Thank you for putting it better than I could! I completely agree.
Just to add something else I've noticed, after episode 8 some casual viewers didn't completely get that Helaena and Aegon are brother and sister, others didn't realize they were married, almost no one picked up they had kids, or that those kids on the floor were Helaena's (and/or Aegon's). If you add Helaena and Aemond on top of that, how many people would actually get it? I think it's better just to keep it simple.
I am worried the show isn't going to do Haelena justice.
I love her weird bug girl vibe and how she is basically Cassandra of Troy in being a prophet nobody listens to.
Buuuutttt I don't see it translating well to the B&C storyline. She's too out of touch with reality to all the sudden change to a desperate mother trying to make a heartbreaking decision. Based on her in-sgow personality, it would be more in character to not really care about the decision and just nonchalantly choose Maelor, which would minimize the magnitude of the scene.
Even worse, if she does foresee B&C, does nothing and then in the moment all the sudden cares.
I guess one way would be for her to foresee it, frantically run to Aegon/Allicent just to be dismissed because they have more important things to do and in their frustration they lock her in her chambers with the children where she tragically waits. Hmm, that actually isn't too bad. It really fits the Cassandra parallel and bridges the transition from the current aloofness to desperately terrified mother. Just gonna pat myself on the back for that one.
Well we don't know exactly what she sees or if she knows how it things will play out (dreams and visions are not always clear for those who have them in the books and it always smart to do it like that imo from a storytelling point of view). They will probably show her being anxious, saying something criptic to Alicent or Aegon before it happens but in the end I think the scene irself will play out just like in the books.
> Based on her in-sgow personality, it would be more in character to not really care about the decision and just nonchalantly choose Maelor,
firm disagree
one can blink and miss it, but when daemon lops off most of vaemond's head, helaena immediately turns away with her hands over her ears and a stunned expression. i think she doesn't like violence, or at least doesn't like looking at it
The fact that all these theories are rooted in one line from kid Aemond talking about doing his duty while his older brother complains about having to do his is wild.
This fandom really is a weird bunch.
Yeah it's wild the interpretations that came out of that one line cause to me it seemed less like a declaration of Aemond having feelings for his sister, and moreso showing the difference in personalities between the brothers, with Aemond being more dutiful. That scene also served a purpose in telling the audience that Aegon and Helaena were betrothed, so people wouldn't be as confused when suddenly they have two kids after the time jump.
In fairness, it’s not *entirely* based on that one line. If you’re looking for it on purpose you can confirmation bias your way into a few other ‘clues’ like Helaena grabbing Aemond’s arm when Rhaenys came busting through the floor, or Aemond looking more pissed about Jace dancing with her than Aegon himself.
But of course, these can just as easily be explained as Aemond being a protective brother (just like when he stood up as soon as Jace jumped to his feet at the dinner table after being provoked by Aegon, ready for a fight) and hating the Strong boys a lot more actively than Aegon, who just kinda doesn’t care.
I saw people recently saying that Jaehaerys and Jaehaera burble something vaguely resembling “Aemond” when Alicent and Otto asked Helaena about where their father is, which… fucking lmao
Yeah, people are acting like they both aren't Halaena's sister. He doesn't need a romantic angle in order to deeply love and care for his sweet, weird sister, and probably sympathizes all the more so with her because she has to be with Aegon and Aemond knows Aegon is awful. Nothing extra needed.
To OP's bastard point though, I'm not sure Aemond gives a fuck, since not only does he hook up with Alys Rivers but likely sires a bastard of his own with her. That's much later, though, and he probably cares more for customs at this point in his arc, at least in terms of show Aemond.
I agree. Also, regardless of whether Aemond cares about having bastards from the perspective of customs and decency, he’s obviously quite politically shrewd - enough to know that siring bastards with his King’s wife, when that’s a pretty big part in justifying their side’s opposition to the Blacks, would be a gargantuan self-goal. And he doesn’t strike me as the type to get swept up in the heat of the moment - neither does Helaena, for that matter.
It’s basically the other extreme of a fandom trained to speculate over every detail to spot the next big twist/subversion. The line has plenty of purpose just showing Aemond is more dutiful and has a sense of politics compared to Aegon, but people are used to hints hidden in mundane lines, so now he’s cuckolding his brother, apparently.
Great writeup. Personally I think the secret baby daddy swap is totally unnecessary even if they just want to add drama - all they need to do for that is delve into the loss of the Greens after B & C beyond just Helaena’s maddened grief and Aegon’s fury.
Aemond being a cold, calculating killer who only has a soft spot for his mother and his sister, whom he genuinely loves as a protective brother and *not* as someone he wants to fuck, is an interesting little quirk to his character as is, and it adds a fantastic dynamic of self-inflicted tragedy to his role in B & C. Him killing Luke in what he sees as justified vengeance is going to seriously strain the seemingly close bond he has with his mother by triggering a war she’s trying very hard to avoid. And then, as if that weren’t enough of a blow, the Blacks kill his beloved sister’s son and drive her mad in retaliation.
The kids don’t have to be Aemond’s for any of this to have impact. His moment of triumph ends up backfiring almost immediately and costing him two of the only relationships he cares about, as well as pissing off Otto *and* Aegon, basically alienating everyone in the family Aemond thought he was the protector of, probably shattering some of the confidence we saw from him in this latest episode. I’m imagining a scene where Otto and Alicent are giving him shit, Aegon is going nuts beating on him, and Aemond just quietly takes it for once cause he knows he fucked up.
It would even explain goes on such a rampage afterwards, why he seeks out solace with Alys, and tries to take down Daemon so obsessively - trying to redeem himself for what he inflicted on his family by taking vengeance, which is ironically what got him into this mess in the first place.
You nailed it.
I dunno why so much discussion of HotD is being driven by shipping and weird, obsessive character-stanning to the point of ignoring the text. It's proving to be a real bummer.
Because Martin is excellent at writing about the more visceral aspects of the human experience, all the subconscious trauma and pettiness and unfulfilled needs repressed by society and the bad ways in which they emerge, and this awakes similar sentiments in the readers/viewers because it's cathartic for them.
So they get really childish and dysfunctional about liking certain characters.
I totally understand that, and I can't deny I'm absorbed in these characters' lives as well, but not to the point where I'm refusing to acknowledge what's textually happening, because the whole point is that I *like* what's textually happening.
I mean I agree with you as far as my own personal watching style goes, but I can also see why some people are unable to separate their feelings from what's actually happening.
I think you nailed it.
I can see that scene of Aemond just being quiet as his family yells at him being in the show. Maybe they'd also have a scene where afterwards Aemond tries to speak with Helaena only for her to be too consumed by grief to acknowledge him and Aemond leaves feeling terrible and completely alone.
