‘House of the Dragon’ Star Ewan Mitchell Reveals If He’s Met Co-Star Gayle Rankin, But Won’t Weigh In On Aemond and Alys: “No Comment”

Few characters asserted themselves as true power players in House of the Dragon Season 2 as much as Aemond Targaryen ( Ewan Mitchell ). Instead of apologizing for the death of his nephew, Lucerys Velaryon ( Elliot Grihault ), at the end of Season 1, Aemond basically boasted about it. He stealthily wrested control of Team Green away from brother Aegon ( Tom Glynn-Carney ) and mother Alicent ( Olivia Cooke ). In battle, he used his dragon Vhagar to not only kill Team Black’s MVP, Rhaenys Targaryen ( Eve Best ), but to also render his older brother Aegon useless for a time.

However, the second season of the HBO show ends with Aemond suddenly on the back foot. Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) has managed to find three new dragonriders among the smallfolk, meaning that Vhagar is no longer the indomitable threat she once was. When Aemond pressures sister Helaena (Phia Saban) to fly her dragon, Dreamfyre, into battle, she refuses. Not only that, but she tells Aemond that he will not survive the war. He is doomed to be “swallowed” by the God’s Eye. To make matters worse, Aemond’s mother Alicent secretly brokers a peace with Rhaenyra.

It’s all looking bad for Aemond, but House of the Dragon star Ewan Mitchell is excited to tear into what Heleana’s prophecy means for his character. “Going into Season 3, I cannot wait to explore that even further,” he said. One storyline he’s tight-lipped about, though? The highly-anticipated relationship between Aemond and Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin). House of the Dragon introduced the bastard-born “woodswitch” of Harrenhal in Season 2 as a woman with a deep affinity with the old magic of Westeros. In the books, Aemond and Alys supposedly embark on a romance, wherein he repeatedly comes to her aid, which would be out of character for the seemingly ruthless Aemond we know now.

When Decider spoke with the actor over Zoom this week, he explained that he’s here for all the heated debates that Aemond’s actions inspire. “I love that ambiguity that Aemond has and the questions that he raises,” he said. We discussed the ramifications of Helaena’s prophecy, how Harrenhal could potentially change Aemond, and whether or not Aemond still has the catspaw dagger he took off Aegon in Season 2 Episode 4…

DECIDER: I had noticed that you did another interview where you talked about the scene in Season 2 Episode 5, where Helaena confronts Aemond in front of the Iron Throne asking, “Was it worth the price?” You said that was maybe him starting to clue in that his sister might have some dragon dreaming abilities. By the time that she tells him that she’s seen him burn Aegon and he’s gonna die at the God’s Eye, is he fully convinced now that his sister is a prophet? That she has dragon dreams? And also in that scene, what was it like to experience that power dynamic shift between Aemond and Helaena?

EWAN MITCHELL: Yeah, I love Phia Saban’s performance in that scene. You know, she’s so powerful and scary to Aemond and Aemond feels that big. [Pinches fingers together to show how small Aemond actually feels.]

But yeah, it’s interesting. He goes to Helaena and he ultimately begs for her to mount Dreamfyre and to join him on dragonback and to take out Daemon in Harrenhal and, you know, destroy all the influence that he has in the Riverlands. Aemond is rebuked and Helaena divulges knowledge that, on one hand could make Aemond an enemy, or on the other hand, actually in a way, make Helaena a very valuable ally. You know, that foresight, that power that she possesses. If Aemond, in some way, shape or form, is able to harness that power to see blows coming before they land, that would be quite dangerous. So going into Season 3, I cannot wait to explore that even further.

And yeah, I love their relationship. “Helaemond.” I’m a fan.

Well, it’s interesting because, you know, obviously Daemon and Aemond are sort of like mirror characters in many ways. Daemon has had an experience, too, where he has been told he’s not the star of the story. He’s got his own part to play. Alys told him he’s going to die at Harrenhal. So these two characters now are clued in to fate is coming for them. Do you think that makes Aemond more likely to hurtle towards it or to try to fight it?

‘House of the Dragon’ Star Tom Glynn-Carney Says Aegon is in “Business Mode” Now: “He Wants to Inflict Pain”

That’s an interesting question. I think, you know, I love that. Have you seen Split by M. Night Shyamalan? So, one of the themes that he raises in that film is that the broken are the more evolved. And this idea that when Aemond had his eye taken from him, it very much motivated to develop himself into a lethal weapon. To kind of keep his steel sharp and his mind sharper. But it was ultimately his insecurities that formed and developed this ego.

I talked about it before but the legend of the Cyclops in Greek mythology, to trade one of your eyes to Hades in order to see the day that you would die, to possess that egotistical mindset to feel bulletproof. To have a complete feeling like you understand the day that you’re going to go down. You know, I think Aemond has always thought himself as being this person who will be a war hero at the end of the Dance of the Dragons. He’ll be the last one standing and he’ll be on a Dorne beach with Alicent, drinking pina coladas. What Helaena shares very much challenges that. It breaks Aemond that little bit. I think he’s got to sit with that information and process it. But as we know Aemond, he doesn’t sit still for long.

I want to back track a bit to Episode 4. The moment that Ser Criston Cole comes upon Aemond with his sword out, I was always curious, is Aemond trying to finish the job? Was he going to put his brother out of his misery or was he just putting it back in the scabbard?

