In House of the Dragon, Ser Otto Hightower wants Aegon under his influence as the final step in making the Hightowers and himself the most powerful family in the realm.
House of the Dragon has proven that there is still a hunger for more of George R.R Martins’ source material being adapted into live-action series after the popularity of the HBO Max prequel.
As we prepare for the tenth and final episode of season one, the intentions of all of the current main characters have been revealed.
The biggest surprise of season one, episode nine titled “The Green Council” was the underhanded plan by the King’s Hand, Ser Otto Hightower, to place Aegon as king instead of Rhaenyra.
This plan was revealed to have been underway as soon as the first born son of the king was born, who shares the same bloodline as Otto himself.
Is Ser Otto Hightower the villain in House of the Dragon?
A unique aspect about House of the Dragon is the main cast’s grey characterisation. Each is morally ambiguous and murky in that they straddle the line in terms of whether they are villains or not.
Similarly, Ser Otto Hightower straddles this line, even though he arguably leans towards a more villainous tangent. This is seen as it seems that he considers most of the people in his life as pawns that he can use to propel his own position of power.
It is seen in the cold relationship that he has with both his grandchildren and daughter, despite her need for approval before the events of episode nine.
House of the Dragon: why did Otto want Aegon?
Season one, episode nine titled “The Green Council” revealed just how calculated and methodical Ser Otto Hightower has been in planning to usurp the crown from Princess Rhaenyra in order to have his grandson, Aegon, as the King of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros.
The viewers, like Queen Alicent, found out that Ser Otto had established a small council in the king’s council that was planning how to place Prince Aegon in power as king instead of Rhaenyra being the queen.
The scene proved that Ser Otto had been plotting since as early as when he persuaded his daughter to get closer to the king, so that he could choose her to be his queen after Queen Aemma passed away.
Therefore, it does seem that while the birth of Aegon, as the first boy child of King Viserys and Queen Alicent, fit in his plan perfectly, Ser Otto would have found another plan to propel his family name as the most powerful in the realm.
After the events of “The Green Council”, it seemed that Ser Otto had gotten most of what he desired as the episode ended with Prince Aegon being named the King of the Seven Kingdoms in Westeros.
The only dent in his plan was the escape of Rhaenys, who will surely warn Rhaenyra about the impending danger on her and her family’s lives.
Why did Otto want Rhaenyra dead?
With Aegon on the throne, Ser Otto Hightower knew that Princess Rhaenyra, who was named by King Viserys the Peaceful as his rightful heir to the throne, would contest Aegon’s position.
Therefore, part of the reason why he wanted to be the primary influence as Hand to Aegon was to have him command the murder of Rhaenyra and her six children.
With Rhaenyra and her children dead, there would be no one to contest Aegon’s right to the throne and the Hightowers would be the most powerful family in the realm as both Aegon and Aemond, as well as their descendants, would all carry Hightower blood.
Did Otto want Alicent?
Ser Otto Hightower is the father of Queen Alicent. From when Alicent was a young woman, it did seem that Ser Otto was continually using her as a pawn in his scheme to elevate his family name in the realm.
Whether it was initially letting Alicent develop a bond with Rhaenyra or pushing her to bond with the king after the queen’s death, Ser Otto seemingly did not love or like his daughter but for how much he could use her, which Alicent only realised in “The Green Council”.
Moreover, she later asserted that she will be advising her son, and not Ser Otto.
Does Otto get what he wants in House of the Dragon?
Taking into consideration that House of the Dragon is an adaptation of the novel, Fire and Blood, it is difficult to know how true to the source material the series will keep, as there have already been a number of liberties taken in season one.
But in terms of Ser Otto getting what he wants in the events of Dance of the Dragon, which is when the war for the throne kicks off, Set Otto’s power and influence only diminishes.
This includes being replaced as Hand of the King, being sent away to Old Town, and subsequently being beheaded by Rhaenyra as a traitor.
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