House of the Dragon actor Tom Glynn-Carney: 'Aegon's journey of self-discovery begins in Season 3'
House of the Dragon Season 3 will explore Aegon II’s introspection amid war, avoiding a redemption arc, while maintaining the show's moral ambiguity. Major battles and returns are confirmed.
Last Updated: 09.59 AM, Jun 30, 2025
The third season of House of the Dragon began filming in the UK in March of this year and will continue until October of 2025, according to production schedules. The new episodes are said to be unlikely to arrive before mid-2026, according to industry reports, because of the show's significant post-production requirements and the length of the shoot. HBO has not established a release window.
Tom Glynn-Carney teases Aegon’s evolution
In this context, actor Tom Glynn-Carney has laid out an alternative creative calendar: the inward voyage that his character, King Aegon II Targaryen, will undertake when the show comes back. According to the actor, who spoke to Awards Buzz, Aegon's character in season 3 shifts from being the careless and insecure monarch he was in season 2 to a more self-aware ruler who is still affected by his near-fatal injuries at Rook's Rest.
In his analysis, Glynn-Carney noted that Aegon's journey throughout the story is driven by a need to understand his identity and the reasons behind his behaviour. He seeks answers to numerous personal enquiries, which could potentially aid in his personal development, acceptance of accountability, and illumination of previously dark and obscure aspects of himself. Therefore, it represents a significant journey of self-discovery. His arc appears to be coming together as the tapestry unfolds.
Aegon’s complexity
Instead of trying to erase his record, the remarks seem like an effort to further polarise one of the most divisive characters in the narrative. As Aegon strengthened his hold on the Iron Throne in Season 2, he exacerbated every irrational impulse that had previously driven his Red Keep allies away. According to Glynn-Carney, the writers want viewers to comprehend the motivations behind these acts, but they don't want them to overlook the king's previous authorisation of executions, provocations, and civilian deaths.
After season 2, showrunner Ryan Condal stated his creative goal that the Greens and the Blacks should not be portrayed as heroes or villains in the traditional sense. This approach aligns with that mandate. According to George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood, public opinion rapidly shifts against Rhaenyra once her faction takes King's Landing in the upcoming season. If the show sticks to that model, the moral ambiguity in the series will be maintained while Aegon's gradual introspection and Rhaenyra's descent into harsher techniques occur simultaneously.
What to expect in Season 3
Production insiders have confirmed that the third season would feature large-scale sequences based on the source material, including the Battle of the Gullet and four other significant events. On set in England are returning cast members Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, and Olivia Cooke, as well as newcomers in parts that have not yet been announced.
The main point is not a "redemption arc" for the audience. The term implies a pardon that the series has never granted to any participant in the Dance of the Dragons battle. Instead, the third season will see how well a wounded monarch can accept responsibility for his actions as the war he started becomes increasingly horrific on all fronts.