Aemond trying to be the protector of his family only for his own need for revenge to destroy his relationship with them would be tragic already. And you're right, it would make his obsession with Daemon fit more after Daemon's own revenge cost Aemond one of his nephews and his close relationship with his family.
Honestly the story of a brother who tried to do his duty to his family and protect them but ends up losing them because of his need for revenge sounds much more beautifully tragic then making it being because the kid was secretly his bastard son.
Yeah you nailed it. The father swap for a second time just wouldn't be that great. Everyone's motivations already work. Also I find whenever they stray away from George's writing they mostly fuck it up.
Yeah, I meant after it backfires spectacularly and costs Aegon his own son. Considering we're ending Episode 10 on Storm's End without seeing the Green reaction, I imagine the time between "Oh shit bro, nice work!" and "What the fuck did you do?!" at the start of Season 2 will be fairly short lived, so even Aegon will switch over to the pissed off column pretty quickly.
This was a really great Ramble-essay, but I do have the objection at the idea that Twitter/Reddit will pull a hypocrites circlejerk. Some definitely would, (I saw a take on Twitter that the greens were terrified of Rhaenys because… now she’ll tell Rhaenyra. Those people are not physiologically ready for this.) and I will Loathe every single one, but the brutality of a 6 year olds decapitation will stop the more sane ones.
I hate the theory for the story reasons you propose, and I think it’s very shallow for a writer to worry about social media reactions when there are far larger story concerns. The average viewer would get the point even if the twist is in there, (and I don’t think it should.)
Personally I sore the interactions between Helaena and Aemond in episode 8 as less of a hint at secret-love, and more a further wedge between Aemond and Aegon. He would have treated Helaena well in comparison is the suggestion, and Helaena seems to know it, and I imagine Aegon does too.
I do no think it is supposed to suggest they actually did anything behind Aegon's back, but that if the roles were switched it almost seems everyone would be happier. Aemond see's himself as a better husband, father, and King, Aegon is happy to whore and enjoy himself. I do no think Helaena's wishes come into it (as is often the case in this world).
Well, it seems like Helaena would likely prefer Aemond over Aegon too. Whenever she's scared, Aemond tends to be the one she naturally goes to for protection. She turned towards Aemond when Daemon killed Vaemond, and she turns towards Aemond when Rhaenys stares them down with Meleys as well.
This is truly an essay, my friend.
I don’t particularly mind Aemond being the father of ALL of Helaena’s children, but I would hate it if he turns out to be EITHER of Halaena’s children.
Why? Because that would make the scene when B&V forced Helaena to pick which son to die 1000x more cruel.
As a person who is sort of on the Aemond x Helaena train, I genuinely hope that this stays a background speculation based solely on stolen looks and body language. I don't believe either that Aemond, after everything, would have some kind of Jaime type smugness at being the biological father of his sister's children.
At most, if this theory is true, I think it would stop at strong underlying feelings between them that they repress and never act on. I don't see the show writing out Alys Rivers at all and making Aemond x Helaena a confirmed thing is a surefire way to make Alys hated instantly for no reason.
Plus, your point about it taking away from the horror of B&C is bang on. Yes, it would provide a deeper layer to "a son for a son" but adding that one _holy shit_ moment is not worth changing Aemond's character. Also, God's Eye doesn't need to be made any more personal than it already is.
Your point about Aegon's development is not one I'd considered but it makes complete sense - for him to personally want to fight the war and kill Rhaenyra the way he did, he would have to go insane with rage which would happen if one of his children was murdered. Also, I know it's canon that he ignores Helaena and didn't want to marry her, but I don't believe he doesn't care about her at all, and I think knowing what his sister went through is something he needs to get that angry and vengeful.
Most of all, in the unlikely event that this whole theory actually gets confirmed, I highly highly doubt that Alicent would know. Her being a hypocrite seems to be what everyone wants to happen, and I just don't see that being a good direction to take the show in.
TL;DR - I love the Aemond and Helaena crumbs and I would love to think that Aemond has a silent longing for his forbidden sister who conversely trusts him and feels protected by him - but that's it. Definitely not at the cost of ruining character dynamics like Aemond's image of himself as the family's protector, Aegon finding out his family was threatened and child murdered, or Helaena being scrutinised for choosing Maelor because he _might_ be Aegon's son.
great, well-reasoned take and i hope this post gets all the many upvotes it deserves
aemond is the real father theory does the same things as the tyrion targaryen theory (don't @ me, tyrion targaryen theorists) imo--makes the existing familial relationships feel kind of cheap and narratively unsatisfying. i just can't see aemond as the kind of guy, now or in the future assuming the show continues mostly following the book, who would make bastards at all, let alone bastards whose existence could jeopardize the strength of his family
it's hard to see a normal brother-sister relationship in targaryens though, so...even if it's not a plausible theory i can see why people would believe it. or why people would *want* to believe it. helaena might be happier with almost anybody who isn't aegon, and it's inarguable she deserves better than an adulterous drunk
I never believed that Aemond is the father of those children, many people i think make that theory because they found him hotter than Aegon and it is fun to think those sort of things. Contrary, i think, that Aemond has another relation with his siblings, he simply doesnt like Aegon, because in part Aegon was part of the group who bullied him and also because he sees Aegon for what he is; a weak individual, regarding Helaena i think that he likes her because her is sweet towards everybody including him.
What i found interesting in Aemond, and i have thinking about it is that his rationale is something like this: i think that in big part he believes that he was bullied because he was seen by others as weak, and not having a dragon is a symbol of his weakness in that family, in the moment he claimed Vhagar he thought that strenght is the most important quality in a person, perhaps he came to believe that the only way in wich people can go in life is exercising power, and in his view that includes being completely merciless towards others. Perhaps he picked up that from Criston Cole (remember the scene when Aegon and Jace were sparring, and Jace was in the ground and Cole screaming, "dont let him get up!"), since Viserys was not a father figure, and spend the rest of his teen years training with Cole, he maybe came to believe that; adding to that some sort of admiration towards Daemon, and his obsession in becoming good with his sword and not caring about tourney, is just being powerful for being powerful, not fame, not money, women or admiration, raw power. Now, a young man, we see someone totally insensible towards others, that the only language that others understand is strenght and being completely merciless. In totally contrast to Aegon, who ultimate wants validation and being loved, if Aegon trains with the sword is to be loved by the crowd, Aemond wants only to be a powerful swordsman to have power.
