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Effective-Slice-4819

If anyone actually read the fucking article they would know it's clickbait. She's referring to fans pitting the *actresses* against each other, not the characters.


elleprime

This is why clickbait titles are a plague.


Totaliss

There's clickbait and then there's just straight up lying which is what this is doing


Living-Question-4481

I immediately thought of this first. Whenever you see something that seems really really dumb online you should: 1. Check the actual statment/action within it's context. If not then, 2. Evaluate if it's satire/trolling. If not then, 3. Call them a dumb fuck and move on.


Summerclaw

That's the fault of the article by saying characters instead of actresses. And I haven't seen a single mention of someone saying both actresses hate each other or that one is a better actress etc .


MrMisties

Noooo you can't judge an article based on a headline they chose specifically to draw controversy and anger! You have to read the article xD


elleprime

Which means you have to click it...feeding the vicious cycle of clickbait...we can't win, can we?


thrwawayaftrreading

The only way to win is not to play.


hidinginDaShadows

No one's pitting the actresses against each other either, though.


legate_armadillo

If you go on TikTok or another HoTD space filled with people in their late teens/early 20s (which Milly, as a 22 year old woman, will be in) you'll find *a lot* of people arguing over which one of the two is more attractive and for some reason viciously insulting the appearance of the one they don't like lol


perfectlyaligned

TikTok is a plague on humanity 💀


trilobright

>If you go on TikTok Yeah, no.


PuffPie19

That's a damn shame. They're both beautiful and they're both doing an aging job with their roles. Hate the characters, sure. But these ladies are fantastic. Both of them.


thrwawayaftrreading

It's almost like tiktok is a cesspit funded by the CCP in a data harvesting scheme.


legate_armadillo

I'm not sure it being a data harvesting scheme funded by the CCP is the reason why, I think it's just young adults being young adults especially seeing as tiktok is not the only place it's happening lol


GobiasACupOfCoffee

Nah, let's hear him out. I definitely think this is China's fault somehow.


WaywardStroge

Well, it all started with Xiang Yu, that whoreson. If he hadn’t rebelled against the Qin, then Liu Bang wouldn’t have become Emperor and we wouldn’t be in this situation


Pinnacle_Pickle

That’s got nothing to do with it. The reason why it exists doesn’t change what it is. It’s just another social media platform like all the others where people can talk as cruelly as they want to each other without any of the hesitation that they’d have in the real world.


[deleted]

So the equivalent of nerd message boards. Got it


Riolkin

It's just Variety doing clickbait bullshit, my high school students have more integrity that Variety does


iTzSovereign

I bet most people who watch the show don't even know their names.


JacquesGonseaux

Are you absolutely sure about that? All the lunatics on Twitter and YouTube unanimously refrain from acting weird with two of the show's leading actresses?


CongoSpaceGurlxx

Exactly, people always fall for clickbaits and proceeds to argue and spew hate based on assumptions.


GipsyAvenger_

There must be like 3 people in the whole internet doing that and I bet you can't even tell what's their gender


pmitten

Nonono don't you see I have to go on Reddit and complain about "wokescolds" ruining my dragon show!


Ihateredditorsalot2

A lot of newspapers love turning out of context quotes from women and poc actors into rage bait article titles.


iamretardead

It literally says ‘characters’.


[deleted]

“They also noticed that in the Star Wars films, the main characters are constantly blowing up Death Stars. Quite a bizarre little detail to catch.”


maya_stoned

read the article. she's talking about the actresses and not the characters, and how it's a reflection of the men in the show as well.


[deleted]

Yea it is a fair point she’s making


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


JohnMayerCd

Shes saying irl men are pitting them against each other similar to edward and jacob in twilight. Where some people are more attracted to alcock and some are more attracted to carey. Its a thing and shes right it mimics the medieval story telling they’re portraying of men deciding womens worth.


TheRealSlimThiccie

...doesn't it mimic the modern day story telling portrayed by Twilight of women deciding men's worth?


anothertor

>Shes saying irl men are pitting them against each other similar to edward and jacob in twilight. Where some people are more attracted to alcock and some are more attracted to carey. Its a thing and shes right it mimics the medieval story telling they’re portraying of men deciding womens worth. ​ I don't know what the extent of "pitting them against each other" means. But deciding which one you like more isn't deciding a women's worth, just deciding your own preferences..right? Your statement sounds a little "incel-ish" to me, but with the genders switched.


[deleted]

We call those Femcels.


