“Home of the Dragon” stands out as a novel adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s e book, Hearth & Blood, largely due to the character of the e book. Martin wrote Hearth & Blood as a historic account of the Targaryen dynasty, and intentionally made it unreliable.
The HBO sequence took the chance to increase and alter key components of the story. These modifications included making Alicent Hightower (performed by Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (performed by Emma D’Arcy) childhood pals of the identical age, which was not within the e book.
One other main change is that Laenor Velaryon (performed by John Macmillan) faked his demise, and Aemond Targaryen (performed by Ewan Mitchell) didn’t kill his brother throughout the Battle of Rook’s Relaxation. Regardless of these inventive shifts, the sequence has largely stored the core Targaryen story intact.
There’s one main omission that stands out, nevertheless: the character of Maelor Targaryen, the youngest baby of Aegon II (performed by Tom Glynn-Carney) and Helaena Targaryen (performed by Phia Saban).
Maelor’s absence has already modified how the tragic Blood and Cheese occasion unfolds, nevertheless it hasn’t had a drastic affect on the story up to now. Because the present heads into Season 3, Maelor’s absence may pose higher challenges.
The window to convey him into the sequence naturally is shrinking, particularly because the Season 2 finale reveals that Aegon can now not father kids because of his accidents. One doable, if controversial, answer can be for Aemond to tackle the function of Maelor’s father. However is that this situation even possible?
Who’s Maelor Targaryen, Helaena’s third baby?
In Hearth & Blood, Maelor is launched because the third baby of Aegon II and Helaena, and is 2 years previous when the civil struggle often called the Dance of the Dragons begins. He’s 4 years youthful than his twin siblings, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera.
Sadly, Maelor’s first main look comes throughout the Blood and Cheese occasion, a horrific second in Targaryen historical past. Within the e book, assassins Blood (performed by Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (performed by Mark Stobbart) drive Helaena to make an unimaginable determination: she should select which of her sons will die.
Helaena is upset and chooses Maelor, however as a substitute Blood and Cheese kill Jaehaerys whereas taunting Maelor, saying, “Do you hear that, little boy? Your mom desires you lifeless.”
After Jaehaerys’ demise, Maelor mechanically turns into Aegon’s inheritor. Aegon and Larys Robust (performed by Matthew Needham) finally flee King’s Touchdown, and Larys additionally helps prepare Maelor’s escape.
Whereas on the run, Maelor and his sworn protector, Ser Rickard Thorne (performed by Vincent Regan), are captured and killed in Bitterbridge, a metropolis managed by Rhaenyra’s forces.
This brutal homicide enrages Daeron Targaryen, Alicent’s youngest son with Viserys (performed by Paddy Considine). In retaliation, Daeron burns Bitterbridge to the bottom together with his dragon, Tessarion.
Because the sequence enters its third season, Maelor’s character is vital for 2 primary causes: first, as a result of Daeron and Tessarion be a part of the struggle, and second, as a result of Aegon and Larys escape King’s Touchdown.
Daeron’s assault on Bitterbridge would additionally function a key second in establishing his character, particularly because the present has barely hinted at him, with solely a quick shot of Tessarion within the Season 2 finale. With out Maelor, the writers may decide to interchange his demise with Jaehaera’s, however this might additional complicate the story.
When Maelor is launched and Helaena just isn’t but pregnant with Aegon’s final baby, one large query stays: who may the daddy be?
May Aemond be Maelor’s father in season 3?
This query ties into fan theories from season 1. Many viewers seen a particular bond between Helaena and Aemond and speculated that the 2 might be romantically concerned. Some even believed that Aemond might be the true father of Helaena’s twins.
The speculation gained sufficient traction that actors Ewan Mitchell and Phia Saban addressed it in interviews. Saban mentioned {that a} relationship between the siblings “is not fully out of the query,” and each actors agreed that Aemond and Helaena are nearer than the opposite Targaryen siblings.
Now that Aemond has totally embraced his function as Prince Regent, followers are questioning if he might be the answer to Maelor’s dilemma.
Nonetheless, given the occasions of Season 2, the place tensions between Helaena and Aemond have clearly escalated, a romantic affair appears much less probably.
Their relationship has taken a pointy flip after the dramatic balcony scene within the finale. Helaena, who has develop into extra assured in her prophetic visions, now possesses a quiet energy that Aemond’s anger and insecurity can not problem.
At this level, the one factor Aemond may do to take care of management can be to threaten her life, which leaves little room for a romantic relationship. Nonetheless, it is value noting that the Targaryen household dynamic is usually unconventional, so a sudden flip of occasions cannot be fully dominated out.
There’s one other, darker risk: Aemond may drive himself on Helaena in a second of rage, desperation, or a twisted try and safe his declare to the throne. Whereas this might be a deeply disturbing flip of occasions, it isn’t one which the viewers is more likely to help.
Whereas Aemond’s character has proven rising indicators of unpredictability, the sequence has to this point averted portraying him as a sexual predator.
That function is reserved for Aegon, who’s a recognized rapist, and the 2 brothers are portrayed as very completely different. Nonetheless, as Aemond continues to embrace his darkish aspect, there’s at all times an opportunity that issues may take a extra excessive flip, even when that appears unlikely.
What function may Alys Rivers play in Aemond and Helaena’s tales?
Alys Rivers (performed by Gayle Rankin) provides an additional layer of intrigue to the potential storyline. In Hearth & Blood, Aemond takes over Harrenhal from the opposing faction and meets Alys there. The 2 rapidly develop into entangled in an intense romantic relationship.
After Aemond dies in God’s Eye, Alys claims to be pregnant together with his baby and declares their baby the rightful inheritor to the Iron Throne. She even raises a small military to help her declare, utilizing her powers because the “Witch Queen of Harrenhal” to cement her place.
Except Alys decides to control Aemond for her personal survival, it’s unlikely that she would willingly enter right into a relationship with him. Her character is robust and impartial, and she or he is portrayed as somebody who would reasonably use intelligent techniques to realize energy than be depending on a person.
She may even poison Aemond or drive him mad as a substitute of changing into a sufferer. The e book does not give a transparent rationalization of Alys’ motives, which supplies the writers loads of room to form her character as they see match.
In that sense, “Home of the Dragon” is ready to mix completely different parts of the story for comfort. The sequence has already blended characters and occasions, reminiscent of how they mixed the character of Rhaena Targaryen (performed by Phoebe Campbell) with Nettles, a dragon rider who tames Sheepstealer within the e book.
One risk is that Helaena may tackle Alys’ function as Aemond’s different half within the present. If Helaena have been to bear Aemond’s baby as a substitute of Aegon, it will add an additional layer of drama, particularly since Helaena’s visions could already be hinting at her kid’s tragic future.
The choice to exclude Maelor from “Home of the Dragon” has already had ramifications for the sequence’ narrative, nevertheless it opens up new prospects for character growth and storylines.
Whether or not it is by way of Aemond’s involvement or the introduction of Alys Rivers, the third season of “Home of the Dragon” must deal with these modifications in a means that each satisfies the sequence’ advanced plot and meets fan expectations.
