u/Due_Lengthiness_6861

Personally, what I admire most about him is his fortitude. From a boy who was bullied by his older brother and nephews, who had his eye cut out, he became a formidable warrior and dragon rider, intelligent and educated. He read books, studied languages, and trained to get better. Maybe he didn't do everything well, he couldn't overcome his problems, but at least he really tried.

Before Aemond found out that Rhaenyra had found new dragonriders, Aemond believed that he could win the war alone. After that, he asks Helaena to join him, and even behaves rudely with her, grabbing her hand. He says that no one will protect her if she doesn't protect herself. Is it a gesture of desperation, an attempt to win the war, take revenge and take the throne, take care of the family, or all together?

Here's what Ewan says about it:

“That is the direction he’s heading! One of the most important conversations in the House of the Dragon season two finale is when Aemond is speaking with Helaena and trying to convince her to take Dreamfyre into war. Is he asking her to do this purely out of desperation to best his opponent, or is it more of a strange attempt to protect the family and their lives?

Mitchell: I think it’s a little bit of both. It’s a fight for self-preservation. It’s basically, “Look, it’s either going to be them, or it’s going to be us, so it might as well be them… we’re out-dragoned seven to three. If we don’t bind together and take Harrenhal, take out Daemon, and destroy all of the influence that he has in the Riverlands, we’re going to be on a serious back foot.”

And like you touched upon, the idea of desperation; he is desperate at that moment. He’s been made a fool in Rhaenyra raising new dragonseeds, and he had to make a U-turn and fly back to King’s Landing, and he definitely has to feel like he has to overcompensate. “

I hope that this topic will be explored in his visions, and we will see what he really wants. In fact, Aemond could easily have won the throne-the council said he was the heir. All he had to do was smother Aegon with a pillow. Aegon is badly injured, and most people won't be surprised by his death. And anyone who suspects something won't prove anything anyway, and the rider of Vhagar is untouchable during the war, no one will do anything to him. And he would have become king himself. However, he did not do that. So I really think that Aemond might have wanted to become a war hero, a cool dragonrider who would be talked about with fear and admiration, and leave his name in history.

Do you think if Aemond hadn't been bullied for not having a dragon, would he have ridden Vhagar? He had to do it secretly because Alicent wouldn't let him approach such a dangerous dragon and it was a big risk. Would he have decided to do this if no one had told him anything because of the dragon's absence?

Or would Aemond have accepted that he didn't have a dragon, or would he have tried riding some other dragon later when he grew up? Maybe he would have gotten an egg.

Did she prepare for the meeting with Aemond?😅

In the second season, she looks completely different

It seems to me somewhat strange that, on the one hand, Aemond is described very negatively, he has unpleasant nicknames in the text, and in general, some disparaging formulations are often used in relation to him. But judging by his actions, what's the matter with him? He wanted a dragon, and in a panic he pushed Joffrey out of his way because he was afraid that they would come running to the noise. Joffrey fell into the turds, but they are easily washed off with water, this is not a reason to attack him with wooden swords and a knife. He was the only one injured in the fight. He doesn't do anything bad before the war, and there aren't even any bad rumors about him. He doesn't go to brothels, he doesn't rape anyone, he doesn't kill in drunken brawls, and people who are inconvenient to him don't die around him. He's just training with Cole. I mean, there aren't any actions that would characterize him as a monster.

In the war, cornered by the enemy's total advantage, he leads a guerrilla war in order to divide the Rhaenyra dragons and kill them one at a time. At the same time, he burns innocent people, which is certainly war crimes from a modern point of view, but in general it is within the framework of the war in Westeros and his actions are compared to Aegon 1. The interesting thing is how his death is arranged. It really looks romantic- he kisses his woman goodbye and dies in a legendary duel. That is, it doesn't look like the death of some unpleasant villain. And here is the contrast - on the one hand, unpleasant descriptions and characteristics, on the other, a romantic and beautiful death. He has the most really beautiful death of the green characters.

