An Analysis of Aegon II: A Man Without Love 

It's a crime they never showed Aegon and Sunfyre's bond, which was said to be one of the strongest ever. Or that he actually did care for his children with Helaena

Great point about Aegon II NOT becoming an overachiever. It's almost like nothing he did was ever right or good enough so he took a position of "why even bother to try and live up to their impossible standards?" It's sad when you think about it that way.

I thought it was very noteworthy how Alicent chose to respond when Aegon asked if he loved him. “You’re an imbecile”. To Alicent and most of us that’s easily interpreted as “don’t be stupid, OF COURSE I love you”. But to someone who has been craving open and honest displays of affection his whole life … having been consistently told how he needs to do better, he sucks, he’s not living up to his name, and feeling like his own parents despise him … he was probably hoping for some genuine affirmation. Instead, once again, he got an insult(albeit a playful insult). Shortly after, he stood in front of the kingdom and received the adulation he craved. I view that as a final nail in the coffin for Aegon seeking familial affection. From now on, he’ll seek his affirmation from roaring crowds and waving banners.

aemond and aegon both faced a lot of trauma, while aemond used it as shield to become better and an overachiever. aegon got swallowed by it and became his worst self. it is such a contrast and i like both of them. really good characters. even if flawed they feel so real and humane.

I wish we could explore his character more. Flashbacks would be perfect to show him trying.

Aegon is a very intriguing character. His story of moving from playboy to a serious man determined to avenge his family and take back what he deems his is admirable. His bond with Sunfyre and their spiritual connection was also very touching to read. Needless to say, they have done Aegon a great disservice in the show. It seems to be a common occurrence. Dumbing down several characters or utterly destroying them to make specific character look more virtuous and cooler. I hope this has stopped in season 2. What is the point of enjoying a story when it's so clear who is evil and who is good?

Honestly I found Aegon to be the most normal of Alicent's children. It's the other two that are weird. Yes Aegon is a monster in many ways, but as this video points out he never really had the chance to be anything else. When watching HotD I immediately saw what the show was doing with Alicent. She lost her friendship with Rhaenyra and was forced into a (for her) loveless marriage along with too early motherhood. She had huge difficulties taking care of baby Aegon. The infant could probably sense his mother's nervousness and general state of depression, which may have been the reason she couldn't soothe him. We can assume Aegon was largely ignored by both his parents and raised by servants. So yeah if you're a teen, your parents don't care about you and you're a prince then that could easily lead down a very dark path

Even in the books, he was one of my favorite characters. Aegon and Sunfyre >>>>> the rest of the greens.

I hope they do Aegon justice in Season 2 & 3 it will be cool to see him lament his lifes choices on Dragonstone

i wish we had more time with aegon and the green siblings in general since they become even more central going forward, but i love tom glynn-carney’s performance (he improvised the “do you love me? line) and how the show portrayed aegon’s feelings towards the crown. he never wanted it, almost seemed to resent it (it was pushed on him by his mother while denied to him by his father) but once the crowd is screaming for him and he feels their adoration, he seems to embrace it more.

I see people comparing him to Joffrey from GOT quite a bit, and it feels like they never even watched the show... Joffrey is a psychopath, he doesn't have empathy and he never had, but Aegon is clearly a product of his enviroment. Also Joffrey was never an actual threat, but I would love to see Aegon turn from this egoistical (yet deeply sad) failure of a man, into an actually capable and terrifying villain. Like he's got potential in that sense.

Aegon is such a tragic villain. He sees his father love his sister and kept her as heir and he’s completely fine with that until the people around him manipulate him into taking power for their own ambitions

I'm a social worker who works with addiction. This video made me think of something many of my clients say "I became the best at being the worst" If you can't win, you're better off just making sure you lose At least you'll know the outcome

I would argue that Alicent inflicting the same trauma on Aegon that Otto inflicted on her is largely the point. That's how generational trauma works. That's not to make excuses for anyone here, but I don't know how a child bride who had no support from her neglectful rapist of a husband was supposed to know how to raise a child. And regardless of Alicent's qualities as a mother, she still stepped in front of a freaking dragon to protect Aegon. You can't argue that she doesn't love him, even if she doesn't show it the way he needed her to.

