SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Home of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 5, titled “Regent,” now streaming on Max.

After ultimate Sunday’s fiery dragon battle killed off Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Finest) and her dragon Meleys, this week’s episode of “Home of the Dragon” slows points down a bit, exhibiting the aftermath of Rook’s Relaxation.

The battle may need been a win for the greens, nonetheless no particular person is celebrating in King’s Touchdown. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and his troopers march Meleys’ severed head through the streets, nonetheless onlookers are additional terrified than impressed by the ineffective dragon. The troops usher in King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) for medical remedy after he and his dragon Sunfyre had been ambushed and severely burned by his brother Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his vicious dragon, Vhagar.

Aegon isn’t making an attempt like his regular pretty self. His armor melted into his pores and pores and skin, his bones shattered and the maesters should not positive how prolonged he’ll survive. Along along with his brother comatose, Aemond is subsequent in line for the Iron Throne and turns into prince regent — which might have been his plan all alongside. He leapfrogs his mother, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), who isn’t blissful about being skipped inside the line of succession.

Throughout the ocean, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) mourns the lack of lifetime of his partner Rhaenys, and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) ought to strategize after shedding the blacks’ largest dragon. Her son Jace (Harry Collett) continues to gather allies, nonetheless Rhaenyra doesn’t have to jeopardize her eldest baby’s life to battle merely however.

Over in Harrenhal, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) retains seeing creepy targets contained in the haunted citadel halls. After being laid low with visions of youthful Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) and his late partner Laena Velaryon (Nanna Blondell), this time he targets of his mother Alyssa Targaryen — nonetheless as he’s having intercourse alongside together with her. The eerie Oedipal episode reveals that Daemon harbors resentment over being the youthful brother to King Viserys and having not claimed the Iron Throne for himself. On the equivalent time, Rhaenyra realizes she desires Daemon and his dragon for the battle, so she sends Ser Alfred Broome (Jamie Kenna) to ship him dwelling.

The episode ends with Aemond making an attempt ominously on the Iron Throne, Aegon lying pitifully in mattress and Jace and Rhaenyra brainstorming the appropriate technique to stop Aemond and Vhagar. The blacks have dragons, nonetheless need additional riders, in order that they resolve to hunt for “dragonseeds” — odd of us with Targaryen blood of their lineage who can mount the beasts. Rhaenyra’s forces are 0-2 in opposition to Vhagar, so this may be their solely shot to even the odds.

Glynn-Carney didn’t have quite a bit to do as Aegon on this episode, since as he was coated in third-degree burns and confined to his mattress, nonetheless his presence nonetheless looms large over Westeros. With Selection, he spoke about his post-battle accidents, Aemond’s betrayal and what’s subsequent for the broken king.

What was it like seeing the make-up and prosthetics for Aegon’s take care of Rook’s Relaxation?

The testing stage was prolonged, and took a while to nail what we had been gonna go for. Lots of completely completely different variations. The one we settled on was gnarly, to say the least.

How did it actually really feel sporting the make-up for nearly all the episode? Was there any degree the place you talked about waking up for a brief scene? In “Hearth & Blood,” Aegon is out for a yr, so I was curious the extent to which Aegon is perhaps out of price?

Properly, no, we couldn’t give Aemond a yr or two to have the benefit of his place. We wanted to velocity up time a little bit of bit. Nevertheless it was good. It was restrictive in all the appropriate strategies. It was claustrophobic. It educated the way in which wherein that I breathe and switch and spoke, every time I did. I was very grateful to be included inside the dialogue course of, from conception stage to the tip.

Have you ever created a model new voice for Aegon for when he’s able to talk as soon as extra?

I didn’t create a model new voice. I did loads of evaluation into how intense heat and burns can have an impact on your vocal folds, and easily totally decimate them. Clearly I couldn’t do that to myself, so I wanted to find a choice to copy it. It was one factor that I wanted to undoubtedly take note of going into this new stage of Aegon. He has to essentially really feel modified, like he’s shifted. And I hope that reads in the end.

In his incapacitated state, does Aegon know Aemond deliberately attacked and burned him? How do you interpret the final word scene of Episode 4, when it seems to be like like Aemond is each sheathing his sword when he approaches Aegon, or he’s entering into for the kill?

That’s for the viewers to resolve. I can’t contact upon that. I don’t want to tell of us what to suppose. That’s up for grabs.

Aegon and Sunfyre have an beautiful scene collectively in Episode 4 when he rides him. What diploma of accountability does Aegon actually really feel for what occurred to his dragon?

He is important to Aegon. What I cherished about that second was that there was a little bit of little little bit of a light-weight confirmed on their relationship to at least one one other, and the vulnerability between the two of them. It’s humorous, I’ve an beautiful golden retriever, and on the day we had that scene, it was as if it had been Ziggy, my canine, type of pushing my chest. It felt favor it was him. So any interaction I’m having there with Sunfyre is like having my very personal canine.

There’s an understanding and appreciation of each other, they often don’t see each other as often as they need, nonetheless there’s possibly good trigger for that. It lends itself to exhibiting Aegon’s vulnerability and that softer aspect that I’ve tried to carve out a little bit of bit additional of this season.

So Aegon would actually really feel some accountability for what occurred to him?

In truth. It’s like taking your canine for a stroll and he’ll get hit by a automotive. That’s my fault.

How does taking Aegon off the board have an impact on Alicent and the greens?

Properly, from Aegon’s mattress, he possibly thinks it supplies her a little bit of bit additional room to be additional of a dominant strain inside the small council. It frees up that seat on the end of the desk. I don’t suppose in Aegon’s mattress he’s pondering “Oh, Aemond’s in all probability going to take a seat there as prince regent.”

So that you just don’t suppose Aegon thought Aemond had intentions of sitting on the Iron Throne? Again in Season 1, there was a second the place Aegon didn’t event want the throne, nonetheless Aemond launched him once more to serve.

I consider that’s the place that idea at first of Season 2 was born, the place Aegon is talking about how Aemond’s as loyal as a canine and might assault enemies on command and is conscious of his place contained in the realm. However that coin can flip at any second. We’re all dancing on a knife’s edge, and all it takes is one little push from one aspect. With the volatility that runs in Targaryen blood, there’s on a regular basis potential for betrayal. However then as soon as extra, was it intentional? Who the hell is conscious of?

What would Westeros be like with Aemond as king?

He’d be a steel fist, wouldn’t he? I consider he’d be pretty cutthroat, and a cold king possibly. A minimal of from the outset, he’d want of us to concern him. He often talks about being bullied as a toddler, so he possibly must reinstate himself as a secure, extremely efficient man who gained’t be messed with, which might probably be dangerous in a kingly place.

In Episode 4, Aegon joins the Battle of Rook’s Relaxation on account of he seems like he’s getting disregarded of the council, and he must be an excellent king. He made some questionable selections, nonetheless it seems to be as if he’s attempting to do the appropriate issue. How did you play him in these moments?

He must be seen as an excellent king. That’s completely completely different to being an excellent king. It’s about impressions and the way in which he’s perceived. The greatest manner I’m collaborating in him is that it’s about how he’s perceived by King’s Touchdown and Westeros often. He must be seen to be doing the appropriate points. That to me has a sell-by date when he realizes that just a few of those selections he’s making don’t serve him.

This interview has been edited and condensed.