Word: The next comprises delicate spoilers for Home of the Dragon season two episode 5.
King Aegon II Targaryen has survived. However isn’t trying so nice. Mattress-bound and struggling, the insecure and impulsive despot has paid a excessive value for recklessly flying Sunfyre into battle at Rook’s Relaxation throughout final week’s episode of Home of the Dragon. Whereas actor Tom Glynn-Carney didn’t have a complete lot of dialogue in tonight’s fifth episode of season two (in truth, he had only one phrase, crying out to his mom), fortunately Glynn-Carney had loads of ideas whereas laying there beneath his prosthetic wounds. Under, the 29-year-old English actor takes some our burning (smoldering?) questions.
What was your response to studying this ugly flip of occasions whenever you first realized about it?
I knew it was coming. When it was coming I wasn’t conscious. However my fast response was about the way it got here collectively by our superb writers with this form of superb, theatrical, rousing, terrifying, unpredictable craftsmanship that I used to be very comfortable to be on the receiving finish of.
First trying again on episode 4, whereas it appeared fairly apparent to the viewer, I’m questioning what do you assume was going by Aegon’s thoughts when he acquired on Sunfyre and went charging into the battle?
He’d been a bit backed right into a nook by all of the issues which have gathered over time with being king the place his worst fears and insecurities have been coming into plain sight and changing into true. He felt weak, and he was seen as weak, and sort of ineffective — with what Alicent (Olivia Cooke) had mentioned to him (“Do nothing”) in his chamber, that was the straw that broke the camel’s again. And he was simply resigned: “I don’t have any possibility, I’ve acquired to show myself ultimately.” However you already know, being the best way he’s, and never being an precise warrior with that form of fearless braveness that different folks have, he needed to numb himself and so he acquired blind drunk and jumped on a dragon.
How do you assume he felt about Aemond’s (Ewan Mitchell) betrayal? It appeared prefer it was clear? I did marvel if Aegon was really shocked…
I believe the second of recognition was the truth that the fireball was coming at it. I don’t assume he had time to assume that he’s executed this on function. If these ideas are to come back off, they may most likely come later. As a viewer, I’m nonetheless uncertain. I would like folks to make their very own minds.
There’s an argument to be made that for the reason that battle, as disastrous because it was, was ultimately received, that he saved the day? Aegon the hero? Or no.
You’ve acquired to take them the place you may get them. Yeah, he’s a hero.
What’s the prosthetic course of like for you transferring ahead?
Lengthy. Very detailed. I acquired to know my superb hair and make-up group very effectively. I additionally acquired to know myself very effectively.
How do you imply?
The period of time I used to be spending in that chair with these folks in my very own ideas … However yeah, [the prosthetics] actually influences and informs my efficiency. It form of instructs me easy methods to transfer now. The way you breathe, the way you converse adjustments. I’ve a have a bit inside my mouth that I requested for to form of distort my speech. So all that is nice as a result of it makes me really feel like we’ve made a shift. Aegon has to have modified after this. We’re going to discover a distinction in him and and permit that to proceed and [impact] his choices and have a brand new way of living.
You’ve talked about altering how he strikes. In a earlier interview you talked about how Aegon used to maneuver otherwise than you do. What was that distinction?
He’s a bit bit extra hunched. He’s a bit narrower. I really feel it’s a bit weak and extra weaselly.
Is it weirdly extra enjoyable to play him as now? As a result of that is going to be a lot extra theatrical, in a method.
Yeah! It appears like we’ve transitioned from Richard II to Richard III, if that makes any sense to you. Nearly like a stage up — although on paper, clearly, it’s a stage down. I believe what he loses bodily he beneficial properties emotionally and mentally. I’m making an attempt to see it like that.
There’s clearly a parallel there to how Viserys (Paddy Considine) was on the finish, infirm and ghoulish. Did that inform your course of in any respect?
I imply, it’s simply fraught with hazard, isn’t it? Having a crown in your head. One thing nasty goes to occur to you in some unspecified time in the future. Isn’t it being not having my crown on but? There’s positively a Viserys comparability, particularly towards his closing days and in mattress. No high quality of life by any means. It was solely weeks, months earlier than his dad was in that very same place and in that very same mattress.
Let’s say his destiny wasn’t actually written. What, ideally, would you need on your Aegon’s destiny?
I would like it to be, in a really perfect world, for there to be a chance to show himself and make choices that he has made — not someone else who thinks they know higher. To carve out his personal path as king. After which simply see if he fucks it up as a lot as folks assume he would possibly. I’d like to provide him the area and the time to work it out. It’s a harmful request as a result of they might go horribly improper. I believe folks underestimate him.
I discovered it fascinating that not one particular person sat by his bedside or held his hand or tried to consolation him in any method — not less than not on this episode. Appears fairly harsh.
It’s desperately, desperately unhappy. Aegon is a boy in a person’s physique and all he’s ever needed is to be proven love and made to really feel seen or not judged. All this stuff that he’s executed previously which have given him a repute, I imagine he’s felt that any consideration is sweet consideration. Sadly, he’s made a reputation for himself now folks sort of need to maintain their distance and so they see him as a poisoned chalice. On the finish of the day, he’s a product of his historical past. He hasn’t had the emotional intelligence to have the ability to take care of that in a wholesome method and transfer ahead from it. Again then, remedy wasn’t actually a factor, was it? He’s been left to his personal units.
And at last, there’s a second earlier within the season when Aegon is listening to petitions from the commoners within the throne room for the primary time. And Aegon’s intuition is to be like, “Oh, okay, let’s simply give them what they need.” Though that’s not sensible. I assumed that was fascinating. Individuals usually evaluate Aegon to Joffrey, however that was most likely essentially the most reverse second from Joffrey, whose intuition would have like, at greatest, to reply with: “Why are you asking me for this? Go away.” What a part of Aegon was that?
Whether or not he was making an attempt to do good issues for the sake of doing good issues or as a result of he desires to be seen doing good issues is slightly completely different. He clearly desires to attempt to be completely different. I’d prefer to assume that if he had a unique upbringing that Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) had, then he could be completely different. She was at all times the one together with her faculty image within the body on the fridge. And Aegon and Aemond have been nonetheless within the drawer. We’re nonetheless working him out. I don’t assume I’ll ever absolutely crack him. However I believe that’s sort of the purpose. I don’t assume he’s cracked himself, both.