If he accepted the crown and offered to marry rhaenyra making her queen, it would have been a hell of a twist on the hightowers

I still think the first season desperately needed at least 3 more episodes.

Aegon is the third Targaryen (fifth if counting those that died in infancy) with that name in Westeros after the Conqueror, but he is Aegon II because one of the Aegons was never crowned and was killed before he could.

People (GoT fans) may forget how unlikeable Jaime in GoT season 1 and Theon in season 2, yet they have this character development that make us rooting for them in the end. I think Aegon II should have this development too from the HoTD showrunner. From a reckless bad boy become King, only to get crippled at the beginning of the war. He had a beautiful bond with sunfire, and as a King he fought his own battle till the end. From a milk of poppy addict to a sober man. If only in the end he listened to Sea Snake councel to pardoning all rebels and make peace, made Aegon the younger as his heir, maybe he would last longer. He is more interesting character than Aemond or even Daemon in my opinion.

I pity Aegon not because of your vid but how much he was screwed over to make rhaenyra look good

the show writers hate him and want the whole audience to hate him too. the only reason anyone likes him at all is because of the actor.

I'm so glad you've made this video. Very objective and insightful. I find that many people are quick to dismiss show Aegon's complexity as a result of his terrible actions even though his journey of resilience is one of the most interesting in Fire and Blood. I look forward to how they will portray him in season 2 given how he pretty much got shit in season 1 compared to the other shitty male characters like Daemon. I honestly find it hard to imagine how they will go about Aegon after what they made him. Even the actor himself was opposed to that creative choice of making Aegon so sadistic.

It's so interesting how people passed off that imbecile comment as just a cliche about kids who don't realize their parents do terrible things out of love for them. It was obvious to me he meant it. I think Aegon's's real downfall began at Driftmark. Alicent crossed a line that so many abusive parents cross: expecting their children to bear the weight of the abusive family secrets. She had already told him this when she scolded him about the Pink Dread. But then it was to protect Aemond. When Aemond said it was Aegon who was spreading the bastard rumors instead of his mother the way Aegon said "Me?" was heartbreaking to me. And Alicent and everyone else let it happen. He had flaws and insecurities, but up to then he wasn't hateful and self-loathing. Everyone turned on him that night, and he still openly took responsibility for all them. It was like he became the family's human garbage dump. Garbage in, garbage out. About Alicent, did you mean if Alicent was a male version of herself and a Hightower or if she was a Targaryen boy with Alicent and Viserys as parents? Those would be very different people. I also wish they had kept the Tennant kid. He didn't look that young and could have been.a great adult Aegon.

This is a great take they did this character a injustice the show runner painted him out to be te worst but it’s not really like that in the books but team black is so wild to me to defend those type of people

Now I WILL play the Devil's Advocate. The scene with Dayna is horrible. But what makes it different to any of Robert's "conquests" (Do you REALLY think someone will say no to the King?), like It is a GREAT scene, the feelings of Dayna are VERY real. But I feel that the scene is taken out of context by us fans. What happens to Dayna is just another horrible part of commoner's life. Nothing fun, but also nothing NEW. Alicent ONLY cares casue she sees reflected in it. Meanwhile coldly mocking Laenor for his homosexuality.

He’s one of my favorites already IDC

You just said everything I've been feeling about Aegon and I was even more happy when you start talking about how him and Rhaenyra because I fully agree and even more I have to say on it

