SPOILER ALERT: This story includes spoilers for “Home of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 5, titled “Regent,” now streaming on Max.
After Sunday’s fiery dragon battle killed off Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Finest) and her dragon Meleys, this week’s episode of “Home of the Dragon” slows issues down a bit, exhibiting the aftermath of Rook’s Relaxation.
The battle might have been a win for the greens, but no one is celebrating in King’s Touchdown. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and his troopers march Meleys’ severed head through the streets, however onlookers are more terrified than impressed by the useless dragon. The troops ushered in King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) for medical therapy after he and his dragon Sunfyre had been ambushed and severely burned by his brother Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his vicious dragon, Vhagar.
Aegon isn’t trying like his normal fairly self. His armor melted into his pores and skin, his bones shattered and the maesters are not sure how long he’ll survive. Along with his comatose brother, Aemond is subsequently in line for the Iron Throne and turns into prince regent — which may have been his plan all alongside. He leapfrogs his mother, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who isn’t blissful about being skipped within the line of succession.
Across the ocean, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) mourns the loss of life of his spouse Rhaenys, and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) must strategize after shedding the Blacks’ largest dragon. Her son Jace (Harry Collett) continues to collect allies, but Rhaenyra doesn’t need to jeopardize her eldest little one’s life to battle simply but.
Over in Harrenhal, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) retains seeing creepy goals inside the haunted citadel halls. After being tormented by visions of younger Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and his late spouse Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), this time he aims for his mother Alyssa Targaryen — however as he’s having intercourse along with her. The eerie Oedipal episode exhibits that Daemon harbors resentment over being the youthful brother to King Viserys and having not claimed the Iron Throne for himself. At the same time, Rhaenyra realizes she wants Daemon and his dragon for the battle, so she sends Ser Alfred Broome (Jamie Kenna) to deliver him to his dwelling.
The episode ends with Aemond trying ominously on the Iron Throne, Aegon mendacity pitifully in mattress and Jace and Rhaenyra brainstorming the right way to cease Aemond and Vhagar. The Blacks have dragons, but want extra riders, so they resolve to seek out “dragonseeds” — odd folks with Targaryen blood of their lineage who can mount the beasts. Rhaenyra’s forces are 0-2 in opposition to Vhagar, so this can be their sole shot at even the percentages.
Glynn-Carney didn’t have a lot to do as Aegon on this episode, since as he was coated in third-degree burns and confined to his mattress, however his presence nonetheless looms giant over Westeros. With Selectionhe spoke about his post-battle accidents, Aemond’s betrayal and what’s subsequent for the damaged king.
What was it like seeing the make-up and prosthetics for Aegon’s look after Rook’s Relaxation?
The testing stage was long, and took some time to nail down what we had been gonna go for. A lot of totally different variations. The one we settled on was gnarly, to say the least.
How did it really feel sporting the make-up for almost the entire episode? Was there at any level the place you mentioned waking up for a short scene? In “Hearth & Blood,” Aegon is out for a year, so I used to be curious the extent to which Aegon might be out of fee?
Properly, no, we couldn’t give Aemond a year or two to take pleasure in his place. We needed to speed up time a bit by bit. Nevertheless it was nice. It was restrictive in all the suitable methods. It was claustrophobic. It is knowable the way in which that I breathe and transfer and speak, each time I did. I used to be very grateful to be included in the dialogue course of, from conception stage to the tip.
Have you ever created a brand new voice for Aegon for when he’s able to communicate once more?
I didn’t create a brand new voice. I did a lot of analysis into how intense warmth and burns can have an effect on your vocal folds, and simply fully decimate them. Clearly I couldn’t do this to myself, so I needed to discover an option to replicate it. It was one thing that I undoubtedly needed to take into account going into this new stage of Aegon. He really feels changed, like he’s shifted. And I hope that reads ultimately.
In his incapacitated state, does Aegon know Aemond intentionally attacked and burned him? How do you interpret the final scene of Episode 4, when it appears to be like Aemond is both sheathing his sword when he approaches Aegon, or he’s going in for the kill?
That’s for the viewers to resolve. I can’t touch upon that. I don’t need to inform people what to suppose. That’s up for grabs.
Aegon and Sunfyre have an exquisite scene together in Episode 4 when he rides him. How much accountability does Aegon really feel for what happened to his dragon?
He is essential to Aegon. What I loved about that second was that there was a bit of a slight bit of a slight evidence on their relationship to one another, and the vulnerability between the 2 of them. It’s humorous, I’ve got an exquisite golden retriever, and on the day we had that scene, it was as if it had been Ziggy, my canine, form of pushing my chest. He felt he preferred it. So any interplay I’m having there with Sunfyre is like having my very own canine.
There is an understanding and appreciation of one another, they usually don’t see one another as usually as they want, however there is in all probability good cause for that. It lends itself to exposing Aegon’s vulnerability and that softer facet that I’ve tried to carve out a bit of extra of this season.
So Aegon would really feel some accountability for what happened to him?
In fact. It’s like taking your canine for a stroll and it will get hit by an automobile. That’s my fault.
How does taking Aegon off the board have an effect on Alicent and the greens?
Properly, from Aegon’s mattress, he in all probability thinks it provides her with a bit of extra room to be extra of a dominant pressure within the small council. It frees up that seat on the finish of the desk. I don’t suppose in Aegon’s mattress he’s pondering “Oh, Aemond’s in all probability going to take a seat there as prince regent.”
So you don’t suppose Aegon thought Aemond had intentions of sitting on the Iron Throne? Again in Season 1, there was a second place where Aegon didn’t need the throne, but Aemond introduced him again to serve.
I believe that’s the place that concept at first of Season 2 was born, the place Aegon is speaking about how Aemond’s as loyal as a canine and can assault enemies on command and is aware of his place inside the realm. However that coin can flip at any second. We’re all dancing on a knife’s edge, and all it takes is one little push from one facet. With the volatility that runs in Targaryen blood, there’s plenty of time for betrayal. However then once more, was it intentional? Who the hell is aware of?
What would Westeros be like with Aemond as king?
He’d be a metal fist, wouldn’t he? I believe he’d be fairly cutthroat, and a chilly king in all probability. At least from the outset, he’d need folks to concern him. He usually talks about being bullied as a toddler, so he in all probability needs to reinstate himself as a safe, highly effective man who gained’t be messed with, which could possibly be harmful in a kingly place.
In Episode 4, Aegon joins the Battle of Rook’s Relaxation as a result of it appears like he’s getting disregarded from the council, and he needs to be a very good king. He made some questionable choices, nevertheless it looks as if he’s making an attempt to do the suitable factor. How did you play him in these moments?
He needs to be seen as a very good king. That’s totally different to being a very good king. It’s about impressions and the way he’s perceived. The best way I’m taking part in him is that it’s about how he’s perceived by King’s Touchdown and Westeros usually. He needs to be seen to be doing the appropriate issues. That to me has a sell-by date when he realizes that a few of these choices he’s making don’t serve him.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
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