The climax of this week’s episode involves Rhaenyra dressing up as a nun and sneaking into Alicent’s private place of worship. Is that a little ridiculous? Maybe, but since “Fire & Blood” is largely based on public records in the “Game of Thrones” universe, this scene doesn’t technically contradict the source material. It’s unlikely that the book version of these characters would meet under these circumstances, but it wouldn’t have been impossible for them to do so without some grand maester finding out.
Ultimately, their conversation is so compelling that the logistics of how it happened almost don’t matter; it’s cathartic to see these two finally talk openly after so many episodes apart. They finally manage to clear up the misunderstanding about Viserys’ last words (well, sort of), and at least express their regret over the deaths of Lucerys and Jaehaerys. They can’t prevent war, but at least they get the clarity that comes from knowing the other isn’t actively out to get them. Whatever happens from this point on, Alicent will always know that Rhaenyra tried to stop her, and Rhaenyra at least knows that Alicent won’t rejoice in anything bad that happens to her from here on out.
It’s especially satisfying because the Rhaenyra book and the Alicent book never get such a clear moment. They will not meet again until the war is almost over, by which point all the damage will have already been done. If the show had stuck with this and denied the two more screen time together, that would make all the extra focus on the couple’s relationship somewhat extraneous. By bringing them together for one big, surprising scene, the show provided a much-needed payoff to all that early buildup.
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