If you can hear the sound of screeching angst on the wind, that’s no rogue dragon. That’s me, after watching House of the Dragon‘s latest episode.
Season 3, episode 2 of the HBO series features the loss of one of my favourite characters in Westeros, at the hands of one of the most diabolical. We’re used to character deaths by now — this is the Game of Thrones universe — but this death in particular need not have happened. Nay, should not.
I’m talking about Aemond Targaryen’s (Ewan Mitchell) cold-blooded slaying of Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale). And yes, Mashable asked Mitchell about it.
What happens to Ser Simon Strong in House of the Dragon?
Vale, Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale).
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO
The most patient man in the Seven Kingdoms and a stealth MVP of House of the Dragon Season 2, Ser Simon has been putting up with Targaryen bravado for an age. As Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) stomped through seized halls and tripped balls nightly last season, the Castellan of Harrenhal remained a paragon of diplomacy — even making sure Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) wasn’t usurped by her own uncle-husband.
Strong pledged fealty to Rhaenyra in Season 2, so he’s technically a direct enemy of Aemond’s, who’s next in line for his brother Aegon II‘s (Tom Glynn-Carney) throne. However, when Aemond strides into Harrenhal, with his dragon Vhagar happily barbecuing up the small number of soldiers stationed in the crumbling castle, Ser Simon is yet again hospitable to a gate-crashing Targaryen.
Called to duel for the castle by the prince regent, Ser Simon simply hands the keys over instead of taking up arms. “I do not wish to oppose you; I have not wielded a blade these many years,” he says. Strong makes the unwise decision to try and reason with Aemond, even putting a hand on his shoulder to seal the peace deal. It doesn’t work. Aemond murders the unarmed Ser Simon and his sons (but not before one of them gets a cheeky stab in).
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“I’m innocent, man. He came to me!”
Reader, I flipped the proverbial table. Not this delightful Harrenhal Santa, this provider of post-battle wine, this constant source of acquiescence to punk princes. Aemond’s no stranger to eliminating those in his way — whether he intends to or not — but murdering my gracious Westeros grandfather at his own table is too far. Worse than pashing your own mother.
“I’m innocent, man,” Mitchell told Mashable. “He came to me!”
Asked why Aemond demands Ser Simon pick up his sword, Mitchell said Aemond’s aim is clear.
“It’s just to give him a fair fight, or just be like, look, go out on your sword, as opposed to, you know…” he said. “Because I think Aemond goes into that room with the intention he’s going to wipe out everyone in it, and he does until [Alys] shows up.”
Who’s even left in House Strong?
Aemond’s Strongicide means big trouble for the Strong family’s legacy. This noble Riverlands family’s days are numbered. Ser Simon and his sons are now slain. Harwin Strong (Ryan Corr) and his father, Lord Lyonel Strong (Gavin Spokes), died in a fire. Harwin’s bastard sons with Rhaenyra are both dead, so all we have left is… the diabolical master of whisperers, Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), who commissioned the fire that killed his father and brother. He’s currently on the World’s Worst Road Trip with Aegon II, in enemy territory where everyone seems to want their heads.
Now, my question for the room. Will Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), who showed up after the slaughter of the Strongs, help this murdering brigand, Aemond? Should she? I, for one, might leave him on the floor for a bit.
