Game of ThronesandHouse of the Dragonhave given fans an in-depth look into the unique dynamics of House Targaryen. The shows are about power, and the Targaryen Dynasty had a death grip on the Iron Throne for generations.Game of Thronesbegins in the immediate aftermath of the end of House Targaryen’s unbroken streak. Targaryens come in all shapes and sizes, but a fair amount of them have a lot of internal problems.A Knight of the Seven Kingdomswill introduce many fans to Aerion Targaryen, The Prince Who Thought He Was a Dragon.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdomswill be the secondGame of Thronesspin-off to hit the small screen. LikeHouse of the Dragon, it’s a prequel that will give fans a look into many of the key events that led to the original show’s narrative.This one takes place onlya few kings before Robert’s Rebellion, placing it in much more familiar territory. It isn’t the very end of House Targaryen’s reign, but it may show some signs of decline.
Who was Aerion Brightflame?
Aerion Targaryen is aman of many nicknames. His favorite was Brightflame, a name he gave himself. Others preferred to call him Aerion the Monstrous. Aerion was the second son of Prince Maekar Targaryen, placing him in a position of power with little to no hope of inheriting the throne. Aerion’s distance from the Iron Throne didn’t seem to bother him, at least not as much as it did his father. He was obsessed with a different symbol of Targaryen power. Aerion’s last nickname was The Prince Who Thought He Was a Dragon. Aerion structured every element of his persona around his obsession with dragons. The mighty beasts that gave House Targaryen the Iron Throne died out around 40 years before Aerion’s birth. Aerion looked like a typical Targaryen, with silver-gold hair, purple eyes, and pale skin. He dressed himself and his horse in bright orange and red fabrics, emulating fire wherever possible. His aestheticcaptured his dragon obsession. His personality also matched the irritable flying lizards that inspired his life. He was cruel, imperious, two-faced, and mentally unwell.
Aerion’s life was short and strange. His prize possession wasan inert dragon’s egg. He could never get along with his siblings. His younger brother, Aegon, was a frequent target of his torment. Aerion threw Aegon’s cat into a well and threatened to maim him with a knife. Aerion worked tirelessly to appear as an innocent and kind boy to his father, but consistently flexed his influence by mistreating others. His behavior would eventually earn him an exile to the Free City of Lys. Aerion’s life disappears into a mess of myth and legend at this point. He joined the Second Sons mercenary company and fathered several bastard children during this era. He returned at some point to fight in the Third Blackfyre Rebellion and advocate for the execution of his defeated enemies. The most notable tale of Aerion Targaryen was his death. Aerion was avictim of Targaryen Madness. He died a nightmarish death after drinking a cup of wildfire, believing that it would somehow transform him into a dragon. His brutal demise convinced the Great Council to ignore his son when selecting a new king.
Where did Aerion Brightflame first appear?
Aerion’s only canonical appearanceis inThe Hedge Knight, one of George R. R. Martin’s many short stories. It’s the first of theKnight of the Seven Kingdomsseries that will become the HBO show of the same name. The rest of the character’s life comes from notes in the first world book and dialogue from the following short stories. Aerion is a straightforward villain inThe Hedge Knight. Most of the story follows the young, low-born knight Duncan the Tall and his squire, a disguised Aegon Targaryen, as they attempt to participate in a tournament. Dunk and Egg watch Aerion demonstrate his cruelty by attacking an opponent’s horse during a joust, losing any honor he might have gained in the fight. Aerion later assaults a young lady for putting on a puppet show in which a dragon loses a brawl, insulting Aerion’s obsession. Dunk assaults the prince, leading Aerion to have him hauled away by guards until Aegon intervenes. Dunk demands a trial by combat, which Aerion turns into a trial of seven. During the horrifically mismatched brawl, Dunk takes Aerion down withhis skills as a low-born brawler. The bout ends when Dunk threatens Aerion’s life, forcing the prince to recant his accusations. This led to his exile in Lys.
Who will play Aerion Brightflame inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms?
Finn Bennett will play Aerion Targaryen inA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Bennett has been on British TV since he was 11. His first role was inFoyle’s War, and he followed that with a brief role inTop Boy. Bennett’s most notable role to date was in the most recent season ofHBO’sTrue Detective. He portrays Officer Peter Prior in the fourth season, subtitledNight Country. AlongsideA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Bennett has upcoming roles in Netflix’sBlack Dovesand Alex Garland’sWarfare.
Aerion Targaryen is a tragic figure, but it’s hard to feel anything for a man as monstrous as he is. He’s an unquestioned villain, but he hardly ever had a chance tolive a normal life. Aerion was clearly never in his right mind. For all of his cruelty, his final action put the rest of his life into terrible context. It will be hard to look at Finn Bennett in the role next year without imagining his story’s grim ending.
