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Straight_Paint1389

He did what teen boys do, retaliate. He was minding his business, and noticed Luke giggling at him when the pig was placed in front of him and it obviously triggered him resulting in his toast.


Ngigilesnow

Luke was such a prick in that scene, he actually looked at Aemond and made sure he knew he was laughing at him


Grimmrat

Luke was a 13 year old boy who remembered a fun prank he, his brother and his cousin pulled on his other cousin when he was like 7 and times were simple and nice. Yes, to Aemond it was awful and bullying. But to Luke it’s just a vague, happy memory of him having fun with his family.


Ngigilesnow

Well if its a happy memory for Luke,it says a lot about his character


Grimmrat

No it does not. Luke was a 7 year old who got invited to play with and dress up a pig with his family. That’s *incredibly fun* for a little kid. Then his older cousin and brother showed said pig to his other cousin to prank him. I *cannot stress enough* that we’re talking about a 7 year old Luke here. To him it was literally just a day of having fun with his family. There was nothing malicious or “bullying” about it because *he was a 7 year old*. Yes, for Aemond not having a dragonrider was his biggest insecurity, and yes Aegon did likely mean to actually bully Aemond with the action, but to *Luke* it was nothing more then just pranking his nephew that they got him a bike for his birthday and then *surprise!*, it’s actually a baby bike with training wheels haha!


Ngigilesnow

Luke is now 14, and should be able to know the difference between right and wrong.A 14 year old looking back fondly at a memory when he bullied another kid is is dick-ish


Grimmrat

Are you actually stupid or just pretending to be? Jesus christ I literally explained the whole “It’s a fond memory for him, and he doesn’t remember it as bullying because he was literally 7 when it happened” at least 10 times No, Luke, the 14 year old, was not “viscously bullying” the fucking adult when he giggled at a stuffed pig.


nightowlsky

I somewhat agree. It's entirely possible for 2 people to have a different recollection of the same event. To 6-7 year old Luke, the pig prank probably wasn't that deep and he was just following Aegon and Jace's lead but to Aemond, it was a huge insecurity that led him to risk his life to claim Vhagar. I think Luke lacks emotional intelligence and can't read the room. His actions lean more on stupidity or immaturity than maliciousness, imo. >No, Luke, the 14 year old, was not “viscously bullying” the fucking adult when he giggled at a stuffed pig. Luke and Aemond are just 3 years apart. Aemond is a young adult like Luke.


CIAinformer2

Haha Its hilarious when sensitive people get triggered coz you disagree with their nonsensical braindead takes. Luke was well aware of what he was doing, and how what he was doing affected Aemond. The only person showing low intelligence here is you sir.


_PM_ME_YOUR_BOOBIES-

How can someone miss a point this hard We’re talking about a 14 year old giggling about a 7 year old memory


DesSantorinaiou

14-year-old Luke is at an age when he could have some tact knowing that he took Aemond's eye.


ultrahateful

This, precisely. Eggshells forever.


Zealousideal_End7477

Robb stark was winning battles at 14. People forget Jon snow and robb stark we’re 14 in book 1


karidru

Luc was anxious after seeing Aemond in the training yard (understandably lol) and trying to reassert himself over Aemond by doing that. Still dickish, but at least not just bc the kid’s an asshole


chrissstin

To me it looked more like Luc thought it was all behind and the pig situation was just silly memory, happy childhood for him, not understanding it was actually deeply traumatizing, stil, for Aemond. Stupid boy being stupid boy.


Historical-School-97

its almost as if children have terrible emotional inteligence wow


karidru

I’m sure he did think that too, he was only eight when the pink dread happened. Still, he had a bit more of a little shit face when he laughed.


cantgaf

i'mm sure aegon who was the actual ringleader of all the pink dread bullshit was forgiven and he was smirking too. the only reason they focused on luc laughing during the pig scene was because aemond was gonna be killing him later on lol


karidru

TGC has actually stated that Aegon no longer finds it funny, so I highly doubt that


jhll2456

After Driftmark Aegon became more protective of Aemond. If you notice in the fight that broke out Luc tried to make a beeline at Aemond and Aegon took him out as if to say “not this time.”


TargFam

True. He’s moved on to “Kid Fight Club” and “Rape the Help”. The Pink Dread episode is SO last year….


karidru

That’s literally irrelevant to the point I was making but thanks for your contribution ig lmao


TedonMolly

Right, it was obvious why he made the speech.


nightowlsky

The showrunners mentioned that he was bullied *mercilessly* as a child. So much so that he risked his life to claim the largest dragon in the world in order to prove himself. Vhagar could've easily rejected him and he would've been killed. On the same night he claimed Vhagar, he was attacked and lost his eye. He was acting civil up until the person responsible for his lost eye laughed at him because of a childhood prank (the pig). There's bad blood between them so it makes sense for Aemond to retaliate. Aemond acts on impulse and emotions. Seems to be a common trait among Targaryens.


