A common code for those who know the story of House of the Dragon well because they have read the books is to say: if you know, you know. And it applies to all the foreshadowing that the series has been giving us since the beginning, with built-in spoilers.

From the window where Alicent (Emilia Carey) tried to soothe baby Helaena, to the coin that Aemond (Ewan Mitchel) places in front of his “good eye” to dream of a duel with his uncle, Daemon (Matt Smith), to the flames that scared Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) young when they imitated a dragon during her night out among her subjects, there were and are several hints of what’s to come. One of the most constant, however, is the shadow on Aegon’s (Tom Glynn-Carey) face. I bet you never stopped to think! There is a sense: after the Battle of Rooks Nest, we will never see this face again. Neither external nor internal.

A battle that turns the game

I know that with every tragedy we say “It changes the game”, but as Rhaenys (Eve Best) warns: at this point, it is difficult to point to the moment when the violence began to escalate frighteningly. And in the clash that will be the biggest this season, the casualties will be felt on both sides.

Seeing how the series will present the historical facts related to the book Fire and Blood. In it, the story is that Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) managed to outsmart the Blacks, creating a trap in which Rhaenys falls and does not escape, one that will cost her and Meleys’ lives. We can argue that it will cost Aegon II as well. He is already frightened due to his insecurities, his lack of preparation, and his thirst for blood, but the real monster will come after the battle.

What happens to Aegon II?

In historical accounts, the Battle of Rook’s Rest occurs when his ally, Lord Staunton, is besieged in the castle of Rook’s Rest and asks for help against the forces of Aegon II.

Aegon and Aemond are hiding waiting for the Blacks to come with the dragons to rescue their supporters. Right now, there are five dragon riders against three of the Greens, as Helaena (Phia Saban) doesn’t fight, so there are potentially five (Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), Daemon, Rhaenys, Jacaerys (Harry Collet) and Baela (Bethany Antonia )) against two. To compensate for the disadvantage, anticipating that Rhaenyra is unlikely to come in person, Ser Criston hides Aegon and Aemond from everyone until the moment in which the battle seems lost for the Greens.

The problem begins when Rhaenyra supposedly forbids Jace to accompany Rhaenys and with that, the Queen Who Never Was decides to fly alone. Remember the dialogue from the 1st episode between Daemon and Rhaenys? He warns that alone they cannot confront Vhagar, the dragon ridden by Aemond. It would take two dragons to do it. Rhaenys denies the proposal to annul Vhagar and of course, will pay with her life for the second omission.

To make matters worse for our Rhaenys, Meleys and she will have to face Aegon and Sunfyre too, so it’s the Dance of Dragons, literally. She doesn’t run away and in the clash, she will transform Aegon. Literally.

During the battle, Meleys attacks Sunfyre and Vhagar. Despite Rhaenys and Meleys’ bravery, they are overcome by the combined strength of the two enemy dragons. Before Rhaenys and Meleys are killed, the dragon seriously injures Sunfyre, equally incapacitating her rider, Aegon. In the fall he breaks almost all of his bones and is burned by dragon fire, melting his armor to such an extent that he is forever disfigured. Yes, the “new” Aegon will have visible battle marks.

And if Tom Glynn-Carney is already putting on a show, being praised by author George R. R. Martin, the next phase promises to highlight him even more. “Tom Glynn-Carney brings Aegon alive in ways we have not seen before; he’s more than a villain here, he shows us the king’s rage, his pain, his fears and doubts.  His humanity.  ” says the writer.

The “new” King: addicted to opiates and thirsty for revenge

The injuries leave him mutilated and incapacitated for a long time, and only heavy medication for his extreme physical pain can leave him alive. In other words, he will always be drugged and altered. And his worst fears come true: Aemond is regent in his place.

“Tom Glynn-Carney brings Aegon alive in ways we have not seen before; he’s more than a villain here, he shows us the king’s rage, his pain, his fears and doubts.  His humanity.”

George R. R. Martin  

As we saw, before Rooks Rest, Aegon II was already a boy full of serious problems (violent, abusive, perverted) but he was also seen as a confident king. We know that he was inwardly insecure but determined to secure his right to the Iron Throne.

Before the battle, he was already experiencing grief and the promise to avenge his son’s violent death, after which his confidence and vitality were deeply affected. These physical and emotional changes in Aegon II have a significant impact on his personality and leadership. He becomes more bitter and resentful, especially towards Rhaenyra and her supporters. Aegon II also becomes more dependent on his advisors and allies, as his physical capabilities are drastically reduced. Additionally, constant pain and the need for medication to manage it affect your mood and mental clarity.

The result of this transformation is the way he deals with his enemies after the battle: cruel and ruthless, reflecting his bitterness and disdain. desire for revenge. Her determination to defeat Rhaenyra and her supporters intensifies but is now fueled by deep hatred and resentment rather than just a quest for power.

Reports that the series will change important details

If the season’s leaks are confirmed, and everything indicates that they are correct, the poison planted by Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) will directly interfere in the relationship between Aemond and Aegon, something that, in the book, is unthinkable. There will be, as was the case with Lucerys’ death, aspects that Historians will not know about and that change the perspective of events.

These adaptations have been clear since the 1st season when Aemond completes the mission to locate his brother and vents to Ser Criston that he feels more prepared to lead than Aegon. The signs were always explicit: Aegon did not want to marry Helaena, and Aemond did. Aegon didn’t study, he never considered he would be King, Aemond did. Aegon is not as effective in confrontations as Aemond, Aegon does not have a dragon like Vhagar and Aegon is not calculating like Aemond.

In the book, Aemond and Aegon are inseparable and aligned in the fight for Power. Aemond expresses no particular desire to rule, he does so only to help his brother while he recovers from the battle. In the series, it is more complex than that.

Aegon participated in all the jokes that formed Aemond’s personality, especially the difficulty of having a dragon when he was still a child. Even though he argued that he participated in the pranks against his brother influenced by his nephews, Aemond knows exactly what Aegon is: an evil coward.

Encouraged by Larys’ gossip, Aegon begins to develop the common paranoia of Kings: looking around and identifying enemies and threats to his Crown. Otto (Rhys Iphans) always tried to convince Viserys (Paddy Considine) that Daemon wanted his place, without being able to be effective. Larys was precise and successful. With that, Aegon humiliated his brother again, without the alibi of having his nephews incite this time. A crucial moment that will come back to change everything.

According to what they say, either Aemond will be responsible for the attack on Aegon or he will deliberately not avoid the clash, aiming to kill him and take the Crown. It will be?

If this is confirmed, we will have two of Alicent’s children destroyed inside and out: one with his vision compromised and the other with his face and body destroyed.

Unfortunately, “if you know” and the end of this story is very sad. And it’s not even halfway yet!

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