Finn Bennett won’t “miss Aerion” after A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

The curtain has fallen on Aerion Targaryen’s twisted arc in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and actor Finn Bennett is more than ready to leave the role behind. While Aerion was a fascinating villain to embody, Bennett admitted that he won’t miss the character himself — though he will miss the wig, the horses, and the friendships forged on set.

Quick Read

• Finn Bennett says he won’t miss Aerion.
• He will miss the wig, his castmates, and the horses.
• Playing a villain offered catharsis but also pressure.

Saying goodbye to Aerion: Bennett reflects on wigs, horses, and villainy

Bennett explained that while Aerion was fun to play, he won’t miss the character himself. He emphasized that the joy came from the set experience, not the cruelty of Aerion. Before sharing his thoughts, Bennett highlighted the lighter side of filming (via Man About Town):

“I won’t really miss Aerion. I’ll miss the wig. I’ll miss all of my friends on set,” including his equine colleagues – one of his favourite features of the job. “I’d get really distracted and take [the horse] for a walk while [the crew] were setting up shots.”

This shows Bennett’s affection for the production environment, even as he leaves Aerion behind.

The burden of villainy: catharsis, pressure, and comparisons to Game of Thrones icons

Bennett went further, describing the challenges of playing a villain. He stressed that while it offered catharsis, it also carried the weight of constant self‑doubt. Before elaborating, Bennett underscored the narrative burden villains must shoulder:

“He says people have asked him often if it was fun to play the villain. ‘There is a short-term catharsis to it,’ he explains. ‘It’s nice to let out rage and aggression. But I think there is also something quite upsetting in that you’re constantly wondering if you’re doing a good job.’

The villain, naturally, has one of the heaviest narrative burdens to shoulder in a story aside from the lead. ‘Especially in Game of Thrones, because you have some really, really special villains played by some really, really fantastic actors.’” 

This reflection highlights the duality of villain roles — exhilarating to play, but demanding in their weight and legacy.