In House of the Dragon, King Aegon, portrayed by Tom Glynn-Carney, became king at around 18 years old (22 in the book Fire & Blood) by the end of the show’s first season. He took the throne during a particularly chaotic period in Westeros, with tensions running high and the Targaryen house on the verge of civil war.
Despite being thrust into such a pivotal role, Aegon struggles with leadership. His decisions are often swayed by those around him, who try to manipulate him to serve their own agendas.
By the time Season 2, Episode 4 rolls around, Aegon is fed up with being controlled. Ignoring the advice of his advisors, he decides to take matters into his own hands and leads his dragon into battle. This bold move marks a significant turning point for him, potentially altering his fate and the direction of the ongoing conflict.
What happens to Aegon in ‘House of the Dragon?’
In Season 2, Episode 4 of House of the Dragon, King Aegon, played by Tom Glynn-Carney, takes a bold and risky move by joining the Battle of Rook’s Rest on his dragon, Sunfyre. This surprise decision catches his allies off guard and doesn’t go as planned.
During the battle, Aegon faces off against Rhaenys, known as the Queen That Never Was, who rides her massive dragon, Meleys. The fight between Aegon and Rhaenys is intense, with both sides taking heavy losses, but neither emerges as the clear victor.
The real turning point comes when Aegon’s brother, Aemond, arrives on his dragon, Vhagar. Aemond unleashes a devastating attack on Aegon, burning him severely and causing him and Sunfyre to crash to the ground. While Aegon miraculously survives, Sunfyre does not.
Aegon is secretly transported back to King’s Landing, where he’s left in a dire state: comatose and critically injured with severe burns, broken bones, and melted armor embedded in his skin. By Episode 6, he regains consciousness, but his recovery is expected to be lengthy and arduous.
In George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, Aegon suffers similar injuries and does manage to heal, though he faces further misfortune. After his initial recovery, he is once again severely injured when he falls from his dragon during another battle. Despite his injuries, he plays a significant role in the ongoing power struggles.
While Aegon is recuperating, Rhaenyra seizes control of King’s Landing. However, Aegon and his children are smuggled out of the city and make their way to Dragonstone. There, Aegon orchestrates a coup, ultimately leading to Rhaenyra’s downfall. In a brutal twist, Aegon has Rhaenyra killed by his dragon, Sunfyre. However, since Sunfyre is dead in the show, it’s unclear how this event will unfold.
Aegon’s rule ends in a tragic irony: although he sits on the Iron Throne, his physical condition prevents him from even climbing the steps to the throne. He ultimately dies from poisoning, and the identity of his killer remains unknown.
Looking ahead, if the show continues to follow the book’s storyline, Aegon still has a significant role to play. His actions, including Rhaenyra’s death, will likely be central to the plot. However, with Sunfyre’s absence, the specifics of these events might differ. Additionally, the intense rivalry between Aegon and Aemond, which is not present in the book, adds an extra layer of drama to the series.
Expect Aegon to remain bedridden for a while, possibly until Season 3, before he might return to active involvement in the story. For now, new episodes of House of the Dragon air on Max every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.