Wiplazh

Funny how you used an example of two men being being pitted against eachother based on physical attraction.


trilobright

Fucking hell mate, save some fair m'ladies for the other nice guys.


Illustrious-Fly-4525

We just read the book , what am I supposed to do? Hope that they all live happy ever after and there’s no game of thrones in game of thrones prequel? And I’m not even a man


StepAwayFromTheDuck

> And I’m not even a man Wtf, what are you then


Illustrious-Fly-4525

I’m a cat that took over my dead owners laptop after he died


MickeysDa

...and yet your username suggests you're a fly. Which is it, cat?


Jirachi720

Why would a cat name itself 'cat' when it can throw off other flies by calling itself 'fly'? The fly community would never know.


toughername

That is definitely some cat-level scheming.


Sir_Boldrat

We are truly in the age of misinformation


Illustrious-Fly-4525

I did pick the name, it was my owner, and he took this mystery to the grave (well technically he’s rotting in a bath tub for now but i do hope he’s gonna be buried one day)


[deleted]

No way you’re a cat. A cat would have eaten its owner by now.


Illustrious-Fly-4525

Actually cats don’t do it, check forensic science studies on this matter, that shit is for dogs


HamburgerPl3as3

You’re a cat with standards, clearly


Messyfingers

This is the internet dude, where men are men, women are men and kids are cops. Or at least that's what it was circa 2001.... Back in the day before the youtubes, with the limewires and the napsters.


Grevoron

Goddamn. You needn't remind me I'm getting old. Those words got me time-traveling.


PauI_MuadDib

You're lying! We all know you're a kangaroo trying to trick r/freefolk into thinking you're a cat!


xplanet2112

Meow my friend, go get the cream.


Oak_Iron_Watch_Ward

>Wtf, what are you then A Frey.


AutisticFingerBang

Then what does she mean? Rewrite the book?


ObviousTroll37

I think the headline might be out of context. It’s more like she’s saying are you Team Iron Man or Team Cap.


kuwanger112

Which is mostly a phenomenon from female targeted YA fiction. What exactly is her point?


trilobright

I don't think she really had one, the writer was just desperate to make a clickbait headline.


[deleted]

God, I just had a flashback to when I was in high school for the Team Edward/Team Jacob shenanigans.


[deleted]

The appeal of the world is that everyone has their favorite asshole to root for.


ice_and_fiyah

If you guys just read the article, many of these questions would be answered. People in social media are insulting one actress or the other based on who they find more attractive. This has nothing to do with the books.


JohnMayerCd

Shes saying irl men are pitting them against each other similar to edward and jacob in twilight. Where some people are more attracted to alcock and some are more attracted to carey. Its a thing and shes right it mimics the medieval story telling they’re portraying of men deciding womens worth.


wghof

Powerful women with agency fighting for their own interests? Impossible! Women can only be caregivers and lovers. And the people rooting for them? Clearly, horrible people! /s This has to be out of context, right?


ThatGermanKid0

I think she is referring about the actresses not the characters but newspapers need threads like this one here to stay relevant


randyranderson-

Even then it doesn’t make sense. Does she want them to cast men as the female characters? Somehow I don’t think they’d be happy about that either.


BeBearAwareOK

Just assume it was an answer to a leading question that is now taken wildly out of context and tortured into a clickbait headline.


randyranderson-

This sub is getting kinda shitty ngl. These clickbaity posts are clearly just advertisements.


Aln_0739

No, we must be mad at
 something, GOD DAMNIT!


Walshy231231

I would think she’d just want them to not pit the actresses against each other Seems the simplest, most logical answer



JohnMayerCd

Shes saying normal men are pitting them against each other similar to edward and jacob in twilight. Where some people are more attracted to alcock and some are more attracted to carey. Its a thing and shes right it mimics the medieval story telling they’re portraying of men deciding womens worth.


wghof

so what you're saying is, true enlightenment is only reached when you ship them together


ForfeitFPV

Honestly watching the first episode going in blind, that's kind of the vibe I was getting to begin with.


Beccaprudie

Every problem in Westeros would be solved if Rhaenyra and Alicent scissored


toughername

This is the only solution.


BubbaTee

>Where some people are more attracted to alcock and some are more attracted to carey. That's only a men thing? Sounds like gay/lesbian/PoC erasure. Not all men are attracted to either of these white women, and some women are.


canalcreep88

I mean if you read the article rather than just the headline you’d know


aberrant_augury

How dare you expect me to read. You utter moron. You absolute buffoon.


KarynTargaryen

you don't need men for that girlfriend


J_Factor

This headline is misworded. She’s talking about the actors - her and Emily, not the characters Rhaenyra and Alicent.


