House Of The Dragon Pivotal Character Reveals He Hasn’t Watched Game Of Thrones
Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon, says he hasn’t watched Game of Thrones because he didn’t want it to influence his performance. “I have a confession to make. I’ve never seen it, and I didn’t want to watch it going into this role,” the actor told ComicBook when asked who he thinks his character would have the most exciting conversation with from the flagship series.
What He Had To Say
“I didn’t want it to inform my decisions in any way, shape, or form, you know, whether it be consciously or subconsciously,” Ewan Mitchell continued. “I wanted to bring something fresh. Aemond is one of a kind, you know.”
House of the Dragon is arguably the year’s most eagerly anticipated series, with Mitchell’s Aemond Targaryen already a fan favorite.
House of the Dragon Season 1 ended with a dramatic and tragic scene in which Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar hunted down and killed his nephew.
As the premiere of Season 2 approaches, Mitchell shared insights into his character’s mindset. The actor explained that one of Aemond’s most fascinating aspects is his unpredictability.
An Unpredictable Character
“It’s like, you don’t necessarily know what’s going on inside with Aemond, but you do know something is going off inside,” Ewan Mitchell said of his House of the Dragon character.
“There are cogs turning behind his eyes. You’re not too sure which way he’s going to go. I love how Aemond continually challenges the audience about what you think about him.”
Reflecting on the Season 1 finale, Ewan Mitchell discussed his approach to portraying Aemond’s darker side. The actor said he aimed to present Aemond as a figure of pure darkness, only to contradict it at the end of the series.
“Going into Season 2, you are gonna see other moments like that are quite unexpected. It’s encoded in Aemond’s DNA to a certain extent to surprise people,” he continued.
New Dimensions
Ewan Mitchell is enthusiastic about exploring Aemond’s character further in House of the Dragon Season 2. He is interested in delving into Aemond’s morally gray areas and presenting him from different perspectives.
While Mitchell initially played the antagonist as one-dimensional, he promises that Season 2 will unveil more facets of his personality.
Ewan Mitchell was perfectly cast as Prince Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon. The actor’s striking appearance, with an eye patch and scar over one eye, immediately won over fans.
Mitchell’s performance as the ruthless and skilled fighter has also received critical acclaim. Showrunner Ryan Conda previously praised his audition, describing it as “electric.”
Mitchell’s Other Work
Ewan Mitchell started acting in 2015, starring in the short films Stereotype and Fire. He made his television debut in the 2017 ITV period drama The Halcyon, playing Billy Taylor, a bellboy at the fictional five-star hotel.
His breakout role came in the BBC Two and Netflix historical drama The Last Kingdom, where he played Osferth, the illegitimate son of King Alfred the Great of Wessex.
The official synopsis for Ewan Mitchell’s House of the Dragon Season 2 reveals that it centers on the succession crisis following the death of King Viserys I Targaryen (played by Paddy Considine).
The season will delve into the conflict between his named heir, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), and her half-brother, King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), who was crowned after Viserys’ death.
The Dance Of The Dragons
The civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, will see Rhaenyra and her allies, including her uncle Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and House Velaryon, battling for her claim to the Iron Throne.
On the opposing side, Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and her supporters, such as her father Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), will strive to uphold Aegon’s rule.
Based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on June 16.
Source: ComicBook