I agree with everything stated in this video. I also wanna point out that irl people like Aegon exist and it's terrifying. A person who isn't loved enough to be taught right from wrong besides the basics of it - through religion and moralising tales - in a position of power. That person knows they can get away, because nobody cares that much as to meaningfully discipline them, but they get into a position of power also knowing that no matter what, they are considered "lucky" to have it. And at the end of the day nobody cares about this person. Their actions don't matter because they don't matter. In the great scheme of things.... They are just.... There. Perhaps to maintain an image.... But they are just that. The pretty picture.... Nothing more. I have too much regard for characters like Alicent and Aemond to feel truly sympathetic for Aegon, but I think it's sad they exist to this very day. If you ask me what actions shouod be taken to avoid the creation of such a person, i don't know, i just think it's sad that Aegon is relevant today, that people like him exist, and they are many. Perhaps i think of the highest scale.... Even if i am from a poor country, and i don't earn a lot, and I have suffered prejudice... But it's sad because if we live in a qorld of Aegons - and we will - it means that the system has failed everybody. Qe will suffer at rhe hands of Aegons because that is the status quo for people like us.... And the Aegons will never cease to exist because that is their model. Unloved, nothing "personal" about them, except that they need to take over the business. They will view us like their parents used to view us, cogs in the machine, notning else.... Because they view themselves similarly, at another scale. We are, as they "are" just "lucky to be here". Nothing else. Why complain about anything life-related if you are here? (Sarcastic question.) Just be happy you are here, right? Your merit is that you exist, your achievements are nothing. You got here, so what? And the world will sink as a result of everything. The Aegons, that they exist, that all we do as a society is hate them. Not to be bleak but not matter how much you hate an aegon, he's up there, and you're down here. How would i fix it? Real therapy for real people. Not just self-empowering stuff, i mean therapy to everyone. Access to mental health care that is meaningful. For some that would mean you are worth more than you ever thought you were (because of whatever you experienced), or.... On the other hand, to bring someone down to earth - yes you are here, yes you can do anything, but why not help others because you can.

2:55 I completely disagree with this! Aegon's position as _not heir_ makes it seem like there's something wrong with him. From the history of Westeros to all the people that he's ever met, their birth position and gender is a huge governing policy and power play. Viserys not naming him heir is probably the biggest I don't give a $#!+ about you he could have possibly have given to anyone. On top of that, Viserys is king so he is literally humiliating him to the whole world, every year he keeps Rhaenyra as heir. Even when Rhaenyra messes up and it would be easier and more peaceful to name Aegon as heir, Viserys rejects him. No matter what Alicent wants and tries and no matter how well behaved Aegon may be, the severity of his father's rejection will stand. So, I think Aegon does give up, and unfortunately the only person who develops a negetive opinion of him is Alicent. Viserys has shown he doesn't care, and so Aegon's actions only drive a wedge between him and Alicent. Alicent is correct to discipline and try guide Aegon away from his self destructive behavior and I understand that you may not feel loved when your parents are scolding you, but what should she do? Aegon vs Aemond is a good juxtaposition because Viserys doesn't care about Aemond either despite how "good" he has been. I think Aemond is there to explicitly show how far Viserys neglect goes. People may assume that Viserys is choosing not to let Aegon be king because of his vices but it was never about Aegon's actions or character. If Viserys wouldn't punish Rhaenyra's second born son, for causing grievous harm to his most well-mannered son, there was nothing that Aegon could have done to win his father's love. It's here we see how pointless it would have been for Aegon to achieve/overachieve. And so he asks the one person who cares about the things he does if they love him, not because Alicent never loved him but because he knows how she feels about his lifestyle, knows how religious she is and he knows that his actions could have caused irreparable harm to the mother-son relationship they once had. She's his only parent left, that give you some perspective.

I like both Ty Tennent and Tom Glynn- Carny they both do a good job portraying him. I do wish they would have spent more time with them in their younger years and I hope they don’t ruin his arc for future seasons

Excellent break down and analysis of a character. I love how organized and well thoughtout this video was. Makes for a good video and very interesting to listen to

hes aegon the II because he was the second aegon to sit the iron throne

2:33 I think so. Aemond has made attempts, Helaena is simple-minded, but Aegon... well, he's been overly careless. He doesn't try very hard, tbh. It takes no effort to NOT rape people, like a servant girl If I was Aegon's parent and knew of the things he did, well... I'd have hard on him for doing those things. Granted, Alicent may as well have been a single young/teen parent, so her botching her first kid more than the others may be a result of that.

Good video dude. Not enough understanding of the complex character that is Aegon II

This was a phenomenal psychology vid! I know that it’s fantasy but this is much like psychohistory in principle. Bravo.