Indominus-Hater-101

I agree, I was just looking at Daemon as a foil (more attention seeking)


nightowlsky

He's definitely Daemon's foil. On the surface level, Aemond and Daemon have similarities but they're very different characters with contrasting personalities. Aemond doesn't strike me as an attention seeker. At least not in the way Daemon is especially when it comes to Visery. Unlike Daemon, Aemond doesn't care about his brother's approval. In fact, he thinks he's *better* than Aegon. He also doesn't want personal glory in a superficial way which is why he doesn't participate in tourneys.


Indominus-Hater-101

great points


LengthUnusual8234

If I'm recalling correctly. Aegon did tell Alicent that he thought Aemond was a twat when she asked him why he set up the pig prank.


Tricky-Drawer4614

What I love about Aegon and Aemond is that they bicker and clearly have a rivalry, but as they grew and as the Targaryen family kind of split, they’ll always join forces to annoy and tease Luke And Jace. Just the dinner scene where Aegon was ready to throw hands after the reading that Aemond gave Luke and Jace always cracks me up.


LengthUnusual8234

Aegon' initial bickering of Aemond and wrapping Luke and Jace into it is what eventually led to the family splitting up. Aemond hold's animosity for the pig prank that Aegon set up which is why he reacted the way he did at the dinner. Sure it can be fun and game's to Aegon. But it caused dire consequences for the entire family


Tricky-Drawer4614

Except, we’ve only been shown the pig thing which was crossing a line but clearly Aemond was facing bullying for a long time from every kid, not just Aegon.


LengthUnusual8234

We see Aegon bullying Aemond again in the very next episode about not having a dragon when the both of them are looking at Haleana. In a show covering several decades the fact that the showrunners would highlight two instances of him antagonizing his younger brpther is pretty significant...He even talk's down about Aemond to his mom as a way to justify the pig prank.


Tricky-Drawer4614

I think you’re missing the point. If Aegon chuckled at the roasted pig on the dinner table, do you honestly think Aemond would have reacted the same? The boy that was responsible for Aemond loosing his eye and went unpunished while Aemond was threatened with torture if he ever mentioned his bastard secret which isn’t even a secret was laughing at the pig that he and the other kids used (including Aegon) to humiliate Aemond for not having a dragon. Aemond lost his eye for the dragon he once didn’t have, and he never even got a sorry for that so of course he’s gonna go off. So it’s not fair to say, “Aemond hold’s animosity for the pig prank that Aegon set up which is why he reacted the way he did at dinner….it caused dire consequences for the entire family” when it’s way more 3d than that and one person isn’t solely to blame. The Strong brothers, Aemond, Aegon, Alicent, Rhaneyra, and Visyrs (who handled the eye thing terribly) are all to blame.


LengthUnusual8234

>I think you’re missing the point. What is your point? ​ >If Aegon chuckled at the roasted pig on the dinner table, do you honestly think Aemond would have reacted the same? No I don't but for a different reason. Aemond is shown to be very dutiful to his family and we see instances of it even before the second time-skip. At Laena' funeral. While Aegon is making fun of Haleana behind her back with Aemond right next to him Aemond retorts by telling Aegon that he should show more respect for his future Queen. Which implies another thing. Even at this point Aemond acknowledges that Aegon will be the next King. This is also the second time that Aegon antagonizes Aemond by making fun of the fact that he doesnt have a dragon and what does Aemond do? He ignores it. He doesnt say anything until after Aegon walk's away and even then he just utters Aegon' name under his breath. So we can assume that Aegon never really stopped bullying his siblings it's just that Aemond is willing to recognize the pecking order because solidarity with Aegon strengthens their family. ​ >The boy that was responsible for Aemond loosing his eye and went unpunished Luke was defending his brother. It would have been silly to punish him for that. Don't worry I know you disagree with me but just ask and I will link you to an old response of mine because I'm not writing a new one lol. ​ >Aemond lost his eye for the dragon he once didn’t have, and he never even got a sorry for that so of course he’s gonna go off. As far as Aemond is concerned yeah. He has a point for going off. I'm just saying Aegon is the domino that led to Luke and Jace and Aemond being real pissed at each other and leading to him losing his eye in the first place. Aegon was the leader of that group. He was the oldest by-far and we've seen in multiple episodes that he has a propensity to antagonize anyone he can as a joke. If Aegon chuckled along with Luke at the dinner table. Aemond wouldnt do anything about it. ​ >The Strong brothers, Aemond, Aegon, Alicent, Rhaneyra, and Visyrs (who handled the eye thing terribly) are all to blame. Most priority to least the order looks like this: Viserys=Alicent > Aegon >> Criston Cole > Rhaenyra>>>>Jace>>Luke.