I can’t answer that. I wish I could. I know. But I love that ambiguity that Aemond has and the questions that he raises. Whether or not he did see an opportunity to take out two dragons with one stone or if it wasn’t as premeditated as that and Aegon was merely the variable in that situation. I think it’s super interesting. The same with, like, the ball in Episode 6. When he gives it back to Aegon and he presses it into his stomach, is he doing that to like elicit a a reaction and a pain from Aegon? To torture him? To twist the knife, so to speak? Or was he very much giving the ball back to say, “Look when you get back to full health, you can have the seat. I’m just gonna take over for a while.” Yeah. So I think it’s interesting, all the questions he raises.

What do you think? Do you think he was going to kill him?

I think if he was going to kill him, it was going to be a mercy killing at that point. Because both the man and the dragon seem to be in a lot of pain. And as we’ve seen, Aegon doesn’t quite enjoy being not spectacular and whole. But I don’t know. That was my interpretation.

As a follow up, Aemond also has the catspaw dagger in that scene, which I find exciting because he arguably knows the most Valyrian of anyone on the show. So knowing how he’s so studious and thoughtful, what do you think the chances are, if he still has the dagger, he can figure out there’s a hidden message there?

Yeah, I think I could imagine that. I could imagine Aemond reading a book by the fire and he just puts it over the fireplace and then he’s privy to the information of Aegon’s dream.

But I can’t confirm nor deny it.

‘House of the Dragon’ Star Phia Saban Explains Helaena’s “Extremely Serious and Direct” Prophecy in the Season 2 Finale: “I Know What the Truth Is”

Just, to me, he’s the one character who, if you gave him that dagger, I think he’d figure it out. But that’s just my personal fan theory.

I would agree. Yeah.

Alicent mentions to Rhaenyra in the finale that Aemond plans to fly to Harrenhal. Daemon has had quite the season there, being affected by the magic there. Do you have a sense of how that magic could affect Aemond?

I think that’s a good question. I think if he was to go to Harrenhal, I think, I don’t know. It’s  similar to what we were saying with Helaena. Like, if there was some sort of way that he would be able to harness that power and to use it to his advantage, he could be quite dangerous.

Having read the books, you know, he develops a relationship with someone there. I know you’ve compared Aemond and his lack of attachments to the Robert De Niro character in Heat , how he does not want to have attachments. So, are you excited to sort of delve into what could potentially motivate Aemond to open up to someone? What do you think would make him so vulnerable?

I think just finding all of that multifaceted nuance in Aemond, and really exploring that shadow side even more… You know, just constantly keeping the audience on their toes and presenting an angle of Aemond that we hadn’t really seen before. He always kind of looked for surrogates for his mother. He found it in Vhagar, so to speak. An old she-dragon parallel. And he found it in the madame. But is that enough? So he’s always looking for his match, so to speak. Whether or not he finds it is another thing. Maybe there’s no one good enough for Aemond. Maybe he’s not good enough for anyone either.

You’re probably going to say it’s the ambiguity again, but there’s a debate amongst fans about the way Aemond makes war plans without Aegon. He’s so ruthless in terms of the way he wants to approach the battles ahead. Is his mindset for his own glory and power, or is he actually just trying to save his family as quickly as possible and secure team Green’s claim?

I think it’s interesting. I think when he approaches Alicent and Helaena in Episode 8, he kind of says, “Like, look, it’s either them or us. And I’m choosing. It’s gonna be them.” We can’t go down without a fight. Because if the Blacks were to come into power, it would be the Greens’ heads who would be on the chopping block. And Aemond especially. So it is a fight for self preservation. But whether or not he has his family’s interests at heart or whether or not he’s just thinking for himself? I want to leave that out there. I want to let people make their own judgment on that. I think he definitely loves his mum and he wants his mum at the end.

CLICK HERE TO GET EMAILS FROM DECIDER

I wanna flip back in terms of your character being one of the most scholarly and knowing High Valyrian. One of my favorite scenes is the one where you basically dress down Aegon in High Valyrian. What was it like preparing for that? Was it as delicious to do as it looked or was it just another extra challenge that you just did not want to face in terms of mastering a foreign language?

I mean I remember doing it a few different ways, but I always kind of settled on the idea that Aemond, throughout those first four episodes, he’s just so composed. We see other players around the council table and they raise their voices, and Aemond is the kid who’s just acting from the peripheries. He’s waiting for his moment. He never raises his voice too much. So in that moment, when he very much seizes a chance to attack Rook’s Rest and work with Criston Cole, he very much says, “I’m taking over now.” It is a public humiliation, but he does it in such a way that Aegon is able to save face because only him and Aegon can understand it. (And maybe Grand Maester Orwyle can, as well.) It’s something quite merciful in a way.

Before the season started, I talked to you about how you stayed away from Matt Smith on set in Season 1 so that when they stare each other down during dinner, it would be more impactful. So I’m curious, have you met Gayle Rankin yet?

I – I have not.

Oh, okay. Is that intentional or?

I mean, I’ve obviously seen Gayle Rankin’s phenomenal performance in the show, but also like the Harrenhal set itself is in a different studio to the studio of the Red Keep. So I never really brushed shoulders with Gayle Rankin or Matt Smith this season, other than that moment when Daemon sees the vision of Aemond in Harrenal.

I think — I think I briefly [met Gayle] at the read through. Briefly.

Ok, cool. I was just curious, but thank you so much. I really appreciate it and I’m really excited to see Alys and Aemond meet because that is a relationship I have so much curiosity about.

No comment.

This interview has been edited and formatted for clarity.

For more entertainment news and streaming recommendations, visit decider.com