Is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2 Losing Its Biggest Targaryen Villain?
HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is thundering toward season 2, but the fate of its breakout Targaryen villain now hangs in the balance as production rolls, casting doubt on a swift return.
If you got hooked on HBO's latest Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, you’re probably wondering who’s actually coming back for season 2—and who’s getting benched. There’s already speculation flying about the Targaryens and, honestly, things are looking dicey for one of season 1’s flashiest villains.
Is Aerion Targaryen Coming Back?
First up: Aerion 'Brightflame' Targaryen. He was a major headache for Dunk and Egg in season 1, and Finn Bennett’s take on him was one of the more memorable new additions to Westeros' long list of questionable Targaryen personalities.
But if you’re expecting Aerion to show up and start causing chaos again next season—temper those expectations. Bennett himself doesn’t know if he's returning. When asked directly on the red carpet (during the premiere of A24’s Backrooms, for you horror nerds), Bennett gave the classic 'no clue' actor response:
'Please! I don’t know. Let’s just wait and see.'
Not exactly reassuring for Aerion stans, but there’s a good reason for the non-answer. George R.R. Martin’s novella The Sworn Sword—which is the source material for season 2—doesn’t actually feature Aerion at all. So from a book-nerd perspective, his absence would make sense.
Book vs. Show – How Much Will HBO Change?
That said, HBO has already shuffled the lore a bit, so it's not impossible they shoehorn Aerion into the story somehow. A cameo? A flashback? Never say never with this franchise. So, don’t totally rule him out, but don’t expect a major plotline either.
Who Else Isn't Coming Back?
- Maekar Targaryen (Sam Spruell): Also taking a backseat for season 2. Spruell has confirmed Maekar won’t appear in the upcoming batch of episodes, though it sounds like the door isn’t locked if the writers want to bring him back down the line.
- Daeron Targaryen: Status totally up in the air. The show’s keeping that mystery on ice for now.
- Maester Aemon: Big fans know him from his Game of Thrones days, and yes, it's still a mystery if we’ll catch a young Aemon in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. No sign yet, but cross your fingers.
How Long Will Dunk and Egg's Journey Last?
While season 2 might juggle or skip some Targaryens, co-creator Ira Parker has floated a much bigger blueprint: 12 to 15 seasons if HBO keeps footing the bill. That’s ambitious—but if you’ve read Martin’s novellas, you know there’s enough wandering-knight material to fill a dozen TV timelines. So, even if Aerion or Maekar sit out for a while, it wouldn’t be a shock if they pop up again way down the road.
Short version: don’t get too attached to seeing every Targaryen every season. HBO’s running the long game here, and as usual, not even the cast knows what’s next until those scripts hit their inbox.