{"id":24406,"date":"2022-10-24T05:04:54","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T03:04:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1726929"},"modified":"2022-10-24T05:22:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T03:22:10","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-finale-changes-aemond-targaryen-in-the-best-way","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/house-of-the-dragon-finale-changes-aemond-targaryen-in-the-best-way\/","title":{"rendered":"House of the Dragon finale changes Aemond Targaryen in the best way"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lewis Knight\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 24 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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**Spoiler warning for House of the Dragon episode 10**<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, the moment has finally arrived in House of the Dragon<\/a> that fans of the book Fire and Blood<\/a> by George R. R. Martin will have been well aware was on its way.<\/p>\n

Prince Lucerys Velaryon<\/a> (Elliot Grihault) is dead. The second son of Queen Rhaenyra I Targaryen<\/a> (Emma D\u2019Arcy<\/a>) is brutally dispatched along with his dragon Arrax by the titanic beast that is Vhagar in the season 1 finale\u2019s ending.<\/a><\/p>\n

In both the book and the show, it is Aemond who gives chase to Lucerys from Storm\u2019s End, shouting that he will claim an eye from his nephew after the seventh episode saw a younger Lucerys (Harvey Sadler) cut an eye from a younger Aemond (Leo Ashton) after he claimed Vhagar and fought with Rhaenyra\u2019s sons and the daughters of Prince Daemon Targaryen<\/a> (Matt Smith).<\/p>\n

In the source material, it is clear that Aemond sets out to kill his nephew in sadistic revenge, providing the first major casualty in the Dance of the Dragons.<\/a><\/p>

However, in the show, it becomes clear that Aemond did not intend to kill Lucerys as he screams at Vhagar to not respond to Arrax\u2019s blast of fire with violence.<\/p>\n

Once Lucerys is dead, actor Ewan Mitchell portrays a look of horror and realisation on his face as Aemond knows the gravity of what has just occurred.<\/p>\n

In fact, this one adaptational change entirely rings true.<\/p>\n

Aemond has been portrayed thus far as a cold, calculating and ruthless individual, showing a distinct desire for power and sadism when it suits him.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon<\/span><\/figcaption> Ollie Upton\/HBO<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Yet, it would be in conflict with his intelligence \u2013 remember he has studied histories, lore and warfare well \u2013 if he let his passion for revenge rule him and strike the first blow in a civil war.<\/p>\n

In the book, upon Aemond\u2019s return to King\u2019s Landing, news of his actions horrifies his mother Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower<\/a> and his grandfather Ser Otto Hightower<\/a> \u2013 they are aware that now their side has delivered the first violence and Rhaenyra will want to answer it.<\/p>\n

Aemond\u2019s only defender is his brother King Aegon II Targaryen<\/a> \u2013 but this hot-headed and greedy individual does not make the best advice-giver.<\/p>\n

So, the show has not only made Aemond more consistent with how we know him to be, but it has also made him more textured too.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon<\/span><\/figcaption> Ollie Upton\/HBO<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

It could be argued that the show has made many characters too slow to act out in a nasty and vindictive manner \u2013 Rhaenyra and Alicent especially are acting in a very measured fashion compared to their book counterparts.<\/p>\n

Aemond has shown his nasty and ambitious streak, but here we see that while he does have hatred for Rhaenyra\u2019s sons, he does not hate them enough to actually wish death upon them.<\/p>\n

The series would do well to remember that Alicent and Rhaenyra\u2019s sons were raised in close proximity and so are still family and share many memories \u2013 even if they have been sullied.<\/p>\n

Now that Aemond has struck out, it shall be interesting to see how the series portrays his reactions going forward \u2013 and if anyone believes that he really did not set out to bring death to his nephew.<\/p>\n

Somehow we doubt it will make much difference to Rhaenyra either way, but we\u2019re sure Aemond\u2019s fans will be claiming \u201cI can fix him\u201d.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n