It seems to me that this phrase suits Aemond well (however, perhaps as well as the rest of the green brothers). In the second season, after Luke's murder, his mother turned away from him, but it seems to me that Aemond had not experienced unconditional love from his mother before, at least not in the way he would have liked. Aemond tried to be an obedient son, he even prayed at dinner, although it doesn't look like he truly believes in Seven. So he was probably doing something that Alicent would like. As their relationship deteriorated, he stopped holding back. I don't mean that's the only reason, but I think it played a role.

In general, I think Aemond embodies Alicent's anger and fury. I also like the theory that she was pregnant with him during the scene in the green dress.

I wonder if the first shot is Harrenhal or King's Landing?

He has a funny one-eyed helmet that resembles a dragon😁

Ewan said in his interview that Aemond is a broken boy, and it's true. Even though he tried to be a worthy prince, studying and training, I think he would have eventually broken down, even if there hadn't been a war. His life wouldn't have been happy, and he would have gotten into various toxic and unhealthy relationships (like what we saw with Sylvie) and unpleasant situations. He would probably have lived longer, but his end would have been worse. At least he died well.

It's funny how Aemond’s behavior and posture changed at the council table before and after he became regent. The council members simply didn't know what to expect😁😅

I have a feeling that we won't hear from Ewan until the third season starts airing

There were different versions of this event in f&b:

”It was about this same time that one of the more curious incidents of the Dance of the Dragons occurred. Legend has it that during the Age of Heroes, Serwyn of the Mirror Shield slew the dragon Urrax by crouching behind a shield so polished that the beast saw only his own reflection. By this ruse, the hero crept close enough to drive a spear through the dragon’s eye, earning the name by which we know him still. That Ser Byron Swann, second son of the Lord of Stonehelm, had heard this tale we cannot doubt. Armed with a spear and a shield of silvered steel and accompanied only by his squire, he set out to slay a dragon just as Serwyn did.

But here confusion arises, for Munkun says it was Vhagar that Swann meant to kill, to put an end to Prince Aemond’s raids…but it must be remembered that Munkun draws largely on Grand Maester Orwyle for his version of events, and Orwyle was in the dungeons when these things occurred. Mushroom, at the queen’s side in the Red Keep, says rather that it was Rhaenyra’s Syrax that Ser Byron approached. Septon Eustace does not note the incident at all in his own chronicle, but years later, in a letter, suggests this dragonslayer hoped to kill Sunfyre…but this is certainly mistaken, since Sunfyre’s whereabouts were unknown at this time. All three accounts agree that the ploy that won undying fame for Serwyn of the Mirror Shield brought only death for Ser Byron Swann. The dragon—whichever one it was—stirred at the knight’s approach and unleashed his fire, melting the mirrored shield and roasting the man crouched behind it. Ser Byron died screaming”

The Swanns were vassals of the Baratheons, so the theory that he was trying to kill Vhagar was questionable (in the book, Tyrion believed he was trying to kill Syrax). But in the 9 episode of s 5 GOT, Shireen Baratheon tells Davos that he tried to kill Vhagar. That is, in the universe of the show, this dragon is Vhagar.

There have been leaks that an actor has been confirmed for the role of a certain assassin Baratheon. There were different versions about him, but what if he took Byron Swann‘s place and tried to kill Vhagar?

“Prince Aemond had become the terror of the Trident, descending from the sky to rain fire and death upon the riverlands, then vanishing, only to strike again the next day fifty leagues away. Vhagar’s flames reduced Old Willow and White Willow to ash, and Hogg Hall to blackened stone. At Merrydown Dell, thirty men and three hundred sheep died by dragonflame. The Kinslayer then returned unexpectedly to Harrenhal, where he burned every wooden structure in the castle. Six knights and twoscore men-at-arms perished trying to slay his dragon, whilst Lady Sabitha Frey only saved herself from the flames by hiding in a privy. She fled back to the Twins soon after…but her prize captive, the witch woman Alys Rivers, escaped with Prince Aemond. As word of these attacks spread, other lords looked skyward in fear, wondering who might be next. Lord Mooton of Maidenpool, Lady Darklyn of Duskendale, and Lord Blackwood of Raventree sent urgent messages to the queen, begging her to send them dragons to defend their holdings.”

