If there's one thing that people can't stop talking about, it's the fact that Aemond Targaryen has turned into a kinslayer in House of the Dragon Episode 10. But did Aemond really mean to kill his own nephew in the season finale? Showrunner Ryan Condal is defending Aemond's actions claiming that the prince had his own reasons for attacking Lucerys Velaryon in the first place.
In House of the Dragon Episode 10, Rhaenyra Targaryen needed to seek out her allies so she reluctantly sends her sons Jacaerys and Lucerys as messengers to House Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon. The queen decides that the latter is a safe one that Luke could easily handle but this turns out to be a mistake because Aemond Targaryen is already at Storm's End where he threatens Lucerys yet again.
Although Lord Borros Baratheon stops them from fighting each other, Aemond chases after Luke and Arrax and Vhagar kills the boy and his dragon. Interestingly, Aemond appears to change his mind at the last moment, urging Vhagar to stop the attack. Unfortunately, it is too late and Aemond looks like he regrets the death of his nephew.
So did Aemond really mean to kill Luke? Ryan Condal points out that although he isn't innocent, Aemond's actions were somehow justified by his past.
"Aemond is definitely not blameless in what happened to Luke," the showrunner told The Hollywood Reporter. "But Aemond was also a kid who was bullied and was made a mockery for part of his life for not having a dragon. Now he does, and he rides the biggest dragon in the world. I think he was showing his rival that he will not be intimidated and trifled with is probably more in play there than trying to become a kinslayer."
"That would be very un-calculated and stupid of Aemond to do at the outset when the pieces are moving about the board and loyalties are being set and figuring out who is going to make a marriage pact to guarantee whose army [will win]," Condal continued.
"For Aemond to launch nukes right out of the gate and go for an all-out dragon war would be very foolish, but that’s exactly what he ends up doing because things get out of hand and out of control. It’s a complex scene. Aemond is not blameless, but he’s also not a psychopath without a logical line of thinking," he concluded.
It may have been an accident but it's all too late now. Rhaenyra has learned about Luke's death and the dragons are about to dance.
House of the Dragon Season 2 has already been confirmed but the show's next chapter has not yet been given an official release date. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.
Related: House of the Dragon Episode 10 Possibly Teased 'Dead' Character's Season 2 Return
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