The second son of Alicent Hightower was also the cause of the civil war in the season one finale.

The latest episode of House of the Dragon saw a devastating death, a dragon battle, and a cliffhanger that changed everything for Team Black. Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond Targaryen in the show, got to flex his acting muscles in the latest episodes as he does many questionable things that made him one of the most hated characters in the show.

However, Mitchell seems to believe that Aemond’s reasons for attacking his brother Aegon, even at the risk of losing to Rhaenys, stemmed from a feeling of vulnerability and arrogance. Mitchell opened up about the psychological motivations behind Aemond’s antics and if he thinks he is fit for the Iron Throne.

Ewan Mitchell Reveals What Aemond Targaryen Is Thinking In Latest Season

Ewan Mitchell in House of the Dragon | Credits: HBO Entertainment

Ewan Mitchell became a breakout star along with other actors in the HBO series House of the Dragon. The actor played Aemond Targaryen, the second son of Alicent Hightower and the brother of King Aegon II. Aemond has a signature eye patch that hides his sapphire eye and is known for his short temper and unpredictable behavior.

Aemond inadvertently caused all the events of season 2 thus far as he killed his nephew Lucerys at the end of season one. The subsequent murder of Prince Jahaerys, the deaths of the Cargyll twins, and the latest dragon battle at Rook’s Rest can be traced back to Aemond’s split-second decision.

However, many of his antics are extremely questionable and raise more doubts regarding his loyalties and motivations. In the latest episode, he even attacks his own brother instead of the enemy. Ewan Mitchell, however, mentioned that the prince has his own psychological motivations to do so. He said to THR,

You don’t necessarily know what is going on behind Aemond’s eye. You don’t know what he’s thinking, but you do know that he is thinking. He’s a very calculative person. He’s not just your one-dimensional black cat and mindless sociopath kind of character.

He is thinking at all times. You see that in the first four episodes — in so much of them he operates from the peripheries. But, does he even want the throne?

The attack on Aegon during the Rook’s Rest battle seemingly implies that Aemond took the opportunity to take his brother out of line, Mitchell mentioned that the character has different motivations altogether.

Aemond Wants Love From His Mother More Than Anything In House of the Dragon

A still from House of the Dragon | Credits: HBO Entertainment

There is no dearth of violent and unpredictable characters who, deep inside, just want more love from their mothers in pop culture. According to Ewan Mitchell, Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon too has similar motivations and wants to be a hero in front of his mother, Queen Alicent Hightower, played by Olivia Cooke.

The actor revealed that while he believed that he would be a better king than Aegon, Aemond just wanted to be seen by his mother and not be ignored. He said to THR,

I think there are many things that are driving him, but one of them that I loved to play with and explore was this idea that he wants his mum. Every time I shared a scene with Olivia Cooke around the council table, every time I looked at Alicent Hightower, I very much imagined Aemond and Alicent sitting on a Dornish beach, far from war, sipping on piña coladas … Aemond having become the war hero and managing to make his mum happy, in his eye, so to speak.

So, Aemond’s attack on his brother is speculatively not one stemming from a desire for power, but more along the lines of a traditional sibling rivalry.

House of the Dragon is available to stream on Max.