Fresh off the heels of Episode 3 (“The Squire”) airing on February 2, 2026, Finn Bennett sat down with Entertainment Weekly for an in-depth discussion about his role as Prince Aerion Targaryen in HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The British actor transforms into a bleach-blond, flame-armoured villain whose arrogance has ignited fan backlash.
The EW interview, released amid buzzing social media reactions to Aerion’s on-screen atrocities, explores the character’s motivations rooted in Targaryen history. Bennett, speaking from Ottawa while visiting family, provides a thoughtful breakdown of Aerion Targaryen’s “unique madness,” positioning him as a symbol of a dynasty in decline.
Central to Bennett’s interpretation is Aerion’s deep-seated embarrassment over House Targaryen’s waning influence.
“I try to situate myself in where the Targaryen dynasty is in history and what’s going on at the minute. They don’t have the firm grasp on power that they used to have, and I think he finds that embarrassing,” Bennett explains in the interview.
Egg has had ENOUGH of Aerion ☠️ #AKOTSK pic.twitter.com/HVLLkufF9Z
— westerosies #AKOTSK (@westerosies) February 2, 2026
Set nearly a century before Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms depicts a post-dragon era where Targaryens rely on politics and intimidation rather than fire-breathing beasts.
Aerion Targaryen, son of Prince Maekar Targaryen and nephew to the Hand of the King, Prince Baelor Targaryen, arrives at the Ashford tourney with a chip on his shoulder. The event, meant for glory, feels “beneath him and his family,” as Bennett puts it, prompting Aerion to lash out to gain back some fear and respect in the hearts of his subjects.
This embarrassment manifests in Aerion’s explosive actions in Episode 3. Offended by Tanselle’s puppet show portraying a knight slaying a dragon, he storms the stage and breaks her fingers. Earlier, his jousting tactics, including harming a horse to secure victory, spark riots and highlight his desperation for dominance.
Bennett situates Aerion within the Targaryen timeline, drawing inspiration from House of the Dragon’s era of Rhaenyra and Daemon, but he loves how this series lacks that spectacle.
“The absence of all that is my favorite part,” he says,
allowing focus on internal family strife.
Aerion’s cruelty toward kin, like his strained relationship with his little brother Egg (the show’s protagonist) amplifies this. Fans have seemed to notice Egg’s “unreal hate” for his brother, praying for his downfall when his jousting begins.
As the show moves toward larger conflicts, Bennett’s explanation adds depth about Aerion Targaryen being not just a bully but a symptom of dynastic decay.
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