Includes SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2’s finale and MASSIVE SPOILERS for Fire & Blood, the show’s source material.
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 continued to makeinteresting changes to Aegon Targaryen, including giving himself the nickname “The Realm’s Delight” in the finale. Played by actor Tom Glynn-Carney in theHouse of the Dragoncast, season 2 has made an effort to establish the Greens' figurehead king as a more likable character. He’s done some truly unforgivable things, but there’s a vulnerability and sadness to him that makes him easy to pity, especially in the episodes leading up to the Battle of Rook’s Rest.
TheHouse of the Dragonseason 2 endingsees Aegon II fleeing King’s Landing, living to fight another day rather than be killed by Rhaenyra or his brother, Aemond. In conversation with Larys Strong, the lord tries to convince Aegon that he’ll be considered a survivor who can return to King’s Landing later on and save the peoplefrom Rhaenyra after they’ve realized their mistake in wanting her as queen. This scene has enormous connotations for Aegon’s wishes and desires.
Aegon Envies Rhaenyra’s “The Realm’s Delight” Nickname
Aegon Wants To Be Beloved By The People Like Rhaenyra
When Larys lists out potential nicknames for Aegon, the king assigns himself “The Realm’s Delight.” This is in reference to Rhaenyra, who was referred to as “the Realm’s Delight” by the people of Westeros in her childhood. Essentially, thisshows that Aegon has a desire to be admired by the realm as Rhaenyra is. The idea of Aegon’s potential nickname has circledHouse of the Dragonseason 2, with him being referred to as “Aegon the Magnanimous” in episode 1.
By choosing “the Realm’s Delight,” he’s essentially saying he wants to be remembered as a champion of the common folk.
Targaryen monarchs have commonly received such nicknames that define their rules, such as “the Conqueror” or “the Cruel,” and this underlying plot shows Aegon considering what he wants the impact of his monarchy to be. By choosing “the Realm’s Delight,” he’s essentially saying he wants to be remembered as a champion of the common folk. However,selecting a nickname for one’s self and earning it organically is vastly different, showing Aegon’s naivety. He wants to be beloved, but it doesn’t come naturally to him, and this will eventually define him.
Killing Rhaenyra Still Doesn’t Give Aegon The Love & Admiration That He Always Wanted
The People Still Hate Aegon, Even After He Wins
For a short time, Aegon considers himself thevictor of the Dance of the Dragonsafter killing Rhaenyra Targaryen. But killing his older sister and returning to King’s Landing to reinstate himself as king doesn’t grant him the admiration he seems to want. In fact, shortly after his return to the capital, he’s poisoned and killed by his own council.House of the Dragonmay attempt to make Aegon a character audiences can pity, instating a disconnect between his desire to be good and his inherent capability to be good.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