Hes a well written character his actions are speaking louder than his words

Fantastic video and completely changed what I thought of Aegon. Subbed and looking forward for any more ASOIAF vids

Excellent analysis. Completely agree with your alicent and viserys and rhaenyra takes as well. Refreshing non-superficial takes from the usual Sports Team partisan stupidity on social media. Aegon II has been portrayed in a fascinating way once you peel off the surface layer of sexual debauchery and drunkeness (vulnerability, lonliness, depression, expectation, neglect, etc...things that actually explains the traits King Aegon II goes on to have). It's fascinating. For those worried about sunfyre and the "badass" Aegon, we have 2 or 3 seasons to go. It will be a character arc, one worth remembering.

Yeah unfortunately the dyana scene as great as it was, kinda detracted most people’s attention away from his character. I wonder how next season and daeron are going to fit in the dysfunctional green family.

None of them asked for it and he has to be held accountable.

Wow big eye opener. Thanks!

I think Aegon was portrayed perfectly in the show. We've already seen what a lack of family affection can do to a young king in Joffrey but the difference is, Aegon never wanted to be king. He had resigned himself to the belief that Rhaenyra will sit the throne when their father dies, and with that lack of ambition or clear purpose or true love from his family he just chases his desires no matter how dark. The moment that crown touched his head and the crowd cheered you could see that he was being given everything he ever wanted. Recognition. I love that there's more to him than just being Joffrey with a dragon. Blood and cheese is going to make us all sympathise with Aegon and it's that type of complexity that makes the characters in the world of Westeros fascinating to watch.

I believe he will confront Rhanerya at end. He will let her know that he blames her for their father not loving him like he loved her. Simple sibling jealousy

Alicent slapping him for things that may or may not have been his fault? Please tell me you’re not referring to her response to him raping the servant girl

F’n! Great idea for videos. Can’t wait for your future videos

A good chance to make this character a fan favorite in season 2. Lets hope they do it.

You make great videos 💪🏾🔥

Good stuff!!

The end of the dance justifies all the war. viserys wants a real targaryn to become king. Daemon wants crown. Rhaenyra wants crown. Nobles want no bastard wear crown. All the wishes are satisfied in Aegon 3.

I see myself in Aegon now and i dont like it. Im like an inverse. My dad died while i was young and my mom underacheived so hard (only i can say that.). Now im a big prude and serious all the time ane constantly studying. But i can see how i could have gone down the other road into degeneracy.

Too MANY Aegons. Why not call your son(s) Alexander, Alec, Adrian, or Aaron Targaryen?

He is Aegon the 2nd because you only get a number next to your name when you sit on the throne

Good analysis.

Dude I just found your channel. These character analysations are great! Great job. I only disagree with (and it's a relatively unimportant detail for this video) u saying Tyrion and tywin are just alike. That's a foolish point I often hear people try to make. It's not even close really, the only thing they kinda share is aptitude for getting things done. And it's only kind of. Tywin is faaaaaar more ruthless and heartless than Tyrion. Tyrion often goes out of his way to help people (even people who are trying to do him harm like when he saves Catelyn stark while she's currently kidnapping him). Tywin would do no such thing 🤣. Tywin was the first born son, sometimes loved, normally feared and always respected.Tyrion is the second born son, a "cripple", who people constantly mock scorn, show disdain for, lie to and abuse mentally, emotionally and physically (which only makes hid empathy shine more. Another example of this is tyrions treatment of Sansa which definitely gets him further down the gutter with jofffrey. He constantly does stuff to help people when it's not in his best interest (there are more examples of this too especially in the books) Tywin is known for being notoriously without without compassion.

0:48 “There is a reason he is not called [Aegon III] but that’s a topic for another video” The reason is they only count kings. There could be a million Aegons born between The Conqueror and The Second, but if none of them were king, it doesn’t change the count. That’s the whole script for the other video 😂

Can you do a video on criston cole and Daemon

are you going to do breakdown on Ser Criston Cole?

Isnt otto hightower his grand father not his great uncle . And isnt daemon just his uncle .. who did you mean when you said great uncle

I totally thought he was going to end up being the Mad King. He's got the look and is so great at such an evil role!

We need a video on ser criston cole

Rhaenyra has made a few major mistakes which costed her and her family their lives. Never loving Aegon and sparing Rhaenyra. Tywin was right, killing a few at dinner is better than a war. And what a terrible war the Dance of Dragons was. Granted, a war that could've been avoided by Rhaenyra never being named heir.

