rhaenyra's position and reputation.
- Episode 7 has Alicent saying "(Duty and sacrifice) has been trampled under your pretty foot again." They seem to be developing Foe Romance Subtext.
- Episode 8 has Alicent and Rhaenyra appear to forgive each other and bury the hatchet, after making sincere toasts to one another. Alicent gently touches Rhaenyra's arm, the one she cut in the previous episode, and Rhaenyra gives her a gentle smile in return, while promising to return to King's Landing on dragonback.
- Episode 9 has Alicent defying her father when the latter wants to elliminate Rhaenyra because she's the primary threat to Aegon's claim to rule, claiming that the late King Viserys I wouldn't want his beloved daughter dead. Otto counters that Alicent herself also most likely didn't want her old childhood friend (and possibly Only Friend) dead because of their close bond together despite past grievances.
- The final episode of the first season reveals that Alicent has kept the page that Rhaenyra ripped out of her schoolbook when they were younger as a Tragic Keepsake.
- In Ser Otto's words when showing Rhaenyra the page in Episode 10: "Queen Alicent has not forgotten the love you once had for each other."
