Why didn’t Aegon [Spoiler] Aemond? House of the Dragon boss explains

After all the blood, dragons, and Targaryen family drama, the House of the Dragon season 3 finale did something a bit unexpected: Aegon Targaryen didn't avenge himself by taking out his brother Aemond, despite having a golden opportunity right there. For everyone who thought it was curtains for Vhagar's moody rider, tough luck. The showrunner himself decided to weigh in and explain why the fratricide never happened.

The big showdown (that wasn't)

So, quick recap: after surviving last season's deadly events and finally tracking down his dragon Sunfyre alive, Aegon marches triumphantly to Harrenhal. He finds his younger brother, Aemond, cornered — the same Aemond who literally tried to kill him in season 2. Many expected some proper vengeance, but instead, Aegon offers an olive branch (well, his version: another chance at power and possible forgiveness), inviting Aemond to join his march for the throne.

Of course, people had questions, including the press — and Ryan Condal, the head writer, didn't duck them. Here's how he put it at a recent press conference, when asked about Aegon’s restraint:

He has learned a lot in Season 3 here, Aegon. And even though he's still angry with his brother and has agendas, I think what he realized in his evolution is that he does deserve a lot of the things that happened to him, probably in some way, and had to learn how to be a better king, and perhaps that…he needed to be away and walk amongst the people as a pauper.

According to Condal, there wouldn't have been much in it if Aegon simply got revenge and killed Aemond. Besides, Aegon’s supposed to have grown a bit (as much as Targaryens ever do). The show wanted to highlight his journey — a king who's been dragged through the muck, forced to see what it's like down among the commoners, and maybe, just maybe, learned something along the way.

Condal didn’t stop there, either. For him, it was about showing off that Aegon noticed some actual change in Aemond as well, and, crucially, that killing his brother right at his comeback moment would have, frankly, ruined the spectacle. As Condal put it:

I think if Aegon had shown up and just killed Aemond, it really would not have marked the growth in the character. It's him seeing Aemond's change, and then realizing where he is standing with his dragon, and suddenly this incredible wind of legitimacy behind him... he's experienced a messianic return. I think it would ruin and spoil that for him to kill the person that's potentially his greatest and strongest ally.

What's next?

If you’re hanging about for season 4, steady on. There's no confirmed launch window — HBO hasn’t gotten more specific than ‘some time in 2028’. That gives them plenty of time to build the hype and probably cook up even more brutal family reunions. Until then, that’s your lot for Targaryen brotherly love — or something like it.

House of the Dragon's fourth season is expected in 2028, but no firm premiere date has yet been announced.