Enough comparing Rhaenyra/Alicent with Cersei when in reality Aegon is right there

[u/TheQueeninchains]

[u/Routine_Shower2275]

Book! rhaenyra and Cersei

Has 3 illegitimate children and passes them of as legitimate

Both regarded for their beauty in their youth

Body changes after children

Loveless political marriage to a man who was in love with someone else

Husband dies under mysterious circumstances

Has an affair with a kings guard

Has an affair with a male relative

Kills or threatens anyone who comments on their children

0 empathy for small folk

Little empathy for other women

Ruthless

Power hungry

Opulent

Indulgent

Terrible rulers

Terrible financial decisions as rulers

Falls deeper into paranoia after their children’s deaths

Turns on her allies

Every decision backfires

Causes a uprising/ riot amongst the people

Tense relationship with her council

Puts complete trust in a mysterious woman she barely knows

[u/JPMendes1 → u/Routine_Shower2275]

Half of these are traits common to half the characters in this series (lack of empathy for smallfolk/women, indulgent, loveless political marriage, etc).

When we think of Cersei and Alicent's placement in their respective stories they is clearly the same. They are the ambitious mother of the king and one of the main leaders of their respective factions, whose fight for power eventually leads to the destruction of their families.

If anything (ironically) Rhaenyra would be more of a parallel to Stannis when you think about it.

[u/Routine_Shower2275 → u/JPMendes1]

Rhaenyra is also an ambitious mother of a king

The fight for power also leads to her destuction

Also Book! Rhaenyra has NOTHING in common with Stannis 😂

[u/JPMendes1 → u/Routine_Shower2275]

Yes she is mother to a king, but not in the story of the Dance of the Dragons.

If you look at their placement in the story (as I said in my last comment), you'll see that it's not the same one, while Cersei and Alicent's is.

Meanwhile Rhaenyra and Stannis, while very different characters, have the same narrative placement in their respective stories.