What happened to King Aegon at the end of Season 2, Episode 4 of House of the Dragon?

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Season 2, Episode 4 of House of the Dragon and the book Fire & Blood.

Summary

• The fate of King Aegon II Targaryen remains unclear at the end of House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4, but it is safe to assume that he is still alive.
• Aegon’s decision to take part in the Battle of Rook’s Rest stems from his desire to prove himself.
• Aemond’s attempted kinsicide of Aegon has its roots in past insults and his belief that he should be king.

King Aegon II Targaryen will be crowned at the end of the House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4 raises big questions about his fate and what happens next. After two years of waiting, the Dance of Dragons explodes in this episode directed by game of Thrones Veteran Alan Taylor (whose credits include Baelor and Beyond the Wall). Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen’s plans come to fruition, albeit with a few minor hiccups.

The destination is Rook’s Rest, the seat of Lord Staunton, who sits on Rhaenyra Targaryen’s small council. Things go awry, however, when the king himself appears on his dragon Sunfyre. The result is a dramatic clash between three dragons – Sunfyre, Vhagar and Meleys – that almost certainly kills Meleys and her rider Rhaenys Targaryen, but Aegon’s own fate is less concrete in House of the Dragon Season 2, end of episode 4.

King Aegon is (probably) not dead at the end of Season 2, Episode 4 of House of the Dragon

It would have been a great shock if he had died

Although the end of the episode does not confirm it, It is assumed that King Aegon did not die in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4. Although the wounds he sustained could well have been fatal – it seems a small miracle that all three dragonriders were not burned to ash – there are several reasons why Aegon is likely still alive, the most important of which is that he does not die at this point in the book.

The show has made several changes to George RR Martin’s Fire & Bloodof course including the fates of the characters – for example, Laenor Velaryon is still alive (as far as we know) when he dies in the book. However, the circumstances are by and large the same, while Killing Aegon at this point would not only change his fate, but rewrite the whole of history. Removing him now would be like killing Tyrion Lannister halfway game of Thronesso great is its significance for history and the ongoing civil war.

Aemond moves toward the corpse and appears ready to finish the job, further indicating that Aegon is still alive.

It’s also a golden rule of television that if we don’t get explicit confirmation of a death, it probably means it didn’t happen. Aemond moves toward the body and seems ready to finish things off, which is another indication that Aegon is still alive. That’s not to say he won’t be horribly wounded, but at least he’ll be breathing.

Why Aegon took part in the Battle of Rook’s Rest

The king felt he had to prove himself

With Aegon’s fate in question, it is also worth looking at the events that led to him almost losing his life (again, assuming he is not dead, but if he Isthen we can give up on knowing anything about where this story is going). Aegon’s stay in Rook’s Rest was not planned, but the king has felt increasingly drawn to taking decisive, personal action for some time. That was true after Blood and Cheese killed Jaehaerys, and it has only grown within him.

When you add in his emotional immaturity, his persistent grief and his heavy drinking, it is a mixture that drives him to go into battle to prove himself not only to those around him, but also to himself.

He had to attend the meetings of the Small Council and learn about plans in whose creation he had no part.he looks inferior to his brother. His own mother tells him not to do anything and to basically be a puppet king while others rule. Add to that his emotional immaturity, his lingering grief and lots of alcohol and this mixture drives him to go into battle to prove himself not only to those around him but to himself. Never underestimate what a fragile ego can make someone do, even if it means risking their life.

How Aegon’s fate in House of the Dragon changes the book

The HBO show is very different from George RR Martin’s “Fire & Blood”

Aegon is seriously wounded in the Battle of Rook’s Rest. Fire & Bloodbut how it happens is different. Instead of Aegon appearing out of the blue, he is part of Cole’s plan: both Sunfyre and Vhagar lie in wait and spring into action when Rhaenys arrives on Meleys.

The end result (in the book) is the same as in the series, but there is no report of Aemond turning against his brother.

The pair attack their rival, resulting in a three-dragon fight that leaves all three down. Rhaenys and Meleys die, Vhagar and Aemond are unharmed, and Sunfyre and Aegon are both seriously wounded. The end result is the same as in the series, but There is no record of Aemond turning against his brother.

Why Aemond tried to kill Aegon

There are several reasons for the attempted kinsicide

Aegon goes to battle at Rook’s Rest because of Aemond, among other things, and Aemond in turn tries to kill his brother because of what he said and did in the past. This was already hinted at in the previous episode when Aegon found Aemond in the brothel. with Sylvi and began to mock his brother for it. Aemond’s reaction suggested that it would not be forgotten, but the roots of it go much deeper.

…Aemond neither forgives nor forgets insults, and no one has offended him more than Aegon.

Aemond Lucerys killing Velaryon may have been an accident, but he flew after him intentionally because he wanted revenge for the loss of an eye. This shows Aemond forgives and forgets no insultsand no one has insulted him more than Aegon. His brother tormented him about his missing dragon much more than Jacaerys and Lucerys. His brother was the one who apparently forced him into his first sexual encounter with Sylvi. All of these will be things Aemond remembers when he attacks him with Vhagar.

This is not just revenge, however. Aemond has long believed that he, not Aegon, should be king. He even told him so, and House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 4 makes it even clearer: He is the one who makes the war plans, he is the one who flies the biggest dragon, he is the one who speaks perfect High Valyrian. With Jaehaerys gone and Maelor seemingly out of House of the Dragon (currently), Aemond is heir to the Iron Throne. This was his chance to use it.

What happens next to King Aegon, based on the book?

Aemond gets what he wants (somehow)

Aegon is seriously injured in Rook’s Rest. Fire & BloodThe fight leaves him with several broken bones and severe burns on half of his body, which put him out of action for about a year. Sunfyre is also badly injured and cannot fly for a long time. In Aegon’s place Aemond becomes Prince RegentSitting on the Iron Throne and wearing the Conqueror’s crown, he finally becomes the ruler – if not king – that he has long wanted to be. However, Aegon eventually recovers sufficiently to resume his duties, although he still bears the marks of his injuries.

Since this story appears in the book, despite the differences in the way it happened, House of the Dragon Season 2 will likely be the same. Expect Aemond to take control and Aegon to be mostly out of action for a few episodes.

New episodes of House of the Dragon Season 2 premieres Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.