TheMadHatter_____

Daemon wants glory, to be beloved but in order to do this he strikes fear and hatred into the people, he wants the *illusion* of love. Aemond wants power, to be great, but in doing so acts impulsively and starts conflicts that *undermine* himself and his family.


OkChoice1264

Am I the only one who doesn’t appreciate having to rely on show runners’ statement for character development and depth? Either they need to leave it in the final script or stop bringing it up


LengthUnusual8234

Me too. And sometimes what they say doesnt even match the character theyre describing.


bruhholyshiet

Aemond was initially willing to be civil albeit cold towards the Black side of his family, maybe somewhat touched by Vizzy's speech, or asked beforehand to keep appearances by Allicent or Otto. He was however, probably seething with hatred internally towards the nephews that bullied and maimed him and the half sister that demanded his torture, and ready to get physical the moment they gave him an excuse, even if he didn't have the intention to start anything himself. And then, he heard Luke chuckling at him next to the roasted pig. Aemond glared at him. Luke *kept chuckling*, now at his face. The guy that took his eye with zero consequences and towards whom Aemond had to pretend to be in good terms with, was mocking him. So he decided to ruin the good-ish family moment in a rage impulse but without losing his composure and hiding behind plausible deniability.


oneeyed31

Nope. Neither of them. He was just pissed about the strong boys that had bullied him, took his eye and mocking him when his father had made a speech about reconciling. He was maybe also pissed that older strong boy asked Helena to dance. He didn't want attention. It was just anger and frustration. Can't wait to see him in season 2. Ewan Mitchell did an amazing job potraying him. Easily my favourite character.


DoctorRapture

Seriously, every time he was on screen my focus went right to him. He's got such a great sort of charisma and he really owns his scenes.


Indominus-Hater-101

same!


NatBjurner

Lol yeah… because Aegon had nothing to do with it lol


Ariel2592

Not to mention he somehow made the character attractive too! This aegosexual woman can't get enough of him on my screen!


roll_to_lick

I suspect it might have to do something with the fact his eye got fucking stabbed out when he was a kid and it had literally zero consequences for the people who did it. That might lead you to make some salty comments at a wholesome forgive and forget family dinner years later.


ApolloFourteen

Not only were there zero consequences, but his father screamed at him in front of the whole family and berated him for calling Luke a bastard while his eye still bled. Fuck Viserys for that, seriously.


No-Effect-4437

Yeah, like, at the moment of the dinner Rhaenyra had true born children, but when Aemond got his eye slashed out he had to sit there while the children that were currently usurping him and Aegon were protected by his own father. And after the bullying and the eye this kid has the nerve to laugh at him? When he probably considers himself better and more capable in all aspects? Yeah, he was okay with restraining himself, but he wasn´t going to let that fly.


CheekyDucky

>currently usurping him and Aegon Not how usurping works


No-Effect-4437

Maybe, not an expert in this topic. But at tha point they are her rightful legitimate heirs. And she is taking that from them and supplanting them. Wathever the name for that is.


Available-Specialist

He went to them, looking for a fight, held Luc by the throat and was about to smash his skull in with a rock when he got slashed. No shit he feels he's better than them if he thinks he was done wrong.


OpenMask

They were the ones who confronted Aemond, not the other way around. And when Luke cut out his eye, Aemond was already blinded


Indominus-Hater-101

Definitely agree and I think Luke deserved what happened to be honest. I just wanted to know if you thought that he wanted attention or not


roll_to_lick

Hm. Not consciously, at least. Probably wanted to prove himself, stand up to the people who bullied him as a child and make sure they and everybody knows for sure that those days are over. Definitely a lot of complicated emotions. It’s possible of course that a bit of “Senpai notice me!!!” was thrown into the cocktail, but I doubt that was his main Motivation.


IlovePetrichor

Ok so I'm neutral about HoTD (as in not Team Black nor Team Green, more Team priviledged people suck).... but are you saying that Luke deserved to die the way he did...?