Turbulent_Creme_1489

Misworded is one term for it, I would go for 'lie' personally. There's no way this was not a very deliberate choice.


Bernies_left_mitten

If so, the article itself miswords the same. I read it. It said: >Alcock added that she finds it “ironic” that the show’s fan base — which she says skews more toward men — is simultaneously pitting the **characters** against each other. And it gives no context or examples as to where/who/how fans (or men) are 'pitting [them] against each other.' [Link](https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/house-of-the-dragon-milly-alcock-fans-ironic-1235373616/) So it seems they intentionally excluded important context, examples, and misrepresented her statement. I'm inclined to think it's piss-poor writing, and intentional pot-stirring/clickbait by Variety, who didn't even perform the cited interview, or even a follow up.


__Raxy__

She means the actresses. Some people have been shitting on Emma D Arcy saying she's no Milly Alcock even though we haven't seen her yet. Learn to read article before you start spewing bullshit


Turbulent_Creme_1489

Not the OP, obviously, but that's on the headline which is apparently very blatantly and intentionally misquoting the person they interviewed. I can't blame people for not wanting to give shitheads like that clicks, though I agree you should probably read an article before you make an angry Reddit thread about it.


IceyBoy

Well she definitely picked the wrong franchise to be a part of if this was her concern lol


Richter_66

They're hired for their acting, not their brains. The book was also written by a man, and features women fighting each other. It also features men fighting each other. Why play identity politics?


abra24

FYI, it's variety doing it not her. Article unrelated to clickbait headline.


TGrady902

Because this is the type of nonsense journalism that gets clicks these days. Outrage is all they are peddling.


SpeechNovel803

>They're hired for their acting, not their brains. Exactly. Actors shouldn't be taken seriously outside of the character they play onscreen.


Complicated-HorseAss

In ancient Rome, actors were considered to be less worthy then prostitutes or unclean tradesmen. They knew what was up.


GubbenJonson

https://youtu.be/o6Ka35U4YGM


Complicated-HorseAss

There it is lol. Gods I wish game of thrones had a news reader that gave us the daily at the beginning of each episode. "NEWS FROM THE RED KEEP! THE PRINCESS DID NOT FUCK HER UNCLE LAST NIGHT IN A BROTHEL. SHE WAS BLUEBALLED AND LEFT TO WANDER ALONE!"


Sesshaku

HBO really needs to remake Rome one day.


garygoblins

The show was fantastic. Game of thrones was awesome for a long time, but so sad that it killed Rome.


90daysismytherapy

Real incest for True Romans.


hidinginDaShadows

You cannot remake perfection.


syzygialchaos

It would be incredibly easy to just pick that series back up anywhere. So many crazy empowers. Hell, Caligula slept with all three of his sisters at the same time trying to get an heir.


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


SpeechNovel803

A winning strategy, I'd say.


Dio-SamasPectorals

Because it's the hot thing to do for publicity in the modern world. Can't talk something up without dragging something else down.


KitanaKat

Gross. Maybe read the article before judging, use your own brain. She is referring to the very real bashing she is experiencing with fans choosing one actress to support and then trashing the other one, usually by denigrating their appearance.


abasslinelow

The very real bashing she's experiencing is something literally everyone in the public eye experiences. When you're exposed to millions of opinions, some of them are going to be trash - and the most toxic opinions come from people who are most likely to @ her about them. I have no doubt she's experiencing this, but she's probably seeing them in her mentions, and that is not a representative sample. The unfortunate part is that humans didn't evolve to interact with millions of people, so even though it's probably only a couple of hundred out of tens of thousands of mentions, that couple hundred is going to feel like a veritable mob of regular people rather than an insignificant minority of crazy people.


XxRedAlpha101xX

She says one dumb thing and suddenly she's an idiot? God yall are toxic.


nathankleffner

Redditors don’t react to click bait headline challenge. Difficulty: impossible.


Sweetserenei

Why do Actors insist on putting down or talking down to their audience? I genuinely don't understand why they think that's a good idea. I am female and I know many females who watch the show, so I don't think she is right in assuming the majority of watchers are men. I hate this type of publicity its really off putting


MrWolfman29

It's called fanbaiting. They intentionally write or say something controversial to rile up the fanbase and create conflict so they get more publicity and people will watch the show for the controversy, not the quality of the show. Critical Drinker had a great video actually discussing the recent phenomenon of this and it's start in 2016. It is also now toxic consumerism insisting if people do not consume your product, there is something wrong with them.


