🚨 HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SEASON 3 SHOCKER: Could Aegon II TURN THE TABLES and BETRAY AEMOND?! 😱🐉🔥

We all saw Aemond torch his own brother at Rook’s Rest—burning Aegon alive, claiming the Iron Throne, and declaring him “abdicated” while the king flees in hiding with Larys. Aemond’s sitting pretty now, but the Season 3 trailer drops massive hints:

The first teaser trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3, released amid feverish anticipation for the June 2026 premiere, has ignited speculation about the Green faction’s future. With Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) now occupying the Iron Throne after declaring his brother King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) abdicated, and Aegon fleeing King’s Landing in disguise with Larys Strong, a burning question emerges: Might the scarred, vengeful Aegon turn against Aemond in a bid to reclaim his crown?

In George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the relationship between Aegon II and Aemond is complex but lacks outright betrayal from Aegon. After the Battle of Rook’s Rest—where Aemond’s dragon Vhagar attacks Aegon and Sunfyre, leaving the king gravely burned—Aegon survives but is incapacitated. The Small Council appoints Aemond as Prince Regent, not king, while Aegon remains the nominal ruler. No abdication is declared; Aemond rules in his brother’s name until Aegon’s partial recovery. Later, Aegon returns to King’s Landing, retakes the throne, and executes traitors, showing no evidence of plotting against Aemond. Their bond, though strained by rivalry and family dysfunction, holds through the war’s chaos. Aemond’s ambition is clear—he craves power—but Aegon focuses on survival and retribution against the Blacks.

The HBO series has diverged sharply. Season 2’s Battle of Rook’s Rest portrayed Aemond deliberately attacking Aegon amid the fight with Rhaenys and Meleys, scorching his brother and dragon. Aegon barely escapes death, his body charred and broken. In the Season 3 teaser, Aemond announces Aegon’s “abdication” to justify his rule, a change absent from the book. Aegon, smuggled out by Larys fearing Aemond’s next move, hides while the war rages. The trailer shows Aegon disfigured by burns, a shadow of his former self, hinting at deep resentment. Alicent (Olivia Cooke) confronts Aemond upon returning to King’s Landing after her secret pact with Rhaenyra to open the gates, underscoring the family’s fractures.

These alterations amplify tension. Showrunners have emphasized Aemond’s ruthlessness—Aemond’s “betrayal” at Rook’s Rest shocked viewers, with actor Tom Glynn-Carney describing Aegon’s feelings as profound hurt and anger. Aegon, once a reluctant king mocked by his family, now faces existential threat from his ambitious brother. Larys’s role in the escape suggests Aegon distrusts Aemond enough to flee rather than recover in the capital. If Aegon returns—as book events imply—he could expose Aemond’s claim as illegitimate, rally loyalists like Criston Cole (if he survives), or negotiate with unexpected allies to undermine Aemond’s regency.

Fan theories abound. Some speculate Aegon, hardened by betrayal, might strike preemptively, perhaps leaking Aemond’s actions to fracture Green support or aligning temporarily with elements wary of Aemond’s extremism. Others point to the trailer’s war imagery—dragon battles, sieges, and chaos—as setup for Aegon’s comeback, potentially clashing with Aemond directly. The Greens’ internal divisions mirror real historical dynastic struggles: ambition often trumps blood ties.

Yet Aegon’s position remains precarious. Burned and weakened, he relies on Larys, a master manipulator with his own agenda. Returning openly risks execution by Aemond or capture by Rhaenyra’s forces. Alicent’s deal with Rhaenyra—to surrender King’s Landing in exchange for mercy—complicates matters; if successful, both brothers face doom. Aegon might view Aemond’s rule as a greater immediate threat, prompting a desperate counter-move.

The teaser highlights broader stakes. Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) prepares to seize the capital, Daemon (Matt Smith) rallies forces, and battles like the Gullet loom. Aemond, confident on the throne, dismisses his mother’s warnings, but his grip could slip if Aegon reemerges. Book history sees Aegon reclaim power after Aemond’s departure north, but the show’s changes—explicit abdication, Aegon’s flight—open doors for reversal. Aegon betraying Aemond would add irony: the “usurper” king, installed by Alicent’s coup, now betrayed by the brother who helped crown him.

This potential twist underscores House of the Dragon‘s themes of fractured loyalty and power’s corrosive effect. The Targaryen siblings, bound by blood yet divided by ambition, echo the Dance’s tragedy. Aegon, once dismissed as weak, could prove cunning in survival. Whether he strikes back or perishes in hiding, his arc promises high drama.

As Season 3 approaches, the Greens’ implosion feels inevitable. Aemond’s throne grab may secure short-term control, but Aegon’s lingering claim—and burning grudge—threatens to unravel it. In Westeros, family betrayal cuts deepest, and the trailer suggests the Dance’s bloodiest chapters will feature Greens turning on Greens before the Blacks even arrive.