The night is dark and full of spoilers—or so what Game of Thrones fans used to say whenever a new episode dropped and they had to avoid scrolling on the Internet. Unfortunately, they cannot dodge a spoiler for another show, which in turn was spoiled by the series itself.
In Game of Thrones Season 3 Episode 4, ‘And Now His Watch Is Ended’, Joffrey casually revealed the fate of Aerion Targaryen, which fans have yet to witness in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms! While he’s giving Margaery a tour of the Great Sept of Baelor, he told her exactly how the prince died:
Over there, in that urn, the ashes of Aerion Targaryen. Aerion Brightflame, they called him. He thought drinking wildfire would turn him into a dragon.
And since author George R.R. Martin expressed satisfaction over the spinoff’s production, it seems likely that they strictly followed the source material; hence, Aerion will undoubtedly perish after chugging down wildfire.
Finn Bennett Teased Prep for Aerion Targaryen Role in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is only a few months away, and fans have surely seen the official teaser trailer. Actor Finn Bennett, who plays Aerion Targaryen, shared via Screen Daily how he geared up for the role:
Aerion is vain and cruel. I wanted to give him an angsty, teenager feel so I listened to a lot of Rage Against The Machine.
That sounds quite accurate since Aerion in Martin’s book is depicted as volatile and dangerous. Although showrunner Ira Parker confirmed that the upcoming spinoff will majorly focus on Ser Duncan the Tall and his squire, Aegon V Targaryen, the other Targaryens will also receive enough spotlight.
Aerion is an essential figure in the Targaryen dynasty. He is known for his obsession with dragons, the enduring symbol of his family.
With the show taking place fifty years after the demise of the last dragon following the bloody civil war, the Targaryens have found themselves in a precarious state. Without dragons, they will find it a daunting challenge to assert their power over the kingdom.
Aerion’s Death Manifested Targaryen Madness That Plagued His Descendants
Apart from his fiery temper, Aerion’s reckless actions became evidence of his mental decline. In fact, he had convinced himself that he was a dragon in human form. It was also believed that he dabbled in black arts.
This insanity that beset him was known as the infamous Targaryen madness that soon plagued his descendants, too. From Aerys II to his children, Viserys and Daenerys, the illness manifested and corrupted them.
Like Aerion, the Mad King was obsessed with wildfire and even ordered to install them around King’s Landing. As a result, they detonated in Game of Thrones Season 8 after Drogon unleashed dragonfire at Daenerys’ command.
Are you excited to meet Aerion Targaryen in the upcoming show? Share your thoughts below!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on January 18, 2026, on HBO (USA).