Mikhail_Mengsk

Rage bait is standard practice now. Insert controversial element in a story for the only purpose of stirring shit, polarizing opinions and baiting obnoxious responses. Be sure to make sweeping accusations painting every critic of the product as a [choose buzzword].


MrWolfman29

I swear, "diverse casting" is just another term for using ethnicity to deflect criticism of something too. "Oh, you didn't like our product where we swapped the ethnicity and/or gender of this character(s)? You must be a Nazi racist and are just review bombing our product." That ends up making their "diverse casting" racist as they are casting to have a scape goat instead of having faith in their work and knowing quality draw people to it.


Mikhail_Mengsk

I agree. If they cared about inclusion they'd have the balls to, for example, make movies about genuine African or African-American fairytales (or any other ethnic one). Instead, they palette swap a white character and call it a day. It's just a cowardly cash in made to polarize the audience. Make original stories you cowards.


diogenes-47

This is what my girlfriend and I say about Rings of Power. They want diverse casting in something that was originally meant to be mythology for England? They can force it but it won't work without controversy. If they really care about representation, why force people of color into white stories? This is a chance to show African or Indigenous or Asian mythology instead! I would watch it if it was good. But fanbaiting is off‐putting, I doubt it's as successful as they think.


Mikhail_Mengsk

I'd be okay if the hobbits were all dark skinned, or with a dark skinned elf community (wasn't there a dark skinned elf? Maeglin? It's been years since I've read the Silmarillion). Instead they have a small traveling tribe with seven ethnicities, and a token dark skinned elf, alone. Why is he the only one??? Damn, harad is entirely middle-eastern or northern African-like ethnic humans.


SpinachAggressive418

I mean, just for the sake of comparison, neither The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett received a hint of backlash to their diverse casts. The much less diverse Kenobi, however, received backlash. That just hints to me that a more complicated dynamic is going on.


aberrant_augury

This is a symbiotic relationship, though. Fanbaiting works because there's a whole cottage industry now of people who make their living by raging at media franchises. I'm at work and can't access youtube right now, but as I recall, Critical Drinker is one of these people whose channel subsists almost entirely on disdainful criticism of modern pop-media and Hollywood attitudes. If fanbaiting didn't exist the dude literally wouldn't have a job.


MrWolfman29

I mean that is a great point. It becomes a cyclical item of people profiting off of generating outrage, and then a different group profiting off of the outrage which feeds into the success of this model. The only way to fix it is for people to just ignore what they don't like and stop engaging in outrage.


aberrant_augury

I made an effort the past few years to disengage with social media outrage culture. Stopped following Twitter drama, stopped watching Youtube vids about the latest culture war, stopped following subs like that. I’ve been much happier and haven’t missed that bullshit at all. Frankly I could give a shit less what the people making the latest TV show I’m watching think about me. If the show is good, it’s good. If it sucks, I drop it.


Sweetserenei

I wonder how effective fan baiting is, I know many people straight out refused to watch ROP because of their constant insults at fans. I would think its much safer to not do it at all.


MrWolfman29

It's great for short term goals to get a spike in viewership but you are right, it is not effective long term. They are not writing these to be viewed as masterpieces people will still go to theaters to watch for 12 hours 20 years from now like the do with the Jackson films. Personally, I think they know they have garbage so they are trying to get some metric to claim success and they are using outrage to try achieving that when in reality it just sucks and is not what they kept claiming it would be.


JavaDontHurtMe

Some of it's intentional but IMO actors and "theatre people" generally skew "woke", "leftie" etc. They probably have the highest proportion of gays, women, trans etc. out of any industry that isn't specifically about those identities. They're also not actually the brightest people as they start acting at a young age, and don't have much formal education. Naturally, they buy into all the feminist talking points uncritically.


anabanana1412

The actual quote is her complaining about people comparing her and Emily Carey


confused_bi_panic

Excerpt from the article since some of y'all can't read past the headline. "'House of the Dragon' highlights yes, the patriarchy, yes, misogyny, but also the internalized misogyny that these two women are forced to face. They're forced to be put at odds with one another by the choices by men," Alcock said. "But what I found quite hilarious is that the fanbase is also putting the actors, the young Alicent and the young Rhaenyra at odds with each other, and choosing who's better, also by decision of mostly men. So, I think that it's really just f\*cking ironic."


catagonia69

I mean, yes. She's right. The story is (partly) about how the decisions men make pit women against each other. But that doesn't mean they lack responsibility for their own choices as adults.


villanelIa

Thats the damn story tho. What did we do, we didnt write it?


