House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4: What Alicent Drinks & Why It Matters

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#moviesupdate Welcome to Reaction of A! In this video, we explore the mysterious drink that Queen Alicent consumes in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4. What is it, and why is it so significant? We break down the scene, revealing the possible ingredients, the historical context, and the implications for Alicent's character and storyline. Join us as we analyze how this seemingly small detail could have a big impact on the power dynamics in Westeros. Don't miss our in-depth discussion and theory breakdown! Like, comment, and subscribe for more House of the Dragon insights

Transcript

00:00Welcome back everyone.

00:07It is Amelia.

00:08I hope you are fine.

00:09Alicent Hightower is given a drink by a maester in House of the Dragons season 2 episode 4

00:14and it's one that carries a lot of importance for her story.

00:18The reveal of Alicent and Kristen Cole's relationship has made her story a surprising one in the

00:23Game of Thrones prequel's sophomore season, which continues even with Cole himself off

00:28to war.

00:29It is that relationship which drives a small but crucial moment in the episode, as Alicent

00:34is given a beverage called Moontea by Grand Maester Orville, though it's ostensibly not

00:39for her.

00:40It may not be quite as consequential overall when compared to House of the Dragons season

00:452 episode 4's ending, but it does say a lot about Alicent.

00:49Grand Maester Orville gives Alicent Moontea, which she herself drinks unbeknownst to him.

00:54Moontea is used throughout the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros to either prevent or abort pregnancies

01:00and is made by mixing together herbs called tansy and pennyroyal along with a few other

01:05ingredients such as mint and honey.

01:07This means Alicent was either pregnant or worried about becoming pregnant with Ser Kristen's

01:12baby.

01:13Alicent herself gave Moontea to Diana, who was sexually assaulted by Aegon in House of

01:18the Dragons season 1, so she is certainly well aware of it and what it does.

01:23Her relationship with Cole is seemingly only a few weeks old, so it is more likely this

01:27is a precautionary measure on her part, but the fact she holds her stomach does raise

01:31the possibility she knows she's pregnant.

01:34As a highborn lady, former queen, and current Queen Mother, Alicent cannot have children

01:39outside of marriage, as that would bring great shame and disgrace upon her.

01:43That the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard would be the father would only make things

01:47worse.

01:48Even if she never revealed it, she'd have to live with that knowledge, since they aren't

01:52supposed to have sex at all.

01:54That explains why Alicent drinks Moontea, but there is more to it.

01:57Now, years later, it's Alicent who is drinking Moontea after having sex with Cole.

02:02It really lays bare her hypocrisy and exposes her righteousness as nothing but a clue.

02:08Much like Rhaenyra said in season 1, such a parallel is presumably not lost on Alicent

02:13herself either, and should only feed into her self-loathing over her relationship with

02:18the Lord Commander.

02:19Which will make it more interesting to see if there's any continuation of that in House

02:24of the Dragon.

02:25Give me some ideas related to my video in comments on below if you like this video and

02:29subs for more upcoming videos.

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