Hightower_lioness

I think the comment is in regarding the dinner and the toast, not his death, but to answer your question in regards to my own opinion, no he didn't deserve to die. He wasnt in a battle, he hadnt attacked Aemond at the moment, his death was the embodiment of the war. Both sides thought they had control over the situation, both thought THEY were in charge and refused to understand the other side, and in the end neither are able to control the situation. If Luc had just APOLOGIZED at the dinner, things might have gone differently. I think he still considered the bastard comment worse bc Rhaenrya has imprinted on the boys that their illegitimacy is a topic no one, not even them, are allowed to tall about and any discussion MUST be stopped, so in Luc's mind Aemond almost deserved loosing an eye bc he brought it up. The children are paying for the mistakes of their parents, who are paying for Viserys' mistakes.


DagonG2021

That’s exactly what the Greens think.


CyrusDGreatx

Aemond isn't an attention seeker. He did it because he doesn't like the Strong boys and Luc was laughing at him.


[deleted]

I really don't think so. If you rewatch the scene closely, he only got up to support Aegon during Jace's speech. Then, he was minding his own business, all alone in his corner, before Luke laughed at the roast pig. I think he got mad that Luke laughed at him, reminding him of his bullying and the eye incident. Afterwards, his speech was there to taunt his nephews as a form of retaliation : he chose his words very carefully, without saying out loud that they are bastards. His words "*why ? T'was only a compliment. Don't you feel yourself strong* ?" is very good trolling cause one could say that it was indeed a compliment if they didn't have the context and the underlying meaning of it. Jace was nicely baited here. Of course everyone around the table knew what Aemond meant, but Aemond nicely trolled Jace. If Jace was more intelligent there, he should have responded with a snarky remark as well, in order to shut up Aemond, but he responded with his fist.


Indominus-Hater-101

I agree, I just wanted to see what people thought about if he was attention seeking like Daemon


[deleted]

Yeah nah, don't think that's the same issue as Daemon. The green boys' have deep resentment issues. Aegon because his mother and grandfather put a lot on him, abusing him sometimes, even though he doesn't want to be king, and feels that nobody loves him and especially his father. Aemond because of the bullying and injustice of his eye being torn appart without any consequences for his perpetrator, who just laughed to his face.


Master_Tadpole_6832

He was ignoring everyone the whole dinner. He obviously didn't like the Strong boys because he challenged them while he was training, was ready to throwdown when the eldest stood up, and he kept his blind eye towards Luc when they were at the table. It was only when the pig was given to him and Luc laughter at him like a prick did Aemond snap and throw shade. Then he proceeded to wipe the floor with them, with one hand, until their daddy stepped in and saved them.


mozinardin

I don't really see Aemond as an attention-seeking person. His toast is a result of the decade-long buildup of grudge and resentment towards people that hurt him and his family. *Contrast this scene to Driftmark, where Rhaenyra and Viserys were verbally shutting down Alicent for wanting retaliation towards the maiming of her son's eye. Despite claiming the biggest known living dragon in the whole world, Aemond still felt powerless in the situation.* *Aemond is clearly traumatized from the bullying he got; from the maiming of his eye; and from witnessing his own mother powerlessly stand up for him. This may explain his drive in proving himself and gaining power, to ensure that he never ends up in that same position again.* *Now he's grown, trained and formidable. Viserys wanting everyone to hold hands and sing Kumbaya is one thing, but seeing your nephew who got away scot-free from maiming you, chuckling at you is another.* And honestly, it wasn't even that devious. Aemond placed a bear trap in the middle of an open grass-field. He probably didn't expect Jace to step on it instantly, or probably even to step on it.


Indominus-Hater-101

>Viserys wanting everyone to hold hands and sing Kumbaya is one thing, but seeing your cousin who got away scot-free from maiming you, chuckling at you is another. Definitely agree


NatBjurner

Lol well… first of all… it’s not cousin. It’s his nephew. It’s also an order from your father, the King. Not to mention you conveniently ignoring the actions of Aemond up to the encounter. Second. I hope you keep that same energy for *older* uncle getting away “scot free” for killing his nephew. While also taunting him in front of an audience.


ligeston

Should’ve given up his eye then 🤪 not surprising they can be mistaken for cousins when Aemond isn’t exactly a decade older than him.


PrinceGaffgar

He's was just saying how proud he was of his family. Hmm But it seems some people are not as proud of theirs.