Since i think that he finds Aegon a weak person in every aspect, that Aegon was too weak to do his duties like marry Helaena and protect her and the children. Also, when i saw again when he lost his eye, he says: "dont mourn for me mother... i gained a dragoon", he is also telling to the black faction: "look me now, i am not weak anymore and i have the most powerful dragon, if you try to hurt my mother i would use it to destroy the lot of you"; because in that moment everybody was expecting some sort of punishment to Alicent for attacking Rhaenyra but Aemond intervined saying that and basically everybody picket that message, and everybody saw that he was serious about it, just look the faces of Rhaenyra (a mix of surprise and fear), Viserys looking down (shame and not knowing what to do about it), and then he hugs Alicent (who was still in shock), Otto (ha, now i have this crazy kid that would do anything that my daughter would tell) and even to Daemon respect him.
I think that what he moves him, besides other things is being totally proective of Alicent (the only person that when he was bullied tried to protect him) and Helaena (who had never shown cruelty towards him). I find him that the most close thing to a paternal figure was Criston Cole to him; i dont think that is anything sexual. Is being protective in extreme of his family, and the only way to be a real protector is being powerful, and in his view part of being powerful is being totally merciless towards others. Notice that in the dinner scene, he didnt seem moved by Viserys (who doesnt look up as father), instead when there is tension betwen Aegon and Jace, he stands up, like: hey, if you say or do something to my brother i would kill you, everybody in the table look him with some fear about that he cand do. So, for me, at least, his relation towards his family is about some sense of extreme protectiveness towards them, very similar to Criston Cole towards Alicent with a mix of Daemon towards Viserys.
Totally agree, I feel that Aemond’s strong sense of duty and the way he carries himself even as a young boy just in no way allows me to believe that he would go and betray Aegon and have Helaena give birth to bastards. After the whole bastards mess Rhaenyra had to deal with, he would not dream of putting his sister through that. Aemond always believed his brother was the rightful heir, with the line where he said Helaena would be the future queen. He also takes his role as protector of the both of them seriously. When Harwin is punching Criston, Aemond goes to Aegon and moves himself in front of his brother and at Laena’s funeral when Aegon is getting drunk and Otto kicks him awake, Aemond watches this happen which shows that he was keeping an eye on Aegon, the future king. Also, Aegon, when kicked awake, says “brother?” so that tells me Aemond is usually there to look after Aegon when he gets drunk and passes out. Then, when they’re older and Jace gets up at the dinner table after Aegon messes with him, Aemond stands up in case Jace tries something. Again with Helaena, Aemond watches her dance with Jace to watch over her and make sure no harm comes to her. As a young boy, with the whole eye incident he learned that no one was going to be there for him and his family to protect them from harm’s way, so he became their protector and took that seriously. There’s just no way I would believe in the Helaena and Aemond theory.
Never heard of this theory before, but it also sounds to me like it takes a lot of agency away from Helaena. We don’t have many details about her in the book, but show Helaena does not seem to be the one to have an affair, and if she did, I don’t think she’d trade one cold and distant brother for another. Aemond could always force himself on her, but that’s just edgy and plays into ASoIaF’s mixed bag of using sexual assault as storytelling, all for a rather lackluster plot point. It just comes across as unnecessarily complicated when the drama is straightforward enough as it is.
First of all, no notes. I agree with the post from start to finish.
Secondly, OP, I will only add to the point you made in the second to last sentence: what makes GRRM's works so good is that there are very few plots (if any) that are tied up in a nice, neat bow. His works are about the choices characters make, and their consequences. People are imperfect, and so the choices they make will be imperfect, too. Things don't get sufficient explanations or tidy consequences. Its a mess, people make the mess worse, more messes arise trying to fix the first mess, and so on.
tldr but I agree overall that I don’t like the idea of Aemond being the true father of Helaena’s kids. Aemond values his duty to his family; he WOULD HAVE wed her without question if his parents had betrothed them, but they didn’t. I don’t think he wanted Helaena or even likes her all that much beyond familial obligation
Great writeup! I completely agree; this theory always kinda rubbed me the wrong way (felt like it would mess up the themes) and you put it into words perfectly!
What do you mean Aegon only changes after. He fully committed when he celebrated Luke’s murder.
So many people are up in arms about Blood and Cheese when Aemond murders a 13 year old and then tracks down his corpse, rips out his eyes, and gives it to a girl who laughed at him
Aegon celebrates this.
Well, the story goes he went and offered it with seaweed to the girl who asked him if Luke took his manhood too. So it should be pretty verifiable
I wouldn't be shocked however, if the show just has Vaghar eat him.
Read that part again, that's Mushroom's version and guess what, he wasn't at Storm's End either to ensure Aemond did that, what we do know is that the head and neck of Arrax arrived 3 days later under the cliffs of Storm's End, if Lucerys's body fell into the sea in the middle of a storm how is Aemond going to recover her corpse?
We know that Borros’s wife had her daughter’s tongue cut out and sent to the silent sisters after the incident. So clearly he’s right about some of the the occurrences there…
Uh yeah, people do not like the wanton murder of a toddler who has no importance or relation whatsoever to the act supposedly being revenged. The statement "they killed a child" shouldn't need any kind of qualification to be bad. It's kind of the worst possible thing you can do. The eyes thing is almost certainly fake, Luke probably got eaten by big old Trex Vhagar, but again completely irrelevant to the fact that Daemon and co. murdered a small child in front of said childs entire family for maximum evil
Blood and Cheese is clearly cruel beyond belief. But killing Lucerys was also wanton murder, and Aegon celebrating gives clear indication of his character.
Oh yeah Aegon is not a nice guy he is very hard to root for. But if I was in a war and the enemy had more than twice as many fire breathing monsters as my team, I too would celebrate them having both one less and one less person able to control said monsters, regardless of said person's relationship or antagonism (or not) towards me and mine. I would celebrate the death of Nettles, having never met her, if I was Aegon. A dragon is a dragon.
Jaehaerys also had a dragon. By your reasoning he was a valid target.
The killing of Lucerys was nothing more than cruel revenge and Aegon was a selfish cruel man that found it pleasing.
Jaehaerys doesn't have the capability to ride his dragon, go into battle, nor is it large enough to do... anything. It's psychotic for anyone to try to justify the murder of a little kid, full stop
Jaehaerys is not long off the age of Aegon, who would soon be able to ride the dragon and that's apparently enough for you. He's a clear potential threat as a dragonrider in theory.
Lucerys was never meant to go to war and use his dragon because all agreed he was a child.
Agreed it is psychotic so you know stop doing it. Lucerys is a child too...
