For much of House of the Dragon, Aegon II Targaryen seemed like the last character viewers would ever root for. Yet by the end of season 3, many fans found themselves cheering for the disgraced king as he fought through addiction, betrayal, and isolation to reclaim Sunfyre and return to the game.
According to Ryan Condal, a huge part of that turnaround comes down to Tom Glynn-Carney’s performance.
Quick read:
- Ryan Condal praised Tom Glynn-Carney’s season 3 work.
- Fans unexpectedly began rooting for Aegon.
- The showrunner credits both writing and performance.
Fans never expected to support Aegon
Speaking to Business Insider after the season 3 finale, Condal reflected on the response to Aegon’s arc and admitted he has been amazed by how audiences have reacted to the character.
“I just feel like the way that Tom sold that — and the feedback that I’ve gotten from people watching the show, like, ‘I didn’t think you could do it, but I’m rooting for Aegon now’ — is such a compliment to, I think, the storytelling, but also that’s a credit to Tom’s incredible performance across the season.”
It’s a remarkable shift for a character who entered the series as one of its most disliked figures.
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Over three seasons, Aegon has gone from an immature and reluctant king to a physically broken survivor fighting his way back from rock bottom. While viewers may not agree with his actions, many have found themselves sympathizing with his pain and resilience.
HBO
Tom Glynn-Carney’s performance impressed the showrunner
Condal reserved particular praise for Glynn-Carney’s ability to make Aegon’s struggle feel authentic despite relatively limited screen time.
“I’m so impressed with Tom Glynn-Carney across this season, because for relatively little screen time, he plays this very, very central role in the season, and did such an incredible job in selling this arc of somebody that we find in the throes of opium withdrawal.”
The showrunner then pointed to how dramatically audience perception changed by the finale.
“And then at the end, you’re rooting for him to get his dragon back and then go challenge the main character of the show for the throne with his brother.”
In true Condal fashion, he wrapped up the thought with a playful comparison that instantly caught fans’ attention.
“Batman and Robin get back together at the end.”
That comparison refers to Aegon’s unexpected reconciliation with Aemond Targaryen, one of the season’s biggest surprises. After spending much of the story separated and at odds, the brothers ended the season reunited, setting up what could be one of the final season’s most compelling dynamics.
Read next: Why House of the Dragon added the Aegon-Aemond scene that isn’t in the books