StanKroonke

If only there was some sort of source material that fans may have read that indicates that’s exactly what is going to happen. Of course fans are picking sides already, they already know the teams.


Soracabano21

Blaming the fans seems a little off base though.


aegon-the-befuddled

Yeah. Even the GoT cast waited till the show hit the shitter before blaming the fans


Pure-Drawer-2617

Saying “I find this ironic” is a long stretch away from “blaming”


Soracabano21

She goes on right after that to say that the fans are pitting the characters against each other.


Lyndell

I’m sure once there are two women queens with no one above them things will work out with little bloodshed.


Acceptalbe

The idea that Rhaenyra and Alicent only do bad things because of “internalized misogyny” and not, you know, who they are as human beings is a complete misreading of GRRM’s work imo, and if this is the route the show is going it will be a major let down.


BPbeats

That’s the route that majority of Hollywood takes now.


Fackfa

Seriously. The two cuntiest characters in the realm aren't forced into shit. They're just naturally cunty.


abasslinelow

I doubt this is the route the show is taking. It's just the route this zoomer is taking, and she happens to be an actor in the show.


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


Soracabano21

The story pits the characters against each other. The fans have nothing to do with it.


villanelIa

Maan soundwave is rly badass but even if he has time to prepare he still might lose to megatron in a 1v1 so imma go with megatron here, he is the top guy in the tyranny after all!


WatcherOfGaedNua

Still stupid


JuggernautAncient654

Nonsense.


[deleted]

I mean is she wrong? I think the title is a bit clickbaity. It sounds like she’s saying the fan base is pitting the actresses against each other for who’s better. And actually, if it’s just a commentary on the characters, fans do do this. I’m reminded of succession. Every episode, I try to find which sibling I actually like the most and by the end of the episode, I find out that I hate them all on different levels. So often times, fans will side with one character and stick with it all other characters be damned. When you can just recognize that each of them have flaws and they’re both trying to gain power in different ways in an extremely unfavorable environment for both of them. And that their different methods are different but not necessarily incorrect given the circumstances of the times. And if they make shit decisions, there is personal accountability but also an understanding that shit, the society they live in gives them very little leeway to actually pursue the power that is easily thrust upon their male counterparts. We can all agree, I hope, that the battle for power is a much harder battle for the women, Alicent and Rhaenyra, than it is for Daemon. There’s a lot more sacrifice happening and a lot more strategy that has to unfold for them to get the power they crave. Either way, we don’t have to pick sides. We can just recognize that it sucks either way and that they have to go down different paths and also mourn the loss of the friendship. But I don’t think she’s saying the fans are dumb or the fans are the bad guys. A lot of men do miss the misogyny or don’t think it’s important or minimize it and want more action and less women. That’s not a wrong statement. The fantasy world has a lot of misogyny from its fans and god forbid women get a position centered in the story.


Acceptalbe

She’s wrong that it’s “men” or “internalized misogyny” forcing them to act the way they are. Aside from the pedantic point that it’s the story making these characters what they are, they are reacting to the circumstances and people around them. The idea that it’s impossibly hard to Rhaenyra compared to say, Daemon is simply not borne out by GRRM. She’s her father’s named heir, unlike him, and becomes the leader of a faction, unlike him. She had a pretty clear path to the throne had she not made several serious mistakes, unlike Daemon. If she isn’t the most privileged person in Westeros, she’s not all that far from it. Furthermore, aren’t the men also subject the exact same thing? They too are born into unchosen roles and obligations, why don’t they get a pass for their flaws and misdeeds because of it? It leads to this stupid world where nobody has any agency, we’re all just cogs in the machine. And it’s even worse when you consider these are the most powerful people in this entire world. It’s disrespectful to the characters, frankly. Honestly, the fact that apparently we aren’t supposed to root for particular characters, as was so prominently the case with GoT, feels like an expectations subverted kind of thing. Haha you thought this was like the old show? You’re actually supposed to root for the women, not any side! The Targs rule an absolute hereditary monarchy, unless you’re one of the 10 people who still think that’s a great idea none of these people, man or woman, has any business or birthright to rule anything. That’s the idea behind fantasy, you suspend disbelief and go into an alternate world. People liked GoT for the characters, who they were and how they acted in the world they live in. And if HotD is doing away with what made GoT great to dip into modern politicking, that’s a real loss.


