House of the Dragon fans heartbroken as Gywane shares two-word verdict on Alicent’s son

*WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 6.*

The latest episode of House of the Dragon sees further heartbreak and regret for Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who is clearly reconsidering the role she has played in the Dance of the Dragons so far. Season 2, episode 6 of the HBO series sees Alicent grow fearful after she fails to hear from her father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), despite sending him many letters.

Moreover, she clearly feels tremendous guilt for the last words she said to her eldest son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), telling him “I’m sorry” as he barely clings to life after defiantly heading into battle. In a bid to do something right after it seems everything else has gone wrong, Alicent visits her daughter Helaena and tells her they will go to the temple to light candles for Aegon and “all the other lost souls”.

Before the pair venture out into the town, Alicent has an unusually poignant heart-to-heart with her brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox). During the brief interaction, Ser Gwayne delivers a two-word verdict on her youngest son Daeron Targaryen - and her reaction left many fans feeling moved.

Despite the fact that her older sons Aegon and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) have developed cruel and violent tendencies, she learns Daeron has turned out entirely different. This is clearly a heartbreaking thing for her to hear, given he is the only child she has not raised herself.

In the candid chat with her brother, Alicent asks: “My son Daeron… What’s he like?”

“Does he not write to you?” Gwayne enquires back, and she responds: “Less and less these days.”

In what appears to be a kind gesture, Gwayne gives her reassurance that Daeron has grown up to be a good son.

“Ten and six now,” he says. “Letters, perhaps, hold less of his interest. He’s stalwart, clever, as adept with his lute as he is with his sword. And a feature in the fancies of many a young lady, I’ll wager.”

Gwayne then pauses, as though wondering whether to go on any further, before adding: “He’s kind.”

Alicent looks back at him with a mix of emotions, before responding: “That’s good.

“Kindness is a quality I found lacking in his brothers.”

Gwayne goes on to praise Alicent for “sending him to ward”, pointing out that the Red Keep isn’t necessarily a good place for young men to grow up, despite its many advantages.

“Was it the court or was it their mother?” Alicent asks sadly, as Gwayne tells her: “I’m sure you did your best.”

Taking to Reddit, fans of the Game of Thrones spin-off shared their thoughts on the heartbreaking interaction.

In a discussion thread entitled ‘When you have a kind son that was raised away from you’, one person wrote: “I thought this was a really good yet really sad scene.”

Another agreed: “This scene made me feel really sad.. I know it’s Alicents fault but god Olivia…maybe it’s the doe eyes power…she’s too good.” (sic)

A third fan penned: “I actually really loved this scene. Made me feel for Alicent and her regrets I do believe that she is not fully to blame for her sons.”

One more wrote: “I love how Gwayne talked about Daeron in this scene. It seems that Gwayne is both proud of the young lad his nephew has become, while also being saddened by the fact that Alicent barely knows who her youngest child is.” (sic)

Another praised: “I really like this scene for Alicent. She’s lost everything in a way and you can see her decency in it.”

House of the Dragon season 2 is set to air in the UK on Mondays at 2am BST (British Summer Time) on Sky Atlantic and NOW. The same episode will also be broadcast again on Monday at 9pm.