Aegon II Targaryen: The Complex and Divisive Ruler of the Iron Throne

Aegon II Targaryen, portrayed by Tom Glynn-Carney in the HBO series “House of the Dragon” (2022) is one of the central characters of the events called the Dance of the Dragons. Born to Viserys I Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, Aegon II becomes the protagonist of a civil war that will determine the future of the Targaryen family and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

The Dance of the Dragons involves Aegon II in a rather complicated manner and that is why his character is rather ambiguous. First of all, Daenerys Targaryen is depicted as a selfish and arrogant young man, who wants to sit on the Iron Throne, which he thinks should belong to him. This egoism is driven by his mother and his own desire for power and success. But as the series continues, Aegon II undergoes a transformation and the audience sees a cunning and calculating person in front of him who gradually realizes the gravity of his actions and the outcomes of his actions.

In the series, Aegon II is depicted as a dynamic character and experiences personality transformation. These circumstances and people influence his perception of reality and character development from a narcissistic, spoiled prince to a more tactical and accountable king. The development of Daenerys Targaryen can be seen as one of the most interesting and complex in the series; one of the main traits that change throughout the story is her sense of responsibility, which comes to light as she becomes more immersed in the politics of Westeros. This new consciousness changes him from a young and hot-blooded prince into a more strategic and composed king.

The Royal incestuous relationship between Aegon II and his mother Alicent Hightower is an important part of his personality. This is especially the case with Alicent as the Queen Dowager who guides the formation of Aegon II’s values and goals. She is seen in his resolve to ascend to kingship and seize the Iron Throne, which is partly motivated by the need to make her proud. The power struggle between Aegon II and Alicent is also an interesting aspect of their interpersonal relationships, because Alicent has her own agenda and sometimes acts against the best interest of her son, which creates tension and friction between them.

The fact that Aegon II is the rightful heir to the Iron Throne has a deep impact on the relationships within the Targaryen family. His demand for the right to the throne triggers a sequence of occurrences that result in the Dance of the Dragons. This conflict is not only Aegon II against Rhaenyra, as his half-sister, but also separates the Targaryen family. Civil war is depicted as the fight for the throne and reveals existing tensions and conflicts in the family, especially between Aegon II and his siblings.

Aegon II’s desire to control the Iron Throne is not solely based on greed and ambition but has deeper reasons behind it. On one hand he is right to claim that he is the rightful heir to the throne given that he is the son of King Viserys I and Queen Alicent Hightower. This sense of entitlement is due to his mother and his own desire. However, the same can be said of Aegon II whose primary goal is to gain the Iron Throne and be acknowledged as the rightful king. He views the throne as an opportunity to demonstrate his power and leadership capacity and therefore worthy of occupying the throne. On the other hand, Rhaenyra is motivated by the desire to rule for the good of the realm and to fulfill her responsibilities. She thinks that she is the rightful heir and that her claim is still valid because her father intended it that way.

Aegon II is a far cry from his predecessor Aegon the Conqueror. While Aegon the Conqueror is depicted as a great unifier who united the seven kingdoms of Westeros, Aegon II is shown as a king who incites a bloody war. Entitlement and lack of empathy are key characteristics of Aegon II, and his personality is a clear deviation from the vision and leadership of Aegon the Conqueror. Aegon II is more selfish in his actions while Aegon the Conqueror was a man with the intention of unification and defense of the realm.

Some of the deeds of Aegon II that took place in the early seasons of the show have a significant impact on the characters and the storyline. His action to take the throne brings string of events that culminates in the Dance of the Dragons. This leads to a large number of casualties, the destruction of cities, and the strengthening of the existing rift within the Targaryen clan. Moreover, Aegon II’s actions are not only political but also have an impact on the fate of the characters. His treachery against his half-sister Rhaenyra and his involvement in the demise of her son Lucerys Velaryon foster an intense hatred between the two brothers.

The relationships between the characters, especially Aegon II, and his siblings, especially Aemond, are influential in the events of the story. Aemond is a brother to Aegon II and a fellow dragon rider, but also a competitor and someone to whom the king can turn for advice. Their relationship is fairly complex, as they are both loyal to each other at times, and rivals at other times, which is evident in Aegon II’s character throughout the series. Aegon II frequently consults Aemond and cares about his opinion, and this makes the latter an influential figure in the former’s life. However, their rivalry also causes animosity and rivalry, especially concerning issues of authority and succession.

Aegon II is one of the main characters of the greens and blacks war in “House of the Dragon. “ He is a crucial figure in the series and the war as he leads the greens and makes important decisions that affect the events of the series. His allegiances, plans, and fights against the blacks led by Rhaenyra decide the course of the war and the future of the Targaryen rule. It also brings into focus the elements of power, loyalty and family which are the main facets of the series.

The death of Aegon II in “House of the Dragon” is given as a commentary of power and succession, which are the core motifs in the series. His coming into power and his removal from power, and his death show the consequences of greed and the price that is paid when one tries to gain power in an unjust manner. This is also seen in the story of Aegon II where the issue of succession is raised and the question of who should be in charge is not easily answered. His right to the throne, which he asserts based on his own desire, brings confusion and even devastation. It is a classic lesson on the consequences of leadership irresponsibility and the necessity of having a proper and equitable order of succession.

To sum up, Aegon II Targaryen is a rather ambiguous character whose actions during the Dance of the Dragons are the basis for the events of the show “House of the Dragon. ” His growth from a spoiled brat to a calculating strategist, his interactions with his family members, and his desire for power are all key to understanding the character and his importance for the themes of the show, namely power and loyalty as well as the role.