Exploring the complexities of power and leadership, actor Tom Glynn-Carney sheds light on the contrasting journeys of two Targaryen rulers in House of the Dragon. In this insightful interview, Glynn-Carney delves into the parallel downfalls of Viserys and Aegon, highlighting the devastating consequences of their pursuits of power and the lasting impact of their leadership styles.
Mirroring the Downfall of Father-son duo
Tom Glynn-Carney points out a striking parallel between Aegon’s arc in season 2 and his father Viserys’ trajectory in season 1. Both characters begin with confidence and strength, only to slowly unravel and end up in a state of physical and emotional collapse. The scene where Aegon and Viserys lie in the same bed, surrounded by the same walls, drives home the devastating consequences of their pursuits.
Glynn-Carney suggests in an interview with NME that this mirroring is a deliberate narrative choice, serving as a stark reminder of the Iron Throne’s corrupting influence and the devastating cost of power.
“Aegon’s journey in season 2 kind of mirrors his dad Viserys’ journey from season 1. They both start strongly, slowly lose their grip and by the end, they are sort of crippled in bed sort of on their last legs. It was obvious that it was apparent that there were parallels for sure and you know they were just in the same bed you know in the same room in the same kind of destroyed state, where they were the body was almost eaten in itself because I watched a few interviews with Paddy from season 1.”
A Tale of Two Leaders of Two Different Kinds
Tom Glynn-Carney highlights the contrasting leadership styles of Viserys and Aegon, with Viserys being a beloved and respected king, unlike Aegon. Glynn-Carney suggests that Aegon feels the weight of his father’s legacy, striving to match Viserys’ leadership standards. However, this pressure exacerbates Aegon’s struggles, as he fails to replicate Viserys’ approach. The divergence in their leadership is striking, with Viserys’ physical decline stemming from internal struggles, while Aegon’s downfall is fueled by his external actions and decisions.
“He talks a lot about how the Iron Throne tends to sort of destroy who’s ever sat on it and so in the big feast scene from the first season all of you are fighting over this thing, but look what it has done to Viserys and that was really nice sort of echo of what happens to Aegon in season 2. Yes in terms of both of their ways of the body sort of decaying are very different causes but I guess with Viserys he was a good king and people respected him and liked him and listened to him.
And Aegon is not that at all and I feel like because of that benchmark which Viserys set Aegon has felt like he’s had to come up to that and that’s the only sort of male leader that he has seen and then see people respond well. make two different paras with different titles.”
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