He’s the second son. The one who had to work twice as hard just to be half as noticed. If you've been watching the chaos unfold in Westeros, you know that Aemond House of the Dragon isn't just another prince in a fancy doublet. He’s a ticking time bomb. While his brother Aegon was busy getting drunk in the Street of Silk, Aemond was studying history, philosophy, and the art of the blade. He lost an eye but gained a god-tier dragon. That’s a trade-off most people in the Seven Kingdoms wouldn't have the guts to make.
Honestly, the moment he stepped up to Vhagar—the oldest, grumpiest, and most massive dragon left in the world—everything changed. It wasn't just about getting a ride. It was a power shift that effectively handed the Greens a nuclear deterrent. Ewan Mitchell plays him with this specific, unnerving stillness. You never quite know if he’s going to recite a poem or burn a city down. Usually, it’s closer to the latter.
The Eye for a Dragon Trade-Off
Let’s talk about that night at Driftmark. It’s the definitive turning point for his character. Aemond was a kid who was bullied. Hard. His own brother and cousins gave him a pig with wings because he hadn't bonded with a dragon yet. That kind of humiliation stays with a person. It festers.
When Laena Velaryon died, her dragon Vhagar was "claimable." Aemond didn't wait for permission. He didn't ask. He just went. Watching a child stand his ground against a beast the size of a cathedral is one of the most intense sequences in the show. He survived. But the cost was steep.
Lucerys Velaryon slashed his eye out during the brawl that followed. While Alicent was screaming for "an eye for an eye," Aemond was strangely calm. He told his mother, "I may have lost an eye, but I gained a dragon." That is pure, unadulterated ambition. It shows a level of pragmatism that makes him far more terrifying than a standard villain. He views his trauma as a transaction. To him, the scar is just the receipt for the most powerful weapon in the world.
Vhagar and the Illusion of Control
There is a massive misconception that Aemond is a master strategist who meant for everything to go wrong at Storm's End. He didn't. Not exactly.
In the Season 1 finale, when he chases Lucerys through the storm, he’s basically a bully playing with his food. He wanted to scare Luke. He wanted to hear him scream. But he forgot one very important thing: dragons aren't remote-controlled drones. They are animals with their own tempers. Vhagar is a war veteran from the days of Visenya Targaryen. She doesn't do "pranks."
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When Arrax snapped a tiny bit of fire at Vhagar’s face, the old girl decided the game was over. She chomped Lucerys and his dragon out of the sky like a mid-day snack. The look on Aemond’s face in that moment? That wasn't triumph. It was pure, "Oh no, I just started a world war" terror. It’s a nuance that George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood leaves a bit more ambiguous, but the show makes it clear: Aemond is a victim of his own hubris. He’s riding a nuke he can’t always point in the right direction.
Why the "Second Son" Syndrome Drives Him
Aemond is the quintessential "Second Son." In Westerosi culture, if you aren't the heir, you're basically a backup dancer.
He spent his childhood being the "lesser" brother. Aegon is the firstborn, the one the crown was forced upon. Aemond is the one who actually did the homework. He knows the lore. He trains in the yard until he’s bleeding. He speaks High Valyrian with a fluency that puts the rest of his family to shame.
- He is the protector of the family.
- He is the primary military asset for the Greens.
- He is the intellectual weight behind the throne.
- He is constantly overlooked by his father, Viserys.
It’s a toxic cocktail of resentment and duty. You can see it in the way he carries himself. He’s stiff, formal, and hyper-aware of how people perceive him. He wears that sapphire eye like a badge of honor, but also as a reminder of why he can never afford to be weak again.
Aemond vs. Daemon: The Mirror Image
If you look closely, Aemond is basically a dark mirror of his uncle, Daemon Targaryen. They both love the "Rogue Prince" energy. They both feel entitled to more than they have. They both ride legendary dragons.
The rivalry between them is the backbone of the conflict's martial side. Daemon is the chaotic veteran; Aemond is the disciplined protégé who wants to kill his idol. There’s a specific scene where they lock eyes across a dinner table, and the tension is so thick you could cut it with a Valyrian steel blade. They recognize each other. They see the same hunger.
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Aemond tries to emulate Daemon’s swagger, but he lacks Daemon’s lived-in confidence. Everything Aemond does is performative. He’s trying to be the baddest man in the room. Daemon just is. This distinction is what makes Aemond such a tragic figure. He’s a high-achiever who will never feel like he’s achieved enough.
The Evolution in Season 2 and Beyond
As the war—the Dance of the Dragons—really kicks off, Aemond’s role shifts from a hot-headed prince to a legitimate commander.
Without spoiling the deep lore for those who haven't read the books, let’s just say he becomes the primary antagonist for Rhaenyra’s forces. He isn't just a dragon rider anymore. He’s the person making the hard calls. When Aegon is incapacitated or proves himself unfit, Aemond is the one who steps into the vacuum.
But here’s the thing. Being a good soldier doesn't make you a good king. Aemond’s ruthlessness is a double-edged sword. He burns bridges—literally—faster than he can build alliances. His story is a masterclass in how insecurity can be weaponized into something that destroys the world.
Why We Love to Hate Him (Or Just Love Him)
It’s weird, right? He’s a child-killer. He’s a warmonger. And yet, the "Aemond One-Eye" fandom is massive.
Part of it is the aesthetic. The long silver hair, the eyepatch, the sapphire—it’s a visual slam dunk. But deeper than that, people resonate with the "outsider" who took his destiny into his own hands. In a world of birthrights and luck, Aemond chose Vhagar. He paid for his power in blood.
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There’s also something incredibly human about his failures. The fact that he accidentally started the war makes him more than just a cartoon villain. It makes him a person who made a catastrophic mistake. We’ve all been there—maybe not with a 150-ton dragon and a dead nephew—but we’ve all done something we couldn't take back.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Theorists
If you want to keep up with the nuance of this character, there are a few things you should keep an eye on in upcoming episodes.
First, watch his relationship with Alicent. As the war gets bloodier, her "peace at any cost" mindset is going to clash violently with his "victory at any cost" reality. The rift between mother and son is where the real drama lives.
Second, pay attention to the dragon seeds. The Greens have Vhagar, but the Blacks are looking for more riders. Aemond’s primary advantage is size, but size makes Vhagar slow. The tactical shift in how dragons are used will define Aemond's success or failure in the field.
Lastly, look for the parallels in the history books. Aemond isn't just a random name; he’s a reflection of the Targaryen's worst impulses. To truly understand where he’s going, you have to look at the kings who came before him—the ones who thought they were gods until the fire consumed them too.
The best way to engage with the story moving forward is to track his decisions vs. his intentions. Aemond is a character defined by the gap between what he wants to happen and what actually happens when he loses his temper. Stay focused on the small moments of hesitation; that's where the real Aemond lives, tucked away behind the sapphire and the scales.