Now I feel so bad for everything I said about Serena Joy cuz while she did horrible things and deserved karma I had to rewatch the show several times to understand how she developed Stockholm syndrome before the events of the first episode, believed that her husband truly loves her and that he's her whole world, and I feel bad that I laughed at how Serena didn't realize that she shouldn't be sad that he's dead cuz he couldn't hurt her anymore.
I have like a whole analysis in my head on this, but just for now I'll make it short. She wasn't just a victim of abuse, she suffered from Stockholm syndrome as well and Fred brainwashed her. Only after his death she understood that June wasn't just another woman he cheated on her with but that she was also his victim and that his death was a good thing for her to finally move on with a child that she wanted so much.
alicent hightower reminds me of serena joy. both are gender traitors that think they can control a system designed to reduce all women to cattle as a woman—highborn or not. only difference is that serena is actually a well written character that realizes her faults, whereas alicent never does until she’s basically on her deathbed. girlie thought she could play the game of thrones and win and all she got was dead sons, daughter, grandsons, and granddaughter while rhaenyra’s son ascended the throne 🤣