Uh, why hasn’t the second most important character in the story not been featured at all yet? Why has Aegon II been completely left out of all House of the Dragon promo material?
This question has bugged me for a really long time. We’ve now seen Jaehaerys Targaryen, Rhaenyra Targaryen, Damon Targaryen, Viserys Targaryen, Rhaenys Targaryen, Aemon Targaryen (Damon’s daughter), Baela Targaryen, Rhaena Targaryen (Damon’s daughter) Jacaerys Velaryon (Rhaenyra’s first-born son), Lucerys Velyaron (Rhaenyra’s second-born son), and Joffrey Velaryron (Rhaenyra’s third-born son) in the half dozen or so trailers and images.
So, essentially, we have seen the entire Targaryen royal family except for those who were not born by the beginning of the show (Prince Daeron, Aegon III, and Viserys II) and King Aegon II, the leader of the “Greens” faction.
Doesn’t that seem a little weird?
(HBO-House of the Dragon-Official Trailer)
Aegon is one of the most important characters in all of the Dance and plays a massive role during the actual war. Yet, he’s not even been featured in any of the trailers, promo images, or backstory videos.
Even King Jaehaerys (who dies 30 years BEFORE the Dance) has been shown in the “Height of An Empire” YouTube video on the Game of Thrones YouTube channel.
It’s almost like the show is purposely not showing Rhaenyra’s main antagonist, which I find very strange. But what I really don’t get is why the HBO executives have decided to show Aegon II’s younger brother, Aemon, in multiple trailers/videos while they have kept his elder brother out entirely.
I know the show wouldn’t do a sacrilegious thing by cutting out Aegon II and replacing him with Aemon, as such a creative blunder would destroy the show before it even begins, but what gives not showing him at all?
In fact, now that I’m writing this, I don’t think they have included Aegon II’s sister-wife, Queen Helana Targaryen, in the promos either.
Is it really just me or does this seem like a strange promotional decision? Aegon II will be one of the show’s most divisive characters as his pursuit of the Iron Throne and the tragedy and triumphs that comes with it will gain him thousands of fans and haters.
Moreover, Queen Helena will become the most tragic character when a certain scene (involving mice and cheese) occurs later on in the show. I know I would have liked to have seen some snippets of these two fascinating characters before Episode 1.
Anyway, I realize I’m making a mountain out of a mole hill with this complaint. But I still will never understand why HBO hasn’t released any information or images about Aegon II and Helena.
(HBO-House of the Dragon-Official Trailer)
Ryan Condal and Miguel Sapochnick already appear to be better show runners than Dumb and Dumber…ehem…David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, but it makes me a little nervous as to why they haven’t tried to get HBO to showcase the couple more.
All I’m saying is that Aegon II and Helena better not get the same treatment Stannis Baratheon got from D&D (as those two hated him and wrote him awfully in the show), though there is no evidence that will happen. Thankfully.
(PS: The picture with Alicent Hightower and that Targaryen offscreen might actually be Aegon II, but that’s hardly the snippet image I meant.)
Images Source: Featured Image: (HBO) (House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | HBO Max – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (HBO) (House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | HBO Max – YouTube)
In Text Image 2: (HBO) (House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | HBO Max – YouTube)
