New Game Of Thrones Show Finally Tells The Truth About Targaryen Madness

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Warning! Spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 ahead!

The latest installment, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, explores previously unknown aspects of the Targaryen family. As the long-ruling dynasty of Westeros in Game of Thrones, the Targaryens are central to the story, yet remain enigmatic. They possess a unique connection to dragons and an almost mythical quality, often appearing more like gods than humans. However, the Targaryens are also known for a troubling predisposition to insanity.

Throughout George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the Game of Thrones TV show, there’s a recurring idea that Targaryen births are decided by chance. Each new Targaryen child is believed to be randomly blessed with either a gentle and fair nature or a cruel and unstable one. This concept is consistently shown in the story. House of the Dragon exemplifies this with characters like Aegon, Aemond, and Daemon, who are often ruthless, contrasted with kinder Targaryens such as Viserys, Helaena, and Rhaenyra. The collection of stories A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms continues to explore this theme.

I’m really enjoying HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel! It’s introducing us to some fascinating Targaryen princes, and honestly, most of them are pretty great. There’s Baelor, who just radiates kindness, and Maekar, who’s a bit of a snob, but you can tell he tries to be fair in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Little Egg – that’s Prince Aegon – is completely charming and smart, and even Daeron, despite seeming a little troubled, is a genuinely good person. But then there’s Aerion… he’s a total contrast to all of them.

Prince Aerion Targaryen, featured in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, embodies the family’s tendency towards both insanity and brutality. He enjoys inflicting pain and abusing his power, often targeting those who can’t defend themselves. We discover in season one that he tormented his younger brother Aegon, even threatening him with a knife and cruelly drowning his cat. This behavior foreshadows the kind of ruler who would eventually become the ‘Mad King,’ illustrating the darkness within the Targaryen lineage. However, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms offers a thought-provoking perspective on these troubling traits.

Prince Daeron Claims In A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms That Targaryens Aren’t Born Mad

In the last episode of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season one, Prince Daeron defends his brother Aerion, explaining that he wasn’t always cruel. He recalls Aerion as a sweet child who loved fishing. Daeron shares this to convince Dunk to take young Aegon (Egg) on as a squire, suggesting that if Egg were raised in similar circumstances, he too could become cruel or unhappy like Daeron himself.

The story A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms explores whether people are born evil or become that way due to their environment, in contrast to the idea presented in Game of Thrones. While Game of Thrones suggests that Targaryens can be naturally cruel due to generations of marrying family members, this new story argues that figures like Aerion Brightflame are products of their upbringing. The story emphasizes that power corrupts, and combined with the Targaryens’ ingrained belief in their own god-like status, it’s no surprise some of them become bad people.

Daenerys’ Mad Queen Arc In Game Of Thrones Emphasizes The Lie About Targaryens

Throughout Game of Thrones, there’s a recurring idea that Targaryen characters are raised into madness, rather than it being an inherent trait, even though the characters often believe it’s in their bloodline. Daenerys is a great example of this. She starts the series as a good person – moral, kind, and just. But as the show progresses, she begins to see herself as something beyond human. In season 8 of Game of Thrones, Daenerys explicitly states this, believing her dreams have made her special – the mother of dragons, and the only one who truly understands what’s right.

Okay, so Daenerys Targaryen always had a shadow hanging over her, thanks to her dad being the famously unstable ‘Mad King.’ Everyone in Westeros was understandably nervous about her taking the throne, and honestly, she didn’t exactly reassure them when she, well, burned King’s Landing. It’s easy to think this was just in her blood, a family trait. But I don’t buy it. It wasn’t about her father at all. It was the power itself. She started believing she was above everyone else, practically a god, and that’s what led to that devastating decision. It wasn’t inherited madness, it was power corrupting her completely.

Game Of Thrones Is All About The Corruption Of Power (& Egg Is Key To This Theme)

The idea that a specific lineage causes the ‘madness’ seen in rulers isn’t convincing, considering many leaders in Game of Thrones become corrupt or are destroyed by the pressures of power. The Baratheons and Lannisters clearly demonstrate this pattern. Essentially, believing you’re entitled to rule, or raising children with that mindset, significantly increases the risk of becoming consumed by power and losing your grip on reality.

The story of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms becomes important here. In the first season, Dunk learns about Daeron’s experiences with Aerion and resolves to protect Egg from a similar fate. The established history of A Song of Ice and Fire shows that Dunk’s efforts are successful. Growing up traveling with common people gives Egg a different outlook than other Targaryens. Later, when he becomes King Aegon IV, the nobles dislike him, but the general public loves him because he’s a kind and compassionate ruler.

The central question is whether Egg was destined for this outcome regardless. While it’s possible to debate the point, the story strongly suggests that Targaryen children are heavily influenced by their upbringing, and that any ruler, from any family, could potentially succumb to madness. As highlighted in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, this is a key theme that has been present throughout the entire story.

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2026-02-26 22:21