Despite the frequently unhinged behavior that Aegon has shown in House of the Dragon, the possibility of him being a good king undeniably raises the intrigue. If we look back at some of the heinous things that Aegon has done, especially in the books, his actions are undoubtedly a depiction of his villainous nature. However, Tom Glynn-Carney’s interpretation of the character in the series is quite different.
He has done his fair share of villainous actions, even in House of the Dragon, such as bullying his younger brother and tormenting him for his inability to bond with a dragon, among many more. In a recent interview with CBR, actor Tom Glynn-Carney notes that despite his actions, Aegon could have been a good king.
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House of the Dragon star Tom Glynn-Carney thinks Aegon could have been a good king
It cannot be denied that Aegon’s actions were often influenced by his surroundings, which House of the Dragon star Tom Glynn-Carney also notes, adding that the possibility of Aegon becoming a king depends on “who he’s surrounded by”.
The heinous actions that Aegon has shown, such as taking the throne away from his half-sister, which eventually caused the start of a war to torment his own councilors, and even raping multiple women, are a direct indication that the possibility of Aegon becoming a good king is low.
However, according to Tom Glynn-Carney, behind many of the decisions that Aegon makes, there are “many moving parts” that are the determining factor of whether “he was a good king or not”. Though most of Aegon’s actions were questionable, there were times when he showed a distinct side of his character. This can be seen in House of the Dragon Season 2 when Aegon proactively wanted to help the smallfolk.
From funding to trying to return their sheep, Aegon was eager to provide better living conditions for them. There were also times when he chose to risk his life in war to make sure fewer people got hurt. Tom Glynn-Carmey notes that Aegon has the “makings of someone who can be empathetic”. Through some of his actions, this “empathetic” nature of Aegon is also established.
A significant reason that makes Tom Glynn-Carney not judge Aegon’s character as the viewers do is that he has to think of a way to “find love” for him to play his character. He is also optimistic about Aegon turning around if he “really had to”. Much of Aegon’s cruelty comes from the manner in which he was raised.
Having Alicent raise him while she was going through a difficult time impacted Aegon in a negative manner. Tom Glynn-Carney’s words undeniably shed a distinct light on Aegon’s character, making us rethink Aegon’s abilities as a king.
Future of Aegon in House of the Dragon Season 3
After facing a perilous situation in the second season, Aegon’s future in Season 3 will shed light on his “vulnerability,” according to Glynn-Carney. In Season 3, Tom Glynn-Carney will be depicting Aegon’s “fragility” and his “childlike nature”.
The hindrance that Aegon has because of his “physicality” has been a driving factor in bringing out his vulnerable side. However, Glyn-Carney also notes that though this vulnerable side of Aegon will be depicted, viewers must also be on the lookout for how Aegon will handle this state, as vulnerability brings out desperation and acting in “survival mode”. Aegon’s dynamic with Larys will also become a crucial part of his storyline in House of the Dragon Season 3, as Larys and Aegon have many “similarities”.
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Edited by KOUSHIKI ROY