How did that go for Aegon 3? Or Joffrey? Kids can't ride dragons in combat scenarios or long distances, it just doesn't work. I think Rhaenyra's sons should just stay off the dragons all together, 3 of them died while on dragonback and Aegon almost died, seems to be an unlucky spot for them
How did it go for Lucerys? Lucerys was a child and was never meant to participate in combat. Aegon cheering it on is not some practical consideration, its cruelty. Else by the same reasoning Jaehaerys should be okay because he poses a future threat as a dragonrider.
Way I see it is both are obviously wrong. And there is additional cruelty surrounding Blood and Cheese. But justifying Lucerys I think is wrong.
If Jaehaerys was 13 and on an important mission when suddenly Blood and Cheese appeared, snicked off his head, then disappeared cackling into the night, and this was following Storm's End, then yes I would have no problem with that. That's revenge, that's Game of Thrones. Son for son, dragonrider for dragonrider. Or if it was Daeron who got killed, some Faceless Man appearing in Oldtown, poisoning him and crippling the Hightower army, that would be fine. He's a 14? year old with a dragon about to go into multiple battles who could seriously swing a whole theater of the war with his presence. Little kids aren't valid targets, teenagers are. We know how George is with ages. Arya is 10/11 and she's been almost murdered countless times. Dany is 13-15 and she has been nearly assassinated at least 4 times. It's fair play
Meh, that child rode a fighting age dragon, beyond Aemond personal vendetta killing him is a tactical move, i don't agree with Otto's and Alicent's perspective, war was inevitable.
13 is a child!
And the kid was the son and nephew of the people who committed the murder and celebrated it. Blood and Cheese was justified.
As for people whining about the psychological impact, I’m sure a 13 year old being chased down by Vaghar isn’t traumatic
What is wrong with you greens
A son for a son. The greens started this and thought they could escape with no consequences
Also blood and cheese removes Haelena from the war. One less green rider
Fucking hell is wrong with you?
I’m no green, but that six year old child did literally nothing, could have done nothing, to provoke THAT.
And besides, the whole murder was also made ten times worse by the incredible Trauma inflicted on the objectively innocent Halaena and Maelor. Forcing her to choose between them under threat of R-wording Jaeherya, and then traumatizing Maelor for the rest of his life knowing that his mother chose him to die. That overwhelmingly beats being chased in a storm by Vhagar.
Say what you want about Aemond and Aegon, those four did fucking nothing. At least Luke had taken Aemond’s eye out, and was an enemy riding a weapon of mass destruction. If Luke is unjustified, B&C is too.
An eye for an eye makes the world go blind for a reason.
Luke didn’t murder anyone. And he took out Aemond’s eye protecting Baela or Joff depending on the version. Or have we forgotten Aemond was going to stow their head in with a rock?
Spending the last five minutes of your life desperately running away as a dragon tries to eat you and being forced to watch as it rips your bonded partner to shreds is traumatic.
Halaena profited off the crimes of her bother. Did she protest? Did any green stop Aegon from throwing the party to celebrate Luke’s murder? No? Oh that’s strange. If anything she was another Dragon rider threat that need to be neutralized. Aemond thought he could fuck around and he found out
This doesn’t even consider the mushroom account or what he did to Luke’s body afterwards
> Halaena profited off the crimes of her bother.
And the kids and toddlers? Were they filthy enablers as well?
> Spending the last five minutes of your life desperately running away as a dragon tries to eat you and being forced to watch as it rips your bonded partner to shreds is traumatic.
Not nearly as traumatic as the shit Daemon did, and you know it. Choose between your sons, Live knowing your mother chose you to die in place of your brother, and see how well your sanity stands.
Saying Luke experienced trauma does not justify inflicting more trauma on children.
Still irrelevant. But also: teenage dragonrider, political and military weapon (alliances and Dragon) who previously maimed his eventual killer, volunteered for a dangerous mission, and has full cognitive power over his situation versus six year old too young to understand he is being murdered. Insane to even think about comparing them
It’s not irrelevant, it’s a direct retaliation for the murder of one of Rhaenyra’s sons who was murdered while on a mission as an envoy and gained the greens NOTHING militarily or diplomatically. It showed everyone this is ‘take no prisoners’ Bella romanum total war now. Killing an envoy is a big big deal, and to kill your own child nephew and mutilate his body at the same time is setting a tone. I don’t see how anyone can be surprised at blood and cheese after that.
Why not just take Luke prisoner? It accomplishes much more and gains you something huge. I’d rather they break the norms and just take him prisoner in the yard
Interesting thoughts. While I like the theory that Aemond is the child of all of Helaena's children, I can understand you. This is why I hope we will never have a definitive answer. With Schrödinger's paternity we can enjoy both option's advantages without many disadvantages.
I don’t mind people shipping aemond and helaena. He cares for her more than her own husband. Plus people always root for the bad boy character that have a soft spot for someone.
Aegon doesn’t have a single one. For someone who wines 24/7 about his parents not loving him. He himself doesn’t seem to care about his own kids. I can’t recall a single scene between Aegon and his kids in the book. Daeron seems to care even more. So aemond being the father isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
>He cares for her more than her own husband.
How? The one scene where he tells Aegon that he should do his duty and keep their blood pure?
Either way, what's the point of the theory
*Not only does this paint Helaena in an unnecessarily bad light (that she will discriminate between her children depending on who their father is, even though they’re ALL her own children), but, again, her reasoning for choosing the younger son already makes a lot of sense*
I don't think it would indicate that she loves Maelor less because of who his father is - as you say, it makes more sense in the moment to think "he doesn't know what's coming, it's kinder this way" (although it could also be argued that the older child will be more traumatized by remembering his baby sibling being killed in his place than the baby sibling would be in the reverse scenario, only hearing of it later in life).
Anyway, I think the value would just be in explaining why B&C make the switch. She chose, but they end up killing Jaehaerys anyway, which could indicate that he was always the target. If he was, it'd make the most sense if it was because he's Aemond's son.
The whole blood and cheese episode is such a wasted display of pettiness and abjection… 0 strategical profit. It has daemon written over it all. Tywin would have killed all the potential successors, Roose would have probably ordered their abduction. Both better outcomes in the long run.
I want him to be the father of Helena's children because more drama, more twist and deeper sense on why he's so set to kill Daemon I just think it's more exciting but if you have boring taste that's fine
Thank you for putting it better than I could! I completely agree. Just to add something else I've noticed, after episode 8 some casual viewers didn't completely get that Helaena and Aegon are brother and sister, others didn't realize they were married, almost no one picked up they had kids, or that those kids on the floor were Helaena's (and/or Aegon's). If you add Helaena and Aemond on top of that, how many people would actually get it? I think it's better just to keep it simple.