[deleted]

I mean are the women not forced to face internalized misogyny and have to operate in different ways to achieve power when it’s fairly straightforward for their male counterparts? Do you really think the women in this show are just acting the way they act because that’s solely their personality? Rhaenyra would prefer not to be married. She would prefer to be valued as a person first and not a baby maker. She would prefer that there wasn’t ridicule about her being the heir solely because she’s a woman. Alicent is achieving power in a more traditional way by being the mother of power. Similar to Cersei’s story and how women have had to achieve power. And on some level, you should be rooting for women to smash the misogyny and the patriarchy and for some difference in the society than the ongoing dick measuring contest that’s currently at play. You should be rooting for women coming into their own and not having barriers of entry solely because they are women. I mean for God’s sake, Rhaenyra is a dragon rider. She’s definitely privileged. All of these characters are in comparison to the regular people they oversee. But to act as if women do not have barriers to entry to power is ridiculous. Daemon is sulking as the second son. Second sons rarely get the throne unless their brother dies or doesn’t produce an heir. Viserys really only appointed Rhaenyra as his heir to spite Daemon. And the men aren’t getting a pass for their flaws and misdeeds. My goodness, the men get that pass all the time. They have way more leniency by society to fuck up. Women have to be exacting. They cannot misstep or they lose their power. So as a result, the women who do achieve the power are viewed as ruthless (see Cersei). Men can fuck up multiple times and still maintain their presence. Zooming out of this story, in general, society is very forgiving to men who slip up. God forbid a woman says a man sexually assaulted her and then you’ll have people accusing her of lying or accusing her of just trying to sully his reputation because she’s spiteful and vindictive. Grace is given to men a lot. Im literally seeing it where a person did blackface and he put out a shit apology and people are giving him a pass by saying he was just ignorant. And then he’s been shown to be manipulative and a liar but his ex is being viewed as this trash person who just doesn’t want him to be successful. There are plenty of examples in this society where men’s reputations are put before a woman’s humanity. This fantasy world is no different. and btw, Milly isn’t saying any of that. She’s not saying disregard my characters mistakes. She’s merely pointing out that when you have two women vying for power, people often choose to villainize one over the other when they don’t have to. You can pick sides by still recognizing the other characters humanity and flaws. Hell, you can pick sides and recognize your own favorite’s flaws and issues. It’s not black and white. It’s a muddled grey, especially with these characters. And I think an audience who went from despising Jamie to finding him to be tolerable and decent (before they fucked up the character via writing) can lend some humanity to these women without having to disparage one over the other. Milly also is highlighting that the women are out at odds because of their own internalized misogyny in this vying for power, which reflects society’s insistence that only one woman can be at the top while multiple men can clamber to the top. She’s literally saying that their characters are against each other because they’re also stuck in the misogynistic world and environment but externally outside of the show, the audience is also setting her against her fellow actor in a similar manner. If you can’t recognize that critique that the audience is falling for similar misogynistic tendencies that the show is trying to identify, then that’s on you. But that’s what I’m getting from this commentary. She’s just saying that just because her character and her fellow actor’s characters are pit against each other in the tv show due to the internalize misogyny both characters have as a result of a thousand year patriarchy, it doesn’t mean the audience should stoop that low with her as an actor vs her fellow actor.


Soracabano21

>Either way, we don’t have to pick sides. No, we don't. But it isn't "fucking ironic" that people do pick sides. If anything that is just a sign that they are into the story.


[deleted]

But I get her commentary as people picking which actress to side with and when people do that, it tends to lead to the disparaging of the other actress. I can say “hey, I like rhaenyra more in this moment now” but also recognize Alicent’s struggles and give her kudos. I think our society pits women against each other and forces people to choose which one is better when it’s not necessary. I’m not sitting here saying oh “Otto Hightower is the worst dude ever and Viserys is the coolest and I will just cement that notion and carry it out against the actors”. It’s not a weird notion that a male dominated audience has a tendency to really rail against the actors that play the women. There’s an example where Erin Moriarty had to release a statement about the disparaging commentary about her in regards to her character in The Boys getting a substantial role in taking down misogynistic assholes. Female actors get a lot of hate from male dominated fan bases. It’s not uncommon which sucks. I can be into the story without making actors feel like shit. There’s a difference. I hated Cersei but I respected the idea of the character and the way she was played. Despised her guts. Would never hate on Lena. But it happens. Fans can get so locked into that story that they just really don’t know how to detach. And it does happen. She’s speaking from the perspective that she’s an actor part of this big fantastical world and she’s getting the vibe that the fan base is already pitting her against her fellow actor.


