“It would be a tough pill to swallow”: Phia Saban discusses Helaena’s reaction on learning Alicent’s plan for Aegon

The Season 2 finale’s tidy conclusion may have been a surprise, but it is an ending that feels straightforward for the ‘Game of Thrones‘ universe. In a shocking turn of events, Alicent Hightower, the cunning leader of the Greens, extends an olive branch to her former friend turned sworn enemy, Rhaenyra Targaryen, the formidable leader of the Blacks. Under the veil of darkness, Alicent proposes a truce, offering to relinquish control of King’s Landing in exchange for a guarantee of protection and obscurity for herself and her daughter.

Alicent’s offer can be a tough pill for Helaena to swallow

In a stunning display of calculated diplomacy, Alicent reluctantly presents the gruesome trophy of her son Aegon’s head to Rhaenyra. Unknown to Helaena, Alicent had consented to this condition. Phia Saban, the actress who plays Helaena, shared her thoughts on the shocking deal made by Alicent. Saban expressed her doubts about how Helaena would react if she were to discover her mother’s plan, stating that it would be a difficult truth for her to accept. She also wondered if Helaena would ever find out about the plan. Saban said in an interview with TheWrap,

“It would be a tough pill to swallow to know that about any member of your family,” Saban told TheWrap of Alicent’s deal. “I wonder if [Helaena will] ever hear that that was the plan. I wonder what will happen.”With writing currently underway for Season 3, Saban said she has “no idea what’s happening next season.”

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Aegon II Targaryen and Ser Larys Strong’s Flight

Alicent’s plan will hit a snag when she returns to King’s Landing and discovers Aegon has fled with Larys Strong, a secret Saban doubts Aegon shared with Helaena. The actress believes Helaena is in the dark about her brother’s escape and didn’t have any involvement in his getaway. While Saban is eager to see how this storyline plays out in Season 3, she humorously suggested an unlikely alliance between Alicent, Helaena, Larys, and Aegon.

“I don’t think he told her where he was going,” the actress said, noting that she didn’t have anything to do with that storyline. “Those two [are my] favorite characters, so I’m really, really excited for that storyline next season. I don’t think she has any idea about it, otherwise, maybe she would’ve like to go with — no, she wouldn’t … That’d be really fun. Maybe Alicent and Helaena can run away and hook up with them, Larys and Aegon.”

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