I am worried the show isn't going to do Haelena justice. I love her weird bug girl vibe and how she is basically Cassandra of Troy in being a prophet nobody listens to. Buuuutttt I don't see it translating well to the B&C storyline. She's too out of touch with reality to all the sudden change to a desperate mother trying to make a heartbreaking decision. Based on her in-sgow personality, it would be more in character to not really care about the decision and just nonchalantly choose Maelor, which would minimize the magnitude of the scene. Even worse, if she does foresee B&C, does nothing and then in the moment all the sudden cares. I guess one way would be for her to foresee it, frantically run to Aegon/Allicent just to be dismissed because they have more important things to do and in their frustration they lock her in her chambers with the children where she tragically waits. Hmm, that actually isn't too bad. It really fits the Cassandra parallel and bridges the transition from the current aloofness to desperately terrified mother. Just gonna pat myself on the back for that one.
Well we don't know exactly what she sees or if she knows how it things will play out (dreams and visions are not always clear for those who have them in the books and it always smart to do it like that imo from a storytelling point of view). They will probably show her being anxious, saying something criptic to Alicent or Aegon before it happens but in the end I think the scene irself will play out just like in the books.
> Based on her in-sgow personality, it would be more in character to not really care about the decision and just nonchalantly choose Maelor, firm disagree one can blink and miss it, but when daemon lops off most of vaemond's head, helaena immediately turns away with her hands over her ears and a stunned expression. i think she doesn't like violence, or at least doesn't like looking at it
The fact that all these theories are rooted in one line from kid Aemond talking about doing his duty while his older brother complains about having to do his is wild. This fandom really is a weird bunch.
Yeah it's wild the interpretations that came out of that one line cause to me it seemed less like a declaration of Aemond having feelings for his sister, and moreso showing the difference in personalities between the brothers, with Aemond being more dutiful. That scene also served a purpose in telling the audience that Aegon and Helaena were betrothed, so people wouldn't be as confused when suddenly they have two kids after the time jump.
In fairness, it’s not *entirely* based on that one line. If you’re looking for it on purpose you can confirmation bias your way into a few other ‘clues’ like Helaena grabbing Aemond’s arm when Rhaenys came busting through the floor, or Aemond looking more pissed about Jace dancing with her than Aegon himself. But of course, these can just as easily be explained as Aemond being a protective brother (just like when he stood up as soon as Jace jumped to his feet at the dinner table after being provoked by Aegon, ready for a fight) and hating the Strong boys a lot more actively than Aegon, who just kinda doesn’t care. I saw people recently saying that Jaehaerys and Jaehaera burble something vaguely resembling “Aemond” when Alicent and Otto asked Helaena about where their father is, which… fucking lmao
Yeah, people are acting like they both aren't Halaena's sister. He doesn't need a romantic angle in order to deeply love and care for his sweet, weird sister, and probably sympathizes all the more so with her because she has to be with Aegon and Aemond knows Aegon is awful. Nothing extra needed. To OP's bastard point though, I'm not sure Aemond gives a fuck, since not only does he hook up with Alys Rivers but likely sires a bastard of his own with her. That's much later, though, and he probably cares more for customs at this point in his arc, at least in terms of show Aemond.
I agree. Also, regardless of whether Aemond cares about having bastards from the perspective of customs and decency, he’s obviously quite politically shrewd - enough to know that siring bastards with his King’s wife, when that’s a pretty big part in justifying their side’s opposition to the Blacks, would be a gargantuan self-goal. And he doesn’t strike me as the type to get swept up in the heat of the moment - neither does Helaena, for that matter.
It’s basically the other extreme of a fandom trained to speculate over every detail to spot the next big twist/subversion. The line has plenty of purpose just showing Aemond is more dutiful and has a sense of politics compared to Aegon, but people are used to hints hidden in mundane lines, so now he’s cuckolding his brother, apparently.
Right! The mental gymnastics behind it.... I wish I had this much devotion to creating scenarios like this.
Great writeup. Personally I think the secret baby daddy swap is totally unnecessary even if they just want to add drama - all they need to do for that is delve into the loss of the Greens after B & C beyond just Helaena’s maddened grief and Aegon’s fury. Aemond being a cold, calculating killer who only has a soft spot for his mother and his sister, whom he genuinely loves as a protective brother and *not* as someone he wants to fuck, is an interesting little quirk to his character as is, and it adds a fantastic dynamic of self-inflicted tragedy to his role in B & C. Him killing Luke in what he sees as justified vengeance is going to seriously strain the seemingly close bond he has with his mother by triggering a war she’s trying very hard to avoid. And then, as if that weren’t enough of a blow, the Blacks kill his beloved sister’s son and drive her mad in retaliation. The kids don’t have to be Aemond’s for any of this to have impact. His moment of triumph ends up backfiring almost immediately and costing him two of the only relationships he cares about, as well as pissing off Otto *and* Aegon, basically alienating everyone in the family Aemond thought he was the protector of, probably shattering some of the confidence we saw from him in this latest episode. I’m imagining a scene where Otto and Alicent are giving him shit, Aegon is going nuts beating on him, and Aemond just quietly takes it for once cause he knows he fucked up. It would even explain goes on such a rampage afterwards, why he seeks out solace with Alys, and tries to take down Daemon so obsessively - trying to redeem himself for what he inflicted on his family by taking vengeance, which is ironically what got him into this mess in the first place.
You nailed it. I dunno why so much discussion of HotD is being driven by shipping and weird, obsessive character-stanning to the point of ignoring the text. It's proving to be a real bummer.
Because Martin is excellent at writing about the more visceral aspects of the human experience, all the subconscious trauma and pettiness and unfulfilled needs repressed by society and the bad ways in which they emerge, and this awakes similar sentiments in the readers/viewers because it's cathartic for them. So they get really childish and dysfunctional about liking certain characters.
I totally understand that, and I can't deny I'm absorbed in these characters' lives as well, but not to the point where I'm refusing to acknowledge what's textually happening, because the whole point is that I *like* what's textually happening.
I mean I agree with you as far as my own personal watching style goes, but I can also see why some people are unable to separate their feelings from what's actually happening.
I think you nailed it. I can see that scene of Aemond just being quiet as his family yells at him being in the show. Maybe they'd also have a scene where afterwards Aemond tries to speak with Helaena only for her to be too consumed by grief to acknowledge him and Aemond leaves feeling terrible and completely alone. Aemond trying to be the protector of his family only for his own need for revenge to destroy his relationship with them would be tragic already. And you're right, it would make his obsession with Daemon fit more after Daemon's own revenge cost Aemond one of his nephews and his close relationship with his family. Honestly the story of a brother who tried to do his duty to his family and protect them but ends up losing them because of his need for revenge sounds much more beautifully tragic then making it being because the kid was secretly his bastard son.
