As the second son of King Viserys I (Paddy Considine) and Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) is one of the most captivating and complex characters in “House of the Dragon”. Ewan Mitchell’s cold and vulnerable performance mixes the ferocity of a ruthless knight with the unpredictability of his uncle, Daemon (Matt Smith). The character goes from a boy bullied by his brothers to the rider of the greatest dragon in Westeros, Vhagar, dedicating himself to combat training with more discipline than his older brother, King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney). Aemond’s traumatic childhood and militant mindset lead him to draw first blood against Rhaenyra’s Blacks at the end of the first season, but the show’s second season has so far not fully addressed this act and its impact on Aemond’s identity: fact that he is a killer of relatives.
In Westeros, “kinslaying” is the murder of one family member by another, one of the most dishonorable acts. By killing his nephew Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) with Vhagar at the end of the first season, Aemond commits this sin, but the second season has not yet explored the full implications of this crime. In the book “Fire and Blood” by George RR Martin, Aemond earns the title of Kinslayer, bringing with him a legacy of guilt and shame. In the series, Aemond’s “kinslaying” is barely mentioned, ignoring the taboo of “kinslaying” and how his murder of Lucerys demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Greens.
While Westeros is known for wars and massacres, even its citizens are scornful of those who choose violence against their family. Aemond carries a great stigma, and the cost of his act is becoming a cursed social outcast. Past examples, such as Stannis and Robb Stark in “Game of Thrones,” show that kin-killers meet tragic ends, reaffirming that they are cursed. Even Targaryens, like King Maegor, suffer from stigmatized violence. The series, however, chooses to focus on Aemond’s inner struggles with his guilt rather than the social impact.
The Greens’ reaction to Aemond’s crime reveals their hypocrisy. Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) uses Jaehaerys’ murder to blame Rhaenyra and incite public hatred, despite protecting Aemond, showing that the Greens prioritize power. This week’s episode highlights this hypocrisy even further, with Aegon approving a mission that results in another “kinslaying”, further tarnishing the Greens’ honor.
The series avoids associating “kinslaying” with Aemond’s name, despite recognizing the seriousness of the crime. This ignores how Lucerys’ murder contradicts the Greens’ attempts to win public favor. Aemond, as a kinslayer, is cursed in the eyes of the Seven Kingdoms, while the Greens’ deceptions reveal their false face of justice. As the war unfolds, the series may yet show the consequences of this act for Aemond and his allies.
Source: Atrevida
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