House Of The Dragon transformed King Aegon II Targaryen from Joffrey’s replacement into a much better character than the one in GRRM’s book

King Aegon II Targaryen is, on the surface, Dragon Houseequivalent to King Joffrey Baratheon of Game of Thrones. Both are rulers who came to the throne at a young age after the death of a father who did not show much interest in them, both are very immature, spoiled and ill-prepared to occupy such a position, and both are capable of acts of great depravity and cruelty that rival with some of the worst kings in the entire world. Game of Thrones history.

Joffrey, of course, is one of the most hated characters in TV history, brought to life brilliantly by Jack Gleeson as part of Game of Thrones‘ cast. Aegon, who in Dragon HouseThe cast of himself, played by Ty Tennant and then (and still) Tom Glynn-Carney, didn’t reach the same repulsive, rage-inducing heights. This shows how despicable Joffrey was, but also how good a job the prequel did with its young king.

King Aegon is very different from King Joffrey, despite initial similarities

There’s a lot more nuance to Aegon

There are clear similarities between Aegon and Joffrey in terms of age, rank, and aspects of their personality, which makes it easy to observe them on equal terms. It may also have been tempting to fall back on these less desirable qualities, since they worked so well for Game of Thrones. However, Aegon stands apart from Joffrey in several ways. That doesn’t mean he’s a better character, because Joff was an all-time great villain, but he’s certainly more human.

Joffrey was a spoiled brat, but also someone completely devoid of empathy or feelings of any kind. He is not only cruel, but also sadistic, and people’s suffering may be the only thing that brings him pleasure. Aegon does some terrible things, and there’s no forgiveness for that, but he’s more multifaceted and tries to be a good king, even if he fails at it. There is a vulnerability to him, and in contrast to Joffrey, he is very open with his emotions.especially after Blood and Cheese killed Prince Jaehaerys. Glynn-Carney himself addressed the comparisons, saying The Independent:

“Joffrey is cold and calculating, while Aegon is frantic, and when he feels, he feels so deeply – which is just as dangerous as someone who feels nothing. manifests itself in violence.”

House Of The Dragon’s Aegon is even better than the book version

HBO show improves on Fire & Blood thanks to Tom Glynn-Carney’s performance

Aegon in Dragon House largely follows the same arc as in Fire and Bloodbut he is, for the most part, a stronger character. A big advantage that the HBO series has over Martin’s book is the ability to better detail the characters and events, which are simply presented as moments in the story, without so many details. That’s not to say the series always gets it right – the changes in Blood and Cheese are testament to that – but it certainly helps with characters like Aegon, who is much richer and more nuanced than on the page.

Many of the characteristics are the same, including being petulant boys who were not meant to rule, but Dragon House adds extra layers. There is a tragedy for Aegon in the series that doesn’t exist so clearly in the bookwhich more clearly defines how he is forgotten by his father and used simply as a tool by his mother and grandfather. The addition of Aemond’s hatred for him is also a nice touch, adding to the character’s complexity, as does the sadness at his and Helaena’s inability to communicate amid their shared pain.

Overall, Aegon developed into one of the Dragon HouseThe best characters of the second season. This is due not only to good writing, but also to Glynn-Carney’s performance, which is one of the best in the series. He conveys a lot perfectly, making the character not exactly likable, but definitely more relatable. He brings a great balance of humor and sadness alongside his despicable acts, which makes him not only completely different from Joffrey, but also an improvement over Joffrey. Fire and Blood.

• Taking place approximately 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, Dragon House tells the story of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spin-off show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series are Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

• Based on the novels by George RR Martin, this fantasy series follows the power struggles between noble families as they vie for control of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series is known for its complex characters, political intrigue and unexpected twists.