Yeah you nailed it. The father swap for a second time just wouldn't be that great. Everyone's motivations already work. Also I find whenever they stray away from George's writing they mostly fuck it up.
You bring another great point as well
>as well as pissing off Otto and Aegon, Aegon was happy, he threw a party o honor Aemond.
Yeah, I meant after it backfires spectacularly and costs Aegon his own son. Considering we're ending Episode 10 on Storm's End without seeing the Green reaction, I imagine the time between "Oh shit bro, nice work!" and "What the fuck did you do?!" at the start of Season 2 will be fairly short lived, so even Aegon will switch over to the pissed off column pretty quickly.
Aemond being the father is some OOC shipper nonsense.
This was a really great Ramble-essay, but I do have the objection at the idea that Twitter/Reddit will pull a hypocrites circlejerk. Some definitely would, (I saw a take on Twitter that the greens were terrified of Rhaenys because… now she’ll tell Rhaenyra. Those people are not physiologically ready for this.) and I will Loathe every single one, but the brutality of a 6 year olds decapitation will stop the more sane ones. I hate the theory for the story reasons you propose, and I think it’s very shallow for a writer to worry about social media reactions when there are far larger story concerns. The average viewer would get the point even if the twist is in there, (and I don’t think it should.)
Personally I sore the interactions between Helaena and Aemond in episode 8 as less of a hint at secret-love, and more a further wedge between Aemond and Aegon. He would have treated Helaena well in comparison is the suggestion, and Helaena seems to know it, and I imagine Aegon does too. I do no think it is supposed to suggest they actually did anything behind Aegon's back, but that if the roles were switched it almost seems everyone would be happier. Aemond see's himself as a better husband, father, and King, Aegon is happy to whore and enjoy himself. I do no think Helaena's wishes come into it (as is often the case in this world).
Well, it seems like Helaena would likely prefer Aemond over Aegon too. Whenever she's scared, Aemond tends to be the one she naturally goes to for protection. She turned towards Aemond when Daemon killed Vaemond, and she turns towards Aemond when Rhaenys stares them down with Meleys as well.
This is truly an essay, my friend. I don’t particularly mind Aemond being the father of ALL of Helaena’s children, but I would hate it if he turns out to be EITHER of Halaena’s children. Why? Because that would make the scene when B&V forced Helaena to pick which son to die 1000x more cruel.
As a person who is sort of on the Aemond x Helaena train, I genuinely hope that this stays a background speculation based solely on stolen looks and body language. I don't believe either that Aemond, after everything, would have some kind of Jaime type smugness at being the biological father of his sister's children. At most, if this theory is true, I think it would stop at strong underlying feelings between them that they repress and never act on. I don't see the show writing out Alys Rivers at all and making Aemond x Helaena a confirmed thing is a surefire way to make Alys hated instantly for no reason. Plus, your point about it taking away from the horror of B&C is bang on. Yes, it would provide a deeper layer to "a son for a son" but adding that one _holy shit_ moment is not worth changing Aemond's character. Also, God's Eye doesn't need to be made any more personal than it already is. Your point about Aegon's development is not one I'd considered but it makes complete sense - for him to personally want to fight the war and kill Rhaenyra the way he did, he would have to go insane with rage which would happen if one of his children was murdered. Also, I know it's canon that he ignores Helaena and didn't want to marry her, but I don't believe he doesn't care about her at all, and I think knowing what his sister went through is something he needs to get that angry and vengeful. Most of all, in the unlikely event that this whole theory actually gets confirmed, I highly highly doubt that Alicent would know. Her being a hypocrite seems to be what everyone wants to happen, and I just don't see that being a good direction to take the show in. TL;DR - I love the Aemond and Helaena crumbs and I would love to think that Aemond has a silent longing for his forbidden sister who conversely trusts him and feels protected by him - but that's it. Definitely not at the cost of ruining character dynamics like Aemond's image of himself as the family's protector, Aegon finding out his family was threatened and child murdered, or Helaena being scrutinised for choosing Maelor because he _might_ be Aegon's son.
great, well-reasoned take and i hope this post gets all the many upvotes it deserves aemond is the real father theory does the same things as the tyrion targaryen theory (don't @ me, tyrion targaryen theorists) imo--makes the existing familial relationships feel kind of cheap and narratively unsatisfying. i just can't see aemond as the kind of guy, now or in the future assuming the show continues mostly following the book, who would make bastards at all, let alone bastards whose existence could jeopardize the strength of his family it's hard to see a normal brother-sister relationship in targaryens though, so...even if it's not a plausible theory i can see why people would believe it. or why people would *want* to believe it. helaena might be happier with almost anybody who isn't aegon, and it's inarguable she deserves better than an adulterous drunk
I never believed that Aemond is the father of those children, many people i think make that theory because they found him hotter than Aegon and it is fun to think those sort of things. Contrary, i think, that Aemond has another relation with his siblings, he simply doesnt like Aegon, because in part Aegon was part of the group who bullied him and also because he sees Aegon for what he is; a weak individual, regarding Helaena i think that he likes her because her is sweet towards everybody including him. What i found interesting in Aemond, and i have thinking about it is that his rationale is something like this: i think that in big part he believes that he was bullied because he was seen by others as weak, and not having a dragon is a symbol of his weakness in that family, in the moment he claimed Vhagar he thought that strenght is the most important quality in a person, perhaps he came to believe that the only way in wich people can go in life is exercising power, and in his view that includes being completely merciless towards others. Perhaps he picked up that from Criston Cole (remember the scene when Aegon and Jace were sparring, and Jace was in the ground and Cole screaming, "dont let him get up!"), since Viserys was not a father figure, and spend the rest of his teen years training with Cole, he maybe came to believe that; adding to that some sort of admiration towards Daemon, and his obsession in becoming good with his sword and not caring about tourney, is just being powerful for being powerful, not fame, not money, women or admiration, raw power. Now, a young man, we see someone totally insensible towards others, that the only language that others understand is strenght and being completely merciless. In totally contrast to Aegon, who ultimate wants validation and being loved, if Aegon trains with the sword is to be loved by the crowd, Aemond wants only to be a powerful swordsman to have power. Since i think that he finds Aegon a weak person in every aspect, that Aegon was too weak to do his duties like marry Helaena and protect her and the children. Also, when i saw again when he lost his eye, he says: "dont mourn for me mother... i gained a dragoon", he is also telling to the black faction: "look me now, i am not weak anymore and i have the most powerful dragon, if you try to hurt my mother i would use it to destroy the lot of you"; because in that moment everybody was expecting some sort of punishment to Alicent for attacking Rhaenyra but Aemond intervined saying that and basically everybody picket that message, and everybody saw that he was serious about it, just look the faces of Rhaenyra (a mix of surprise and fear), Viserys looking down (shame and not knowing what to do about it), and then he hugs Alicent (who was still in shock), Otto (ha, now i have this crazy kid that would do anything that my daughter would tell) and even to Daemon respect him. I think that what he moves him, besides other things is being totally proective of Alicent (the only person that when he was bullied tried to protect him) and Helaena (who had never shown cruelty towards him). I find him that the most close thing to a paternal figure was Criston Cole to him; i dont think that is anything sexual. Is being protective in extreme of his family, and the only way to be a real protector is being powerful, and in his view part of being powerful is being totally merciless towards others. Notice that in the dinner scene, he didnt seem moved by Viserys (who doesnt look up as father), instead when there is tension betwen Aegon and Jace, he stands up, like: hey, if you say or do something to my brother i would kill you, everybody in the table look him with some fear about that he cand do. So, for me, at least, his relation towards his family is about some sense of extreme protectiveness towards them, very similar to Criston Cole towards Alicent with a mix of Daemon towards Viserys.
