In George R.R. Martin’s Dunk and Egg stories, Aerion Targaryen is a character who only plays a major role in one story. However, he still had a huge impact in ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ season 1.
Cruel, arrogant, and completely unhinged, Aerion became one of the most entertaining Targaryens in the franchise in years, a villain that viewers loved to hate.
Finn Bennett Wants To Return As Aerion Targaryen
Much of that was down to Finn Bennett’s performance. The actor’s unpredictable nature added a sense of danger to Brightflame, making every scene feel tense, even when the character was just talking. There was something about him that was not on the level under the royal trust, and he was very interesting to watch.
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Although Aerion doesn’t make an appearance in the later Dunk and Egg novellas, Bennett said he would definitely be back in the series if he got the chance. “Please! I don’t know. Let’s just wait and see. I was so happy with the way that series came out, and I’m so proud to be a part of it. So proud of Peter and Dexter, and I love all of them,” he told SR.
It’s not like it would be hard to see why fans would want HBO to somehow get him back. Season 1 already demonstrated that the adaptation will not be afraid to expand or modify George R.R. Martin’s material as necessary.
That flexibility allows for Aerion cameos or even a whole new scene that delves deeper into the Targaryen family dynamics. While Dunk and Egg may have moved on from Brightflame in the books, it’s safe to say that it hit home with viewers on the television screen.
HBO’s Long-Term Plans Could Create More Space For The Targaryens
Aerion’s potential comeback is particularly intriguing, given the potential scope of ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’. Co-creator Ira Parker has previously said that he hopes the series will last well beyond 10 years and will follow Dunk and Egg’s evolution year by year.
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With HBO actually following that vision, suddenly characters like Aerion, Maekar, and Daeron are not so easy to ignore. The Targaryen family tree during this time is filled with interesting characters whose stories extend beyond the first novella.
Although Aerion may not be a main character in the next season’s story, there are plenty of chances to see him again in the future as tensions within House Targaryen escalate. There’s also the ever-growing mystery of whether Maester Aemon will be in season 2.
As Aemon is still alive in this timeline, many fans are hoping to see more of the familiar ‘Game of Thrones’ connections being introduced into Dunk and Egg’s smaller-scale adventures in the prequel.
But for the moment, Aerion is one of the show’s standout moments. And if HBO didn’t have a way to use Finn Bennett again, it would be a real shock considering how memorable the prince became in only one season.
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