“House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 8, “The Treasons at Tumbleton,” is the conclusion of the third season. The episode begins with Grand Maester Orwyle rushing to wake the queen. He brings news that Aegon is alive and that Sunfyre has burned Lord Mooton’s army. Rhaenyra is beside herself, and she goes to Daemon, who tries to steady her. Oddly, when he does so, he speaks High Valyrian.
They hatch a plan. Daemon will take Tumbleton, Hugh will guard the Dragonpit and every Hightower is to be killed. Rhaenyra is intent on destroying Ormund and Daeron to get rid of one enemy outright, and she makes it clear she would rather deal with Aegon herself. Wouldn’t that be a fitting end to the season, do you think?
Indeed, hearing that Aegon is alive and burning armies seems to drive Rhaenyra forward. Meanwhile, we cut to Tumbleton, where Ormund knights Daeron, naming him Ser Daeron the Daring before he has fought a battle. Ormund vows to protect the women and children of the town, then lines the walls with them minutes later. He makes a worthy opponent, if not an honorable one.
Rhaenyra Cleans House
Rhaenyra decides to go to the Great Sept to get the High Septon to anoint her and bless her rule. She also does away with Mysaria, the White Worm, who has been her spymaster and, lately, more than that. Rather than tell Mysaria herself, Rhaenyra has a lady-in-waiting deliver the news. Mysaria is to sail to Pentos and live in exile there. The viewer gets the sense that Rhaenyra is cleaning house for her eventual victory. Mysaria doesn’t go quietly, though. She slips her escort and turns up later in the crowd.
Rhaenyra is also trying to get the pregnant Helaena to eat. She encourages Helaena to think of the babe. Helaena turns the conversation around on her, telling Rhaenyra that everything she touches turns ugly. When Helaena still refuses, Rhaenyra orders her guards to force-feed her. It’s the coldest thing the queen has done all season, and the night is young.
Rhaenyra then goes to the Sept in full armor, with Alyn of Hull, a Velaryon guard and Joffrey, who is now her heir. When the High Septon refuses to anoint her, she has Alyn kill him. Then she steps outside and tells the people she is the Prince That Was Promised. Mysaria watches from the crowd.
The Battle for Tumbleton
There is a large army approaching Tumbleton. However, Ulf, who struck a deal with Ormund in the last episode, is nowhere to be found. He’s drunk in a tavern while Ormund’s men search the town for him.
Before the fighting starts, Gwayne Hightower brings Lord Corlys out to bargain. Gwayne offers to split the realm, and Corlys pushes for a marriage between Daeron and Rhaena. Daemon wants none of it. He sends Gwayne back to the walls and takes Corlys prisoner.
In the battle for Tumbleton in “House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 8, the Northmen attack first, beating their shields before they charge. Ormund’s men push children out in front of the gates as a last defense. Daemon orders them to move, but they have nowhere to go, and Caraxes burns the gate open anyway. Can you imagine a harder scene to watch?
Then Ormund finally finds Ulf, hiding in a latrine, and beats him in the street. That was a mistake. Ulf takes Silverwing into the sky and turns her fire on the town itself. Roderick Dustin, who has lost an arm, drives a blade into Ormund before Ulf’s fire swallows them both. Hugh, who abandoned his post at the Dragonpit, finds his wife, Kat, among the dead.
In the battle, Daemon fights Ser Jon Roxton, a huge knight. It is an even match, and Daemon nearly loses before a burning building collapses between them. He comes to bloodied and sees the city in ruins. Ultimately, Lord Corlys finds him and ushers him out. The carnage of the battle for Tumbleton is almost the last thing we see.
Helaena’s Choice
However, near the end of the episode, Helaena walks to her window and jumps. Rhaenyra, back from her speech, is summoned to Helaena’s room and finds the window open. She seems to surmise what happened. Then she notices the tapestry Helaena has been weaving all season. One panel shows Helaena’s death. The next shows Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne, surrounded by blood and fire. Rhaenyra closes the window. This is the last scene of the season.
Aemond Is Alive
Aemond, meanwhile, is alive despite his mother, Alicent, trying to poison him. Alys is nursing him back to health. She seems happy to have him and tells him a story about a mother whose boy was burned by dragonfire when Aegon the Conqueror took Harrenhal. That mother, cursed for turning to the old ways, is Alys herself, which makes her well over 100 years old.
Later in the episode, Aemond is awakened by the sound of wings and races out, expecting Vhagar. Instead, it’s Aegon arriving at Harrenhal on Sunfyre. Aemond falls to his knees. Aegon slaps him and calls him an imbecile, but Aemond doesn’t fight back. Alys shows up, and Aemond introduces her as his betrothed. Aegon proposes that the brothers leave Harrenhal together, head to Tumbleton and then take back King’s Landing.
Conclusion: A Fitting End
Unlike the second season, this season-ending episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 3 is packed with great happenings. Rhaenyra addresses the crowds after she has the High Septon killed for refusing to anoint her. She tells the people she is the chosen one. At the same time, the battle for Tumbleton is happening, which is a great culmination. The season ends with Helaena gone and Rhaenyra staring at a tapestry that shows her own future.
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