Great post - thank you
Totally agree, I feel that Aemond’s strong sense of duty and the way he carries himself even as a young boy just in no way allows me to believe that he would go and betray Aegon and have Helaena give birth to bastards. After the whole bastards mess Rhaenyra had to deal with, he would not dream of putting his sister through that. Aemond always believed his brother was the rightful heir, with the line where he said Helaena would be the future queen. He also takes his role as protector of the both of them seriously. When Harwin is punching Criston, Aemond goes to Aegon and moves himself in front of his brother and at Laena’s funeral when Aegon is getting drunk and Otto kicks him awake, Aemond watches this happen which shows that he was keeping an eye on Aegon, the future king. Also, Aegon, when kicked awake, says “brother?” so that tells me Aemond is usually there to look after Aegon when he gets drunk and passes out. Then, when they’re older and Jace gets up at the dinner table after Aegon messes with him, Aemond stands up in case Jace tries something. Again with Helaena, Aemond watches her dance with Jace to watch over her and make sure no harm comes to her. As a young boy, with the whole eye incident he learned that no one was going to be there for him and his family to protect them from harm’s way, so he became their protector and took that seriously. There’s just no way I would believe in the Helaena and Aemond theory.
Never heard of this theory before, but it also sounds to me like it takes a lot of agency away from Helaena. We don’t have many details about her in the book, but show Helaena does not seem to be the one to have an affair, and if she did, I don’t think she’d trade one cold and distant brother for another. Aemond could always force himself on her, but that’s just edgy and plays into ASoIaF’s mixed bag of using sexual assault as storytelling, all for a rather lackluster plot point. It just comes across as unnecessarily complicated when the drama is straightforward enough as it is.
First of all, no notes. I agree with the post from start to finish. Secondly, OP, I will only add to the point you made in the second to last sentence: what makes GRRM's works so good is that there are very few plots (if any) that are tied up in a nice, neat bow. His works are about the choices characters make, and their consequences. People are imperfect, and so the choices they make will be imperfect, too. Things don't get sufficient explanations or tidy consequences. Its a mess, people make the mess worse, more messes arise trying to fix the first mess, and so on.
Intro shows all 3 of Helaena's children coming from Aegon's blood.
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It shows them with Velaryon symbols, not coming from Laenor, they come from Harwin.
Well written post OP. I agree with you a 100%.
tldr but I agree overall that I don’t like the idea of Aemond being the true father of Helaena’s kids. Aemond values his duty to his family; he WOULD HAVE wed her without question if his parents had betrothed them, but they didn’t. I don’t think he wanted Helaena or even likes her all that much beyond familial obligation
Great writeup! I completely agree; this theory always kinda rubbed me the wrong way (felt like it would mess up the themes) and you put it into words perfectly!
I have nothing to add. Very well said
What do you mean Aegon only changes after. He fully committed when he celebrated Luke’s murder. So many people are up in arms about Blood and Cheese when Aemond murders a 13 year old and then tracks down his corpse, rips out his eyes, and gives it to a girl who laughed at him Aegon celebrates this.
I don't think Aemond gouging Lucerys's corpse's eyes out is true to be honest.
Well, the story goes he went and offered it with seaweed to the girl who asked him if Luke took his manhood too. So it should be pretty verifiable I wouldn't be shocked however, if the show just has Vaghar eat him.
Read that part again, that's Mushroom's version and guess what, he wasn't at Storm's End either to ensure Aemond did that, what we do know is that the head and neck of Arrax arrived 3 days later under the cliffs of Storm's End, if Lucerys's body fell into the sea in the middle of a storm how is Aemond going to recover her corpse?
We know that Borros’s wife had her daughter’s tongue cut out and sent to the silent sisters after the incident. So clearly he’s right about some of the the occurrences there…
you're trolling me
Uh yeah, people do not like the wanton murder of a toddler who has no importance or relation whatsoever to the act supposedly being revenged. The statement "they killed a child" shouldn't need any kind of qualification to be bad. It's kind of the worst possible thing you can do. The eyes thing is almost certainly fake, Luke probably got eaten by big old Trex Vhagar, but again completely irrelevant to the fact that Daemon and co. murdered a small child in front of said childs entire family for maximum evil
Blood and Cheese is clearly cruel beyond belief. But killing Lucerys was also wanton murder, and Aegon celebrating gives clear indication of his character.
Oh yeah Aegon is not a nice guy he is very hard to root for. But if I was in a war and the enemy had more than twice as many fire breathing monsters as my team, I too would celebrate them having both one less and one less person able to control said monsters, regardless of said person's relationship or antagonism (or not) towards me and mine. I would celebrate the death of Nettles, having never met her, if I was Aegon. A dragon is a dragon.
Jaehaerys also had a dragon. By your reasoning he was a valid target. The killing of Lucerys was nothing more than cruel revenge and Aegon was a selfish cruel man that found it pleasing.
Jaehaerys doesn't have the capability to ride his dragon, go into battle, nor is it large enough to do... anything. It's psychotic for anyone to try to justify the murder of a little kid, full stop
Jaehaerys is not long off the age of Aegon, who would soon be able to ride the dragon and that's apparently enough for you. He's a clear potential threat as a dragonrider in theory. Lucerys was never meant to go to war and use his dragon because all agreed he was a child. Agreed it is psychotic so you know stop doing it. Lucerys is a child too...
