Game Of Thrones Star Emilia Clarke Is “Almost Like A Prophet” As Spinoff Actor Struggled With New Targaryen Character

Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3, “The Squire.”A newer addition to the ever-growing cast of the Game of Thrones franchise shares how he couldn’t just emulate the iconic performances of past Targaryen actors.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, taking place roughly a century before Game of Thrones, follows the underdog knight Ser Duncan “Dunk” (Peter Claffey) and his very young squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). However, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3’s major bombshell brings them into contact with Prince Aerion Targyen (Finn Bennett), the second of Prince Maekar (Sam Spruell), himself the second son of the king.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Finn Bennett shared how portraying Aerion was a particular challenge as he explored what approach would best serve this character. THR commented, “[…] you were so cautious of being influenced by other Targaryen portrayals you’ve seen,” to which Bennett responded, “It’s hard not to be because they’re so f*****g good.“

But the characterization and acting choices of Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen apparently didn’t fit Aerion, as Bennett further said: “But for me, maybe, it was a bit of a sobering realization that what worked for them, their stillness… like Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones, she’s almost like a prophet. She’s so stoic and calm, but has this real fire bubbling beneath the surface.“

“It was maybe a kind of reckoning to see there are limits to what I can do, and what works for me,” continues Bennett. “Maybe those will change, as I get older and my face changes and I grow rounder. [Laughs.] But I was like, ‘This doesn’t really work for me, so I have to try something different here’.” Bennett could be playing Aerion for a long while, as there is an ambitious plan for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to run for more than 12 seasons.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms episode 3 reveals more about the characterizations of Maekar’s sons. The eldest, Daeron (Henry Ashton), who has yet to appear on-screen, is known to spend most of his time partying. Aerion, however, is “vain and cruel.“ In episode 3, Aerion maims another knight in an act of foul play during a joust, then tortures the puppeteer Tanselle (Tanzyn Crawford) for performing a version of Targaryen history he disliked.

In addition to Emilia Clarke’s larger-than-life performance as the Dragon Queen out to reclaim the Iron Throne, previous Targaryen performances include those from the likes of Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, and Paddy Considine in House of the Dragon. While these characters are all, at some point, dragon riders, Aerion is brutal in a more human way.

The story will remain focused on Dunk and Egg and their relationship, but Bennett’s role as Aerion will be even more significant in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1’s remaining three episodes, as Dunk finds himself in the Targaryen prince’s crosshairs. Whether the full plan for the show comes to fruition remains to be seen, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is already renewed for season 2.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes (usually) release on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. Episode 4 will be released on Friday, February 6, at 12:01 a.m. PT/3:01 a.m. ET, to avoid conflicting with Super Bowl LX.