There is still a long wait for House of the Dragon Season 3. The second season of the fantasy show was released in summer 2024, so if the pattern holds, there is about one more year until the series continues. However, with the story based on George R. R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood novel, Season 2 setting up some major twists, and the vague hints that seem to come fairly regularly, fans have a good idea of where Season 3 is going. Though there are plenty of surprises in store, one hinted storyline has the potential to greatly improve the series. Recently, a comment from Tom Glynn-Carney teased Aegon’s journey, and if it receives the focus the contender for the throne deserves, this story will be exactly what House of the Dragon needs.
Aegon is a vital character in the series as he represents one side of the Targaryen Civil War. Upon Viserys’ (Paddy Considine) death, Aegon made his claim for the Iron Throne as the oldest son, leading to a war with his half-sister, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy), that splits the Seven Kingdoms. Officially, he is the leader of the Greens, but Aegon has little idea what he’s doing as King. Not only has Aegon’s leadership created chaos and infighting for his side of the war, but House of the Dragon shows an undeniable bias toward Rhaenyra when neither side is perfect. However, Glynn-Carney’s recent comments suggest that this might finally be changing. The actor told Awards Buzz that Season 3 would feature Aegon’s journey of self-discovery, which creates some hope for the controversial character.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Will Put Aegon in a Different Situation
It’s no secret that Aegon is headed for a new story. The Season 2 finale saw the injured King leave the city he is supposed to rule to go on the run with Larys (Matthew Needham). Not only are Rhaenyra and her side of the civil war his enemies, but his own brother, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell), is out to get him as well, leaving very few people he can trust. It’s a situation that Aegon from Season 1 certainly couldn’t handle, so the idea that he will need to grow isn’t exactly shocking; however, Glynn-Carney describes a new version, saying, “This version of him feels driven, colder, blinkers on, eyes on the prize here,” and that is a major change from the arrogant, self-indulgent character with whom the audience is familiar.
Glynn-Carney claims that in Season 3, Aegon’s story is “this quest for an understanding of who he is, and why he is the way he is, and answering a lot of questions for himself that later might lend themselves to him kinda leveling up as a human being and taking responsibility and casting light on those areas that were otherwise very shadowed and hidden in dusty corners within himself.” Responsibility is not something associated with Aegon yet, but if that is the direction his story is going, House of the Dragon Season 3 has the opportunity to make Aegon a more sympathetic character, though there is a long way to go.
‘House of the Dragon’s Aegon Has a Lot of Room To Grow
Let’s face it, Aegon is in desperate need of some self-reflection. Season 1 wasted no time in showing Aegon to be a problematic individual. Even while still a child (and played by Ty Tennant), he was selfish, rude, and drunk. But Glynn-Carney’s first appearance in the role takes it even further as he is discovered to have assaulted a maid. It gets even darker when the Cargyll twins‘ search for him reveals that Aegon is known to watch children battle in the fighting pits (including some that are rumored to be his own bastard children). Basically, the word that describes Aegon best in Season 1 is despicable, and it is difficult to come back from that kind of introduction. Aegon’s cruelty makes it easy for him to take on a villainous role, but that’s not exactly what he’s supposed to be.
As a contender for the Iron Throne, Aegon needs to be someone the fans can root for because nothing in Westeros should be straightforward. Season 2 does see some improvement in Aegon. While he is far from good, he is faced with the tragic loss of his son, and his near-death experience at the hands of his own brother leaves him permanently injured. These two blows make it hard to hate Aegon as much as the Season 1 version of the character, but they hardly recommend him for a redemption arc of any sort. Though he has changed considerably, Aegon still has a long way to go in terms of self-improvement, but if in Season 3, he’s ready to take some responsibility for his actions, he might become a sympathetic character, and none too soon.
The Greens Need More Sympathy in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3
As the leader of the Greens, House of the Dragon needs Aegon to be at least mildly sympathetic because the series’ bias towards Rhaenyra is becoming an issue. While there are fans rooting for either side, The House of the Dragon portrays Rhaenyra as a hero when that is too simplistic for Westeros. This series carries the legacy of Game of Thrones, which excels with moral ambiguity, but House of the Dragon needs more of that. Season 2 already hinted that Rhaenyra has a darker side, with her demeanor as she watched the bloodbath during the Red Sowing, but that is not enough to even out the divide between the two sides.
As the other contender for the throne, Aegon cannot be a strict villain. Like most characters in this world, he can never be a hero in the traditional sense of the word, but there should be some nuance there that makes him complex and maybe even a good choice for the throne. So Tom Glynn-Carney’s hint that, in Season 3, Aegon will become a more well-rounded and understandable character is a relief because that is what’s missing from House of the Dragon. Both the Blacks and the Greens need active participants in the war who viewers care about to create some kind of balance between the warring factions and prevent any possible ending from being happy for everyone. Aegon is long overdue for some personal growth, but fortunately, Season 3 promises just that.
House of the Dragon is streaming on Max in the U.S.