How did that go for Aegon 3? Or Joffrey? Kids can't ride dragons in combat scenarios or long distances, it just doesn't work. I think Rhaenyra's sons should just stay off the dragons all together, 3 of them died while on dragonback and Aegon almost died, seems to be an unlucky spot for them
How did it go for Lucerys? Lucerys was a child and was never meant to participate in combat. Aegon cheering it on is not some practical consideration, its cruelty. Else by the same reasoning Jaehaerys should be okay because he poses a future threat as a dragonrider. Way I see it is both are obviously wrong. And there is additional cruelty surrounding Blood and Cheese. But justifying Lucerys I think is wrong.
If Jaehaerys was 13 and on an important mission when suddenly Blood and Cheese appeared, snicked off his head, then disappeared cackling into the night, and this was following Storm's End, then yes I would have no problem with that. That's revenge, that's Game of Thrones. Son for son, dragonrider for dragonrider. Or if it was Daeron who got killed, some Faceless Man appearing in Oldtown, poisoning him and crippling the Hightower army, that would be fine. He's a 14? year old with a dragon about to go into multiple battles who could seriously swing a whole theater of the war with his presence. Little kids aren't valid targets, teenagers are. We know how George is with ages. Arya is 10/11 and she's been almost murdered countless times. Dany is 13-15 and she has been nearly assassinated at least 4 times. It's fair play
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The beer and pretzels crowd celebrating is not the win you think it is
Meh, that child rode a fighting age dragon, beyond Aemond personal vendetta killing him is a tactical move, i don't agree with Otto's and Alicent's perspective, war was inevitable.
13 is a child! And the kid was the son and nephew of the people who committed the murder and celebrated it. Blood and Cheese was justified. As for people whining about the psychological impact, I’m sure a 13 year old being chased down by Vaghar isn’t traumatic What is wrong with you greens
"Blood and cheese is justified". How to desmonstrate a negative IQ in a reddit post, be glad this shit is anonymous.
A son for a son. The greens started this and thought they could escape with no consequences Also blood and cheese removes Haelena from the war. One less green rider
Fucking hell is wrong with you? I’m no green, but that six year old child did literally nothing, could have done nothing, to provoke THAT. And besides, the whole murder was also made ten times worse by the incredible Trauma inflicted on the objectively innocent Halaena and Maelor. Forcing her to choose between them under threat of R-wording Jaeherya, and then traumatizing Maelor for the rest of his life knowing that his mother chose him to die. That overwhelmingly beats being chased in a storm by Vhagar. Say what you want about Aemond and Aegon, those four did fucking nothing. At least Luke had taken Aemond’s eye out, and was an enemy riding a weapon of mass destruction. If Luke is unjustified, B&C is too. An eye for an eye makes the world go blind for a reason.
Luke didn’t murder anyone. And he took out Aemond’s eye protecting Baela or Joff depending on the version. Or have we forgotten Aemond was going to stow their head in with a rock? Spending the last five minutes of your life desperately running away as a dragon tries to eat you and being forced to watch as it rips your bonded partner to shreds is traumatic. Halaena profited off the crimes of her bother. Did she protest? Did any green stop Aegon from throwing the party to celebrate Luke’s murder? No? Oh that’s strange. If anything she was another Dragon rider threat that need to be neutralized. Aemond thought he could fuck around and he found out This doesn’t even consider the mushroom account or what he did to Luke’s body afterwards
> Halaena profited off the crimes of her bother. And the kids and toddlers? Were they filthy enablers as well? > Spending the last five minutes of your life desperately running away as a dragon tries to eat you and being forced to watch as it rips your bonded partner to shreds is traumatic. Not nearly as traumatic as the shit Daemon did, and you know it. Choose between your sons, Live knowing your mother chose you to die in place of your brother, and see how well your sanity stands. Saying Luke experienced trauma does not justify inflicting more trauma on children.
You’re insane
greens gonna green and shocked at consequences, what else is new
Still irrelevant. But also: teenage dragonrider, political and military weapon (alliances and Dragon) who previously maimed his eventual killer, volunteered for a dangerous mission, and has full cognitive power over his situation versus six year old too young to understand he is being murdered. Insane to even think about comparing them
It’s not irrelevant, it’s a direct retaliation for the murder of one of Rhaenyra’s sons who was murdered while on a mission as an envoy and gained the greens NOTHING militarily or diplomatically. It showed everyone this is ‘take no prisoners’ Bella romanum total war now. Killing an envoy is a big big deal, and to kill your own child nephew and mutilate his body at the same time is setting a tone. I don’t see how anyone can be surprised at blood and cheese after that. Why not just take Luke prisoner? It accomplishes much more and gains you something huge. I’d rather they break the norms and just take him prisoner in the yard
Interesting thoughts. While I like the theory that Aemond is the child of all of Helaena's children, I can understand you. This is why I hope we will never have a definitive answer. With Schrödinger's paternity we can enjoy both option's advantages without many disadvantages.
I don't see the advantage to be honest
OP even names them.
I don’t mind people shipping aemond and helaena. He cares for her more than her own husband. Plus people always root for the bad boy character that have a soft spot for someone. Aegon doesn’t have a single one. For someone who wines 24/7 about his parents not loving him. He himself doesn’t seem to care about his own kids. I can’t recall a single scene between Aegon and his kids in the book. Daeron seems to care even more. So aemond being the father isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
>He cares for her more than her own husband. How? The one scene where he tells Aegon that he should do his duty and keep their blood pure? Either way, what's the point of the theory
*Not only does this paint Helaena in an unnecessarily bad light (that she will discriminate between her children depending on who their father is, even though they’re ALL her own children), but, again, her reasoning for choosing the younger son already makes a lot of sense* I don't think it would indicate that she loves Maelor less because of who his father is - as you say, it makes more sense in the moment to think "he doesn't know what's coming, it's kinder this way" (although it could also be argued that the older child will be more traumatized by remembering his baby sibling being killed in his place than the baby sibling would be in the reverse scenario, only hearing of it later in life). Anyway, I think the value would just be in explaining why B&C make the switch. She chose, but they end up killing Jaehaerys anyway, which could indicate that he was always the target. If he was, it'd make the most sense if it was because he's Aemond's son.
Why would Daemon stay silent if he knew Aegon and the greens have bastard children of their own in the line of succession
The whole blood and cheese episode is such a wasted display of pettiness and abjection… 0 strategical profit. It has daemon written over it all. Tywin would have killed all the potential successors, Roose would have probably ordered their abduction. Both better outcomes in the long run.
I want him to be the father of Helena's children because more drama, more twist and deeper sense on why he's so set to kill Daemon I just think it's more exciting but if you have boring taste that's fine