Opinion: I almost feel pity for him because his reign was absolutely miserable. He was unconscious for a good half of it and then the other half he was in constant physical agony and lost all his family members. I almost feel sorry for him but I can’t help thinking he brought it on himself in a way. Surprisingly from reading the lore, he’s not the worst member of the Greens. His mother, Ser Criston Coke, Larys Strong we’re awful. He actually was going to do the right thing but was manipulated out of it. That is where my sympathy draws in because he didn’t want to do it from the beginning and was actually doing the right thing by obeying his fathers wishes unlike the rest of the Greens that betrayed Viserys as soon as he drew his last breathe. In that way I can say he was loyal to his father even though their relationship isn’t much specified in the books. He was probably thinking that in his last moments that if he had not taken the throne then his children wouldn’t be dead and he wouldn’t be a severely burned cripple. I bet most of the Greens in the end we’re experiencing high forms of regret. Especially since they didn’t even win in the end. The war was about which bloodline would come out on top and it was Rhaenyra’s. And to add insult to injury he was betrayed by his own men, not that I feel sorry for him on that, but that’s just pitiful to go through all that trouble to be sold out by your own men and knowing that as your dying your enemy wins because the matter of succession went through Rhaenyra’s children not his. Even though he’s a despicable character, his ending almost makes you feel sorry for him. ALMOST (for me)

Mate can you make a playlist

Aegon II is the 6th Aegon but nevermind.... Lord Aegon , The Conqueror , The Uncrowned , Jaehaerys' stillborn son , Daemon's stillborn brother

Technically he is the fourth Jaehaerys did have a son named Aegon but die in birth.

"There's more to him than meets the eye." He's a robot in disguise?

You can only be crowned to be a 2nd 3rd & so forth

King Jaehaerys had a son named Aegon didn’t he ?

Dann. Now I just feel sorry for him.

after Alyssa(Aenys wife) Aegon there was Aegon Jaehaerys and Alyssane son and after him there was Aegon the son of Baelon and Alyssa, Daemon and Viserys brother. I guess every generation try have an Aegon xD It is like a cursed name, cuz most die young as babies, becomes a problatic person who cause problens to Targaryen house like Alicent son(used in war against his family and this was the war who killed most adult targaryen and their dragons). That one who made a ton of bastards and made the blackfyres (who killed a lot of targaryens and caused problens for years.) Even Aegon the Egg from Duncan and Egg was kinda problematic while trying to rivive the dragons he killed part of his family... In the books there is a Aegon too who will probably cause problens for Daenerys... Its kinda funny how Maegor is used as a curse even in atual westeros but it is Aegons name(the conqueror) who became like a cursed name for Targaryens.

Viserys had a brother named aegon, and Jaherys' first son was named aegon, so not reall the 3rd.

Feed a caterpillar enough royal jelly and it will turn into a monarch butterfly

Ageon was not raised to be a human being. He was raised to be a pawn. His mother was a B and his father was a D. His grandfather was a total D.

"Actually Aegon II is Aegon III." Nope, he's Aegon IV: Jacaerys and Alysanne also had a firstborn son named Aegon.

One could say aegon is Alicent writ small

the show portrait him as an abuser so it's hard to have much sympathy for him, but I believe there's nothing like that in the book except from mushroom stories, is really sad to think he wanted to go away instead of being king but was forced in that role by his fucked up family

Great video. I agree with most of this. I do think you push the parallels between Aegon and Alicent too far. I don't think a male Alicent would have assaulted their maid or watched abused children fight for their entertainment. Honestly I wish the show had made Aegon less unsympathetic: a weak, self-indulgent, but not cruel man pressured into claiming a throne he didn't want. Still I understand why they made the choices they did

You never mention how he’s just as cruel to his wife/sister.

