Aerys II Targaryen was once a war hero but suffered personal losses, fueling his descent into madness and paranoia. Possible plots against Aerys led to his downfall, with some believing that his paranoia was justified. The inclusion of Aegon's prophetic dream in "House of the Dragon" may have contributed to Aerys' madness and final orders.

Though he only appeared briefly in a flashback on Game of Thrones, Aerys II Targaryen solidified a reputation as one of Westeros' greatest villains, along with earning his name as the Mad King, but some fans wonder "Why did the Mad King go mad?" The father of Daenerys Targaryen, Aerys was the man responsible for brutally killing Ned Stark's father and brother while also having a fascination with watching people burn alive. His vicious acts partially fueled Robert's Rebellion, ending when Jaime Lannister broke his oaths and murdered Aerys to prevent him from destroying King's Landing.