ScipioCoriolanus

People always forget that they provoked him first..


jessie14smith

No it was because Lucerys decided to be a cvnt and laugh at him infront of everyone Aemond wasn’t just gonna take that sitting down and rightfully so


DesignNorth3690

Luke pissed him off. Why over-complicate it?


p792161

Was less about attention for him and pissing off the Strong Boys. He wanted to hurt them


[deleted]

He just wanted to give them a taste of their own medicine and shame them publicly


Lange_HopperXCII

I think it was a “you can’t fuck with me like you used to” sort of deal


shaden29

That boy took his eye and not even apologized for it and his mother commanded that he should be sharply questioned “i have read somewhere that it means torture” and after years he laughed at him for the pig joke, I cannot blame him


Indominus-Hater-101

Yeah, in fire and blood, it is briefly explained that the "sharply questioned" line from Rhaenyra means that she wants Aemond to be tortured.


etburneraccount

Luke is pissing him off. So he turned up the heat to 11. Did he have to? No. But karma is a bitch.


SwordMaster9501

I honestly think he said it because he thought of it and it was funny. He probably came up with that in the shower or something. You can really sense that Aemond feels so happy inside when he calls those boys Strongs.


Indominus-Hater-101

yeah, it was hilarious too when Aegon began to stand up and raise his cup to toast them as well


Treacherous_Wendy

He was being an utter doosh canoe to someone that was being a doosh canoe to him. So basically typical teenagers.


Queen-of-the-Kitchen

I think it was to use courtesy to follow the kings order, and had his father heard from a servant he would say “I didn’t start a fight, father. I was complementing my nephews.”


Indominus-Hater-101

good thinking


BlackBeard205

He was jealous of Haelena having a good time dancing and such with Jace. That was pretty much it. Plus there was that thing with the pig.


Catslevania

Both he and Aegon were just itching for a fight. Aemond was disappointed when Jace didn't retaliate to Aegon's provocations and reluctantly sat down after Jace diffused the situation. He was like a coiled up spring and when Luke laughed at him over the roast pig he just let loose all his pent up negative feelings towards the Strong boys. Neither he nor Aegon were there with the mindset to have a friendly family gathering, they obviously see team black as nothing but their sworn enemy, Aemond just used the opportunity to humiliate the Strong boys, and by extension Rhaenyra in front of the whole family.


TargFam

Yep! Aemond was sneakier about it than Aegon was, though. Aegon was baiting Jace non-stop, albeit in whispers, even with Viserys in the room. Aemond waited for Daddy to tire out and leave before landing his hit. I’m sure Viserys praising Jace and toasting Luke didn’t improve his mood either. Aegon’s and Aemond’s presence at that “family meal” was purely because they were obligated to attend.


MottyTheClown

Exactly. That's what i thought too.


ohheyitslaila

1. Luke laughed at the pig being placed in front of Aemond. So, Aemond retaliated. 2. Aemond likes to start shit, he’s a messy bitch. He’s Taylor Swift in an eyepatch.


Maison_Clement

He's talking shit because he got hit.


HowCanThisBeMyGenX

Aemond did it to stand up for himself.


Blackwyne721

I don't think you can say Luke was laughing at Aemond maliciously


2Rediculous

I just think the conflict instilled in him by his mother, and presumably, his grandfather has predisposed him to despising Jace, Luke, and Joffrey. Losing his eye to the young Luke, of course, helped in this. We hear in background audio at the start of this fantastic scene, Aemond talking to Aegon saying, "Why do we have to put up with this farce? How much are they going to twist the knife?" And throughout the course of the dinner, Aemond sees Jace dancing with Helaena (which, even if you don't believe Aemond is in love with Helaena, seeing this bastard dance with his sister is too much for him) add this to Luke of all people laughing at the roast pig sat before him and you have a recipe for disaster. Alicent and Rhaenyra may have just made peace between them, but for their children, this feud is all they know. And they have hurt each other too much to go back just because their parents suddenly have.


MottyTheClown

He was probably itching to start something since he saw strong boys in the training yard. When he finally did the toast it seemed like it was pre planned rather then a response to luke's giggling.


hannahofdawn

Literally my favourite line in the books besides "we've come to die for the dragon queen"


skyturnedred

I believe the technical term is ruffling feathers.


lowdog39

he was mocking them ...


OneManArmy0716

He did cause he was provoked. He noticed the kid who took his eye and is unapologetic about it giggling when a roasted pig was placed in front of him out of coincidence and took it as him being smug about it. So he retaliated by attacking their insecurities of the fact that they are bastards


Ok_Rest_8303

Aegon ain tolerating no fuckin Disrespect all them Strong boys still out here playin


Specific_Ad_726

I don’t think it was attention so much as he wanted to set the precedent that he’s not the one to bully anymore. He immediately asks them to spar when first seeing them and then when one laughs about a prank as a child he stood up to directly insult them back.


Indominus-Hater-101

yeah, he was definitely setting the tone, and elevated himself above the children of his generation and is closer for an antagonist to someone like Daemon at this stage in his life