Season two, episode three of House of the Dragon is an episode of revelations. Viewers get more insight into the source material, George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood, as well as one final attempt at peace before all-out war begins.
Episode three is just as shocking as the previous episode, with its increasing conflict between noble houses, new character introductions, the Greens’ war strategies, and pivotal conversations between Targaryen family members. Like the last two episodes, this one is a cinematic masterpiece that can only excite viewers for episode four.
Let’s dive into episode three of House of the Dragon!
The Battle Of The Burning Mill
Episode three opens with a new character, Aeron Bracken. He’s joking around with his friends about killing Blackwood men; the two houses have been enemies for centuries. Davos Blackwood approaches with three other men, prepared to start a fight over the boundary on their shared land.
Bracken calls Rhaenyra a “babe-killer,” and Blackwood takes offense, establishing who has declared for Black and Green. In the blink of an eye, Aeron Bracken lays dead in a field. He’s surrounded by hundreds of dead men, a burned windmill in the background. At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is having the twins buried together after the assassination attempt.
Rhaenys tries to convince the queen not to engage in war because it’ll be nothing but a cycle of revenge. She points out that the start of the war could have been multiple tragedies: Aemond killing Luke, Luke taking Aemond’s eye, or Prince Jaehaerys’s murder. Rhaenyra is only focused on getting her throne back.
Rhaenys suggests that she should respond to Alicent’s letters so maybe they can stop the war before it begins. The queen is doubtful, convinced that Alicent is a willing participant in everything the Greens have done.
The Crownlands And The Riverlands
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Ser Criston arrives at the small council as the new Hand to the King. Everyone, even Alicent, is angry that he impulsively sent Ser Arryk to kill Rhaenyra. An army is being raised in Casterly Rock by the Lannisters and in Oldtown by Aegon’s uncle, hinting that Daeron might make an appearance as his dragon is almost fighting age. Ser Criston unanimously decides to take men and claim the Crownlands for the Greens.
Aegon wants to follow on his dragon Sunfyre, but Aemond (surprisingly) insists that the king can’t risk his life. Back at Dragonstone, Rhaenyra thanks Mysaria for warning the castle about Ser Arryk. She wants to be her Master of Whisperers to get revenge on the Hightowers for ruining her life in King’s Landing.
Rhaenyra prepares to send Rhaena to Pentos with Joffrey and babies Aegon and Viserys for protection, making her feel insignificant to the cause and insecure because she doesn’t have a dragon like her sister Baela. Daemon has made it to Harrenhal and its ruined castle. He meets Simon Strong and claims the castle.
Daemon demands to use Harrenhal as a home base while he calls all the men in the Riverlands to fight for the Blacks, also demanding that Simon Strong call him “Your Grace.” He’s eager to march on King’s Landing and take the throne with the support of Strong’s Lord Paramount Grover Tully, but he’s too old and sick to see anyone.
Hope For The Future
The Black council is desperate for Rhaenyra to take action and she still refuses. At the docks, Rhaenys and Corlys wonder who will be heir to Driftmark now that Luke is gone. Rhaena sets out for Dragonstone with the children and two small dragons named Stormcloud and Taraxes. Rhaenyra also gives her four dragon eggs to watch over with a grave message: if all is lost, the eggs are their hope for the future.
In King’s Landing, Helaena worries she has no right to her grief because the smallfolk lose their children more than her. Alicent reassures her she has every right to grieve, and Helaena says she forgives her, moving her mother to tears. Ser Criston departs from King’s Landing with his men, Alicent’s favor, and Alicent’s brother Ser Gwayne in tow. Ser Gwayne makes it clear that he dislikes Ser Criston for taking his father’s position.
Meanwhile, Aegon is in his room donning Aegon the Conqueror’s armor to fly out against the wishes of his council. Lord Larys visits him and changes his mind, informing him of the rumors in the city that his family and council want him to die so Alicent and Aemond can rule. He gives Lord Larys the title of Master of Whisperers. He decides to stay, and his new white cloaks invite him for a night out so a squire can lose his virginity.
In a crowded tavern, a man named Ulf spins a tale for his friends: that he is Daemon and Viserys’s half-brother and the true queen’s uncle, a dragon seed. Aegon and his friends arrive at the same tavern. While trying to find Sylvi, a popular sex worker, they stumble on her and Aemond in bed together. A drunk Aegon makes fun of him, and Aemond walks out completely naked and unashamed.
While patrolling on her dragon Moondancer, Baela sees Criston’s men and chases them into the forest, where they hide under the cover of the trees. She returns to Dragonstone with the news, and her council begs Rhaenyra to take action again. They plead with her to send a dragon to stop Ser Criston and again, she refuses. At Harrenhal, Daemon is hallucinating.
He ventures out of his room after hearing footsteps but finds no one. He discovers a young Rhaenyra in front of a roaring fire (the lovely Milly Alcock returns!) sewing Prince Jaehaerys’s head back on his body. Daemon drops his sword, and he’s transported outside, where a black-haired woman tells him he will die there.
“It’s Too Late, Rhaenyra”
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Rhaenyra arrives in King’s Landing disguised as a septa. She follows Alicent into the sept and draws a knife to keep her quiet. They begin to talk, and they both deny involvement in Luke and Jahaerys’s deaths. Rhaenyra wants to know what changed between them and why she is helping Aegon steal the throne.
She says that Viserys is the one who changed his mind and wanted Aegon to succeed him instead. Rhaenyra doesn’t believe that because her father was always certain about Rhaenyra being his successor. Alicent calls Aegon the “prince that was promised,” like Viserys did on his death bed, and Rhaenyra is shocked, thinking that Viserys shared the secret prophecy of Aegon the Conqueror, The Song of Ice and Fire.
It dawns on Alicent that her husband was not talking about their son. She’s horrified but insists that it’s too late to go back and there’s been no mistake like Rhaenyra is claiming. Before she quickly parts from Rhaenyra and the episode ends, with conviction, Alicent says: “It’s too late, Rhaenyra.”
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