HBO’s House of the Dragon has certainly painted Otto Hightower in a sinister light. He’s right up there with the conniving Larys Strong for this era’s version of Game Of Thrones‘Littlefinger. However, while both don’t mind entertaining murder in their political quests, Otto stands out a lot given how early on he was willing to use his teenage daughter, Alicent, to secure a connection to King Viserys.
That said, many thought King’s Landing was rid of him when Viserys banished Otto for speaking ill of Rhaenyra’s nighttime activities. It felt like karma, but Otto still held a trump card knowing Alicent was there to be manipulated. Well, years later, the series revealed little had changed with the power-hungry Otto and that he remained a demented individual who cared about no one but himself.
The Hightower and Targaryen Knives Are Out
Episode 7 brought Otto back to the fray after the deaths of Daemon’s wife, Laena, and also, Lyonel Strong (the Hand who replaced Otto). Sadly, Larys had Lyonel (his dad) and Harwin (his brother and the father of Rhaenyra’s kids) murdered to curry favor with Alicent. Part of it was also to have Otto return to duty, giving Alicent more sway for the throne as Viserys became more sick.
Otto, this time, took a backseat as a domestic dispute burned bright at the Red Keep. Following Lucerys (Rhaenyra’s son) slashing the eye of Alicent’s son, Aemond, the queen lost control during the mediation. Alicent cut Rhaenyra with a blade, and had to be hauled off, hating how everyone, including the king, sided with Rhaenyra. This was the daughter Otto always wanted, though; one willing to kill for his kin to be on the Iron Throne.
Alicent Has Grown to Truly Become Otto’s Daughter
Otto eventually met Alicent and let her know he never thought she had this in her. He didn’t care if she compromised her integrity or sanity — this was the bloodthirsty hound of war he needed. Her change in nature was teased before in the way she coaxed Aegon to want the throne too, despite it being promised to Rhaenyra. Now, Otto was basically acknowledging how the circle was complete and that Alicent had become her father: conditioning a child to go after something they had no interest in.
What made Otto’s actions even more despicable, apart from ignoring how the queen made more enemies with his rash show of anger, was how he lacked compassion or empathy for Aemond. Otto was only concerned with how Aemond stole Vhagar from the Velaryons. This was his new trump card, as it provided his Green army a Targaryen dragon as a weapon against Rhaenyra’s Team Black.
He deemed Aemond losing an eye as worth it, which reaffirms there’s no such thing as family, just expendable pawns — even if they’re blood. Ultimately, with the teaser for Episode 8 showing Otto on the throne, hinting Viserys does die, it appears Otto’s scheme has indeed paid dividends. And that no matter what, he didn’t care about the cost of all the psychological and physical damage to his family as long as he got to sit and rule Westeros for a bit.
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9:00 pm on HBO and streams on HBO Max.