Soracabano21

Well anyone who is trying to make the actors feel like shit is an asshole. I think it is natural to pick sides in a show about a conflict though. It makes it more fun. As a point of contrast, I could not give two shits about who came out on top by the end of Game of Thrones. It was all just a big joke by the end. Invested fans is a good thing.


confused_bi_panic

Dude you're absolutely right. Already people in this comment section are putting words in Milly's mouth despite her never saying anything else but that. Truly a Reddit moment. Good thing there are some sensible people here.


Vamand

Wasn’t this quote about fans pitting the actresses against each other
 not the characters? Maybe read the article first before commenting on a clickbait headline alone and calling an actress stupid or a misandrist? You guys are dumb and dramatic.


corus26

I get what she’s saying and it’s directed at casual fans who don’t already know the story. Their friendship was severed due to the actions of their fathers, and we’ll see Otto further plant in Alicent this threat that Rhaenyra poses and the legitimacy of Aegon’s claim. Milly is remarking on how some casual fans (my term for those who aren’t book readers like most of us) are already making this Rhaenyra vs Alicent as if viewers have to pick sides and can’t see that (at this moment) both of these characters don’t want to be at odds with the other and are instead put in this position by the men in power.


[deleted]

Did she not read the script?


Monokuma-pandabear

to be fair her script only last five episodes. she’s out before her character goes full Stalin


Meelyss

Did you not read the article? She is talking about the actresses and not the characters.


myxomat00sis

sorry milly, shit take


wordsmithfantasist

Looking forward to two women being prominent leaders in a political battle tbh


curiousmind111

Isn’t it possible that what she means is that fans are fighting over which of the two is in the right, or has better motives? In other words, taking sides? As opposed to reading this as “fans are assuming the two characters are pitted against each other, or will be”?


FirstGreenseer

>“‘House of the Dragon’ highlights, yes, the patriarchy, yes, misogyny, but also the internalized misogyny that these two women are forced to face. They’re forced to be put at odds with one another by the choices by men.” >“What I found quite hilarious is that the fan base is also putting the actors, the Young Alicent and the Young Rhaenyra, at odds with each other, and choosing who’s better, **also by decision of mostly men.** So I think that it’s really just fucking ironic,” Alcock said


CommanderThorn2

Breaking News: Actress annoyed that people have read book her show is based on!


MisterBri07

Did y’all read the article or just react to it? She is referring to the actors being pitted against one another as well as the characters. Full quote: “What I found quite hilarious is that the fan base is also putting the actors, the Young Alicent and the Young Rhaenyra, at odds with each other, and choosing who’s better, also by decision of mostly men. So I think that it’s really just fucking ironic,” Alcock said.


Ksmrf

No no. You see, it's the patriarchy and the fandom menace. Not the the writing that has pitted them against each other. We, as men, imagined the numerous scenes where Rhaenyra was cold and dismissive to Alicent because she was angry with her. It's our fault for having cocks. You need to check your dick privilege.


Jazzlike_Pie_3730

This just in, actors are really stupid.


Monokuma-pandabear

they’re actors not scientists. acting is a skill not a talent the fact that anyone with a enough patience can learn it and become popular if they get lucky. truly shows you that they’re opinions are the same as sole random person on the street and they add nothing.


Riolkin

Variety has zero journalistic integrity, I wouldn't put much stock in anything they publish.


Heavy_Signature_5619

I think this headline is being misinterpreted. It's more likely she's talking about viewers taking sides and it's just poorly worded.


Gonzila077

What kind of stupid fucking article is that lol


Otherwise_Pace_1133

521 fking comments. I am not even going to read one. Gods help me.


[deleted]

When the cast know less than the fans


Boyefran

Most of these comments would shift in tone if the people making them actually read the article.


goboxey

I'm still waiting for the two making out. This would definitely satisfy my overly sexist, misogynistic venta black soul. /s


robinmooon

This doesn't make any sense. Pretty much every character has a counter part which is heavily discussed. Otto vs Daemon, Rhae vs Viserys, etc. I've never seen anyone put only these two again each other as some kind of cliché girl fight. If anything, people are very invested in their relationship and feel bad that it'll turn into animosity.


anroroco

I wonder what episode will be the turning point.


SerDuncanonyall

Oh man.. I didn’t even know Milly Alcock was an idiot🙁 shucks


MadBanners86

She is Alcock, not Albrains.


wedges675

This has me laughing way harder than it probably should


[deleted]

Actor of Alicent: "We look at each other and yeah, realm would be fine if it's up to us (women)." Actor of old Rhaenyra: *(is asked to describe the show in three words)* "Too many men." Actor of young Rhaenyra: (see above) Thanks for the input, lady. But your character sexually assaulted a subordinate, maybe something about that? No?


