Fans have seen Aemond Targaryen as a major villain in House of the Dragon after his dragon, Vhagar, kills Arrax and its master, Lucerys Velaryon, in the first season finale.
Despite this negative connotation given to Aemond, Ewan Mitchell teases his character will “surprise people” in the upcoming House of the Dragon Season 2.
Aemond House of the Dragon Season One
Aemond didn’t see the death of Lucerys and Arrax coming as he and his dragon, Vhagar, chased the two.
Aemond and Lucerys lost control of their dragons, with Arrax breathing fire on Vhagar against Lucerys’ protest.
But just when Lucerys thought they were safe after regaining control of Arrax and commanding him to fly over the storm clouds, an enraged Vhagar appeared, bit Arrax in pieces, and ate Lucerys whole.
This gives the public a different perception of Aemond and his dragon. Though he may enjoy the moment, he has other feelings inside.
In an interview with ComicBook ahead of House of the Dragon Season 2 premiere, Mitchell reveals Aemond’s true feelings about what transpires in the first season finale.
“I think that’s one of the beauties of the character. You’re not completely sure,” the actor said.
The 27-year-old revealed that no one knew what was going on inside Aemond, though it could be noticed that something was off about him.
“There are cogs turning behind his eyes. You’re not too sure which way he’s going to go,” he continued. “I love how Aemond continually challenges the audience of what you think about him.”
Mitchell added that he wanted to create a character who was completely dark, which later changed when he showed his face of regret, recognising what happened at the end of the first season was a mistake.
He teased that fans would see other unexpected moments from Aemond in House of the Dragon Season 2.
“It’s encoded in Aemond’s DNA to a certain extent to surprise people,” Mitchell added.
A Different Side of Aemond in House of the Dragon Season 2
In the second season, he aimed to continuously explore his character’s “shadow side” and create a more “morally compromised” Aemond.
He also promised that fans would see another side of Aemond.
“I wanted to create him as almost like this one-dimensional black cat sort of character, and in season two, you are going to see other dimensions to him for sure,” Mitchell teased.
In House of the Dragon Season 2, fans will see Westeros on the brink of a bloody civil war, with the Green and Black councils fighting for King Aegon and Queen Rhaenyra.
Of course, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy will return to reprise their roles as Prince Daemon Targaryen, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower, and Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, respectively.
It will also see the return of Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, and Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower.
House of the Dragon Season 2 will be released on HBO on Sunday, June 16, at 9 PM ET.