After this, the Riverlands lords send Rhaenyra letters of help, and she dispatches Daemon to assassinate Aemond. It appears the show will change the timeline, and Tumbleton will take place before this, so perhaps Aemond’ return to Harrenhal will be in the final episodes.

He's wearing a helmet. And it looks like there's a dead guard by the door. By the way, the armor doesn't look like it's made of plastic.

One of the most controversial topics isRR. Many people believe that Aemond tried to kill Aegon out of revenge or in an attempt to gain the throne. But is it true?

Yes, indeed, Aemond still remembers that Aegon bullied him as a child. He thinks Aegon is unsuitable for the throne, and Aemond himself would have done much better. Aemond is angry because of the humiliation in the brothel. However, we see that despite all this, Aemond does not make any plans to kill Aegon. He makes war plans with Cole, without telling Aegon about them, because he believes that Aegon is strongly influenced by his mother and grandfather and that Aegon is stupid and will not be able to help in any way. He should just stay out of it. Both he and the council believe that Aegon and his dragon should not participate in the battles.

After being humiliated in a brothel, the only thing Aemond does is embarrass Aegon at the council. And then, most likely, only the maester knows Valyrian well, so Aegon would be able to get out of the situation by saying the same thing, but with a confident look.

Aemond does not know that Aegon is coming to the RR and is not waiting for him there. This is not a trap for Aegon to kill him.

The plan in RR is to attack Rhaenyra’ allies and give her a choice - either she will show that she is unable to protect her allies, which will be a political defeat for her, or she will send a dragon. Most likely, she won't fly herself and send her son, Daemon to Harrenhal, so it will be Rhaenys. TB expects Vhagar to guard King's Landing, so they'll only send one dragon. And this is a window of opportunity that can only happen once - if the plan fails, TB dragons will no longer fly alone. At the same time, Vhagar itself is not only a weapon, but also a bait. In normal times, she guards the capital, where there are also dragons and scorpions. If you take a chance (and an adult dragon has a chance), you can cause irreparable damage to her, even at the cost of your life. The greens no longer have large dragons, for them the loss of Vhagar will be the end, and for black, exchanging a dragon for a dragon at this stage is a victory. Therefore, it is likely that Dragon TB will take the fight to take the risk.

Aegon arrives and ruins this plan. If Rhaenys (the book version is different from the show) sees two dragons, then maybe she will fly away. Therefore, Aemond expects that since Aegon has arrived, then let him bind Rhaenys with a fight. He then attacks Rhaenys. This is his first fight and he doesn't know the result. Rhaenys flies away from the fire, and Aegon, with a younger dragon and drunk, could not orient himself quickly, the fire harms him.

Next is the scene where Cole finds him. Aemond sheaths his sword even before Cole calls out to him. And then Aemond has a few months to kill Aegon if he wanted to. The council says he's the heir. It is enough to kill Aegon and he will become king. Aegon is badly injured and most people won't suspect anything. And even if someone suspects, they need Vhagar too much to do anything against Aemond.

Therefore, Aegon in RR is really collateral damage. If Aemond really loved his brother very much, then maybe he would have chosen to save him. But he chooses to try to kill Meleys and win the war.

There is also an interview on this topic.:

“I can see how it can be ambiguous, but I think in the dramatization of it, it’s pretty clear Aegon is collateral damage in the action,” Condal said. “Certainly Vhagar is looking to take out Rhaenys, but it doesn’t look like [Aemond] does it with much care for his brother.”

https://www.thewrap.com/house-of-the-dragon-episode-4-rooks-rest-battle-ryan-condal-interview/

In the poster for the second season, Aemond looks more confident, he still doesn't know what lies ahead and considers himself invincible. He's too confident in his skills and his dragon.

On the poster of the third one, he is already fighting, he looks collected and focused, but it seems to me that he is not so confident, he is more cautious.

Which poster do you like best?

However, in the show, this is the banner of all Targaryens before and after the dance. Anyway, I think Aemond is the last person who would recognize Rhaenyra as queen. Rather, he wants to become king himself😅

Do you think these changes will affect the plot? Will Aegon have any influence on the circumstances of Aemond’s death?

Perhaps Alys and Larys are working together, although each with their own goals?