I'd say Aegon's misinterpreted his relationship with his father quite a lot just like Aemond has. One of the reasons why I'd say so is because Viserys was a weary and sickly old man by the time Aegon was growing up, so he hardly could ever spend time with him coz of that. Yet Viserys still tried to spend time with his sons as much as he was able, as mentioned in the books. I suppose they could only show one scene of it in the series but that alone didn't print a good image of Viserys trying to be a good parent. Just like how the scene with Daemon consoling his own daughters didn't make the cut. Moreover it doesn't help that Alicent keeps on badgering Aegon about how he should be the heir and he will make him heir one day. How Viserys shouldn't be treating his bastard grandkids equally to them. So ofcourse, he'll come out thinking that making him heir is tied to his father's love. And since his father doesn't do any of that, that must mean Viserys doesn't love him. For the most part, he grew up with Alicent's belligerent parenting and when he saw how Rhaenyra was given such a position, he must've thought Viserys must love her best. And it doesn't help that Alicent too must've painted a very bad picture of Viserys only favouring Rhaenyra without actually understanding the nuances of why Alicent says this. Second of all, he has never seen Rhaenyra's struggle either. How she too was neglected. And it wasn't even due sickness of health. Viserys himself was able and well that time. Yet he still treated Rhaenyra like crap. From obsessing over a son, to neglecting her after her mom died and then the whole fiasco with meeting up with Alicent behind her back, choosing her best friend as his second wife without even telling her beforehand. His view is quite reductive but understandable since he was manipulated and pressured.

I personally hated that they made Aegon a sexually abusive person. I would have preferred it if Aegon were a cheating asshole who had consensual sex with other girls/women behind Heleana's back. Which would make the mirror between Alicent and Aegon much more apparent. Alicent must marry someone she doesn't want to and cannot be with other men because she is a woman but Aegon could be with other women because he is a man. Which would make Alicent understandably jealous of Aegon, as many parents who didn't get the same freedoms and opportunities their children do find themselves feeling. Which causes a rift between parents and children.

It just goes to show that the HOTD writers have really tried to find what makes every character tick. George may have created the story but the HOTD writers have given these characters life.

Aegon II was the king, horrible as he was, doesn't change the fact that rhaenyra was just maegor with TITTIZ, at least aegon didn't murder peasants like she did.

I think making him a rapist was a bad choice. I think his book counterpart still has some of his flaws in the show but has much more agency while he still gets manipulated by those around him

something that bothers me about HOTD is how it always seems the show is trying too hard to be game of thrones 2.0, they're always trying to copy the predecessor, like rhaenyra and daemon seeing people having sex in the streets which is reminiscent of daenerys experience in the dothraki culture, but almost everytime it feel so forced the alicent comment saying you're no son of mine is also very hard to take seriously 😂

Isnt this the same channel that just did a video about how Alicent wasn’t that bad lol

Show Aegon is not complex, we do need to stop with the mommy/daddy issues route, most people have it, and I like to believe not all of them turn out to be disgusting r*pists and before someone comes with the "it was like that in those times" "it was not different of what Robert or Drogo did" please stfu, first of all there is not "those" times, it's fantasy INSPIRED in Medieval/Byzantine/Renaissance Eras, the author could have chosen to not have the amount of SA and child SA, but at least GRRM tries to have a conversation about it when it happens, if you all think Robert or Drogo are portrayed to be sympathetic you are reading the books wrongly, try again. But the show writers went the laziest route, made Aegon despicable, lazy, uninteresting and then tossed the blame to "mommy doesn’t love me, daddy prefers older sister" please, be for real, Tom Glynn-Carney big teary eyes doesn’t move me, makes me even more: eh why would I care? They could have had a complex character but they chose not to because that would require then to work more to make both sides equally sympathetic, they can't barely write one good arc imagine having to do it for two sides of a whole family, too much work.

Ooh boo hoo , men in their mama issues 😂

I feel like everyone who feels bad for this guy is just dancing around the fact that he is a serial rapist

your commentary sounds superfulously judgemental...this is literature not history...it's meant to be related not judged.

Real quick I want to highlight Rhaenyra's children aren't Bastards. Every part of society that matters has acknowledged them as legitimate.

forever mad the show went w/ the account of the person who was barely around aegon instead of one that was around him. because it's not enough that he's chosen because "women cannot rule", but they also had to make him a rapist and sadist instead of a adulterer that was in love w/ a sex worker and not his sister. i mean, even in the show, it seems out of character for what they want aegon to be. can you imagine whimpy drunk loser aegon sneaking off to underground child fights and s/aing servants? because i can, but not that easily