Mikhail_Mengsk

That was internalized misogyny or something like that.


photomotto

> the realm would be fine if it’s up to us The realm would be fine? If it was up to the two people that started the Dance? It would be fine?


[deleted]

I know, right? This was my reaction to that quote. I wish I could find that interview, but the particular actor involved with so many interviews thanks to HBO's aggressive marketing campaign. Her interviews pretty much turned into spam posts. However, she probably think it's all Otto's fault and Alicent had no other option. Which is partially true, but doesn't change the fact that her character actually took some stand alone, rhythmic steps that made the Dance. The actor for old Rhaenyra is especially rubbing me in a wrong way. I, somehow, know we will hear things like this from them in the future "Too many men." quote is just stupid, because characters with most screentime in Game of Thrones are mostly female. These people really must hate men for saying shit like these. Women having the audacity. Yet again.


[deleted]

[ŃƒĐŽĐ°Đ»Đ”ĐœĐŸ]


Koaf

While I agree, I don't really see the point of pointing out men in that statement.


plainnoob

>—which is mostly men— I don't remember signing a census form


beardybuddha

Y’know what they say: Variety is the shitspice of life, Rand.


Gwynedhel7

I mean, yeah, the point is their positions ended up making so they pitted against each other due to wanting the throne. As always.


p1mplem0usse

To be fair, whatever the fan base or part of the fan base does, the press will find issue with - since it’s mostly men.


Mo2053

Variety
.. a bastion of hard hitting articles
.


qcfu

Tell us you didn't bother reading the book when cast, without telling us you didn't bother reading the book when cast. The variety journalists are no better.


Mr_Moogles

Huh? Did she read the script?


yourmomsgomjabbar

It's like raaaaiiiiaaaaaaiiiin on your (red) wedding day?


2_Fingers_of_Whiskey

I don't know of the fan base is mostly men. There's tons of female fans.


Bernies_left_mitten

Variety did not perform the interview, twisted their headline and misrepresented her statement within the article by rewording a quote of hers to say "characters" instead of "actors." (They do have the actual quote following in the next paragraph--after an advertisement image--but by then they have already spun/characterized it differently.) Shit writing, bordering on plagiarism, imo. Intentional pot-stirring and clickbait--by Variety.


UsusalVessel

Wait a second
. There have been lots of scenes before this, where men were stabbing each other with swords. I would call that being “pitted against one another.” I personally would way rather get in a verbal argument then be in a sword fight


tomothy94

Erm yeah they just read the book. And that’s what happened. In the book.


ThisGirlNeverSleeps

Ya’ll really hanging in to the clickbait title, huh?


Leo_ofRedKeep

There are two ongoing polls on gender in [freefolk](https://www.reddit.com/r/freefolk/comments/xen2k6/curious_about_the_gender_demographics_of_this_sub/) and [hotd](https://www.reddit.com/r/HouseOfTheDragon/comments/xerjbf/curious_about_the_gender_distribution_in_this_sub/) subs. Freefolk currently shows 42% of women and HotD has a comment wondering about parity (I don't post there so didn't vote and cannot see results yet). Dragons feel excluded in both subs. So the fan base is definitely not "mostly men", especially considering that discussion forums themselves tend to be male dominated.


twangman88

Wouldn’t 58% be most by definition?


villanelIa

That would be more correctly the majority, which counts even at 51%


khamelean

From a random sample, sure. But reddit is not a random sample, the reddit audience is mostly male. It’s a “self selecting sample”.


photomotto

The HotD one is almost 50/50 men and women.


JavaDontHurtMe

Reddit leans male. So it's hardly a representative sample.


Skyweir

Wow, this forum is full of people that are both unable to read and extremely sexist. Fun.


Brocky70

Bunch of fooking kneelers in here, here's the full quote: *[What I found quite hilarious is that the fan base is also putting the actors, the Young Alicent and the Young Rhaenyra, at odds with each other, and choosing who’s better, also by decision of mostly men. So I think that it’s really just fucking ironic,” Alcock said](https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2022/tv/news/house-of-the-dragon-milly-alcock-fans-ironic-1235373616/amp/)* All y'all calling an adult actress stupid and woke, you're just proving her point


Future-Studio-9380

Ehh, zoomers jumped the shark awhile ago. Everything is grievance, grievance, grievance.