House of the Dragon
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HBO season three Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragonreleased on HBO and HBO Max last Sunday, debuted with 21.5 million viewers—a huge number, although nearly 2 million shy of the 23.4 million viewers who watched the season two premiere.
Still, these are huge numbers for a dark fantasy drama, proving that there are still plenty of devotees in Westeros willing to watch knights and queens conspire and fight against each other with steel and dragonfire. Here’s everything you need to know about House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 2.
Be sure to check out my weekend streaming guide for all the best TV shows and movies coming out this weekend.
What happened in season 3, episode 1 of “House of the Dragon”
House of the Dragon
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For a full review of the season three premiere, check out my review. I had pretty mixed feelings about this episode, which had some great moments but a lot of disappointing changes from the source material.
The Season 3 premiere largely focused on the infamous Battle of the Gullet, when Triarchy forces attacked Lord Corlys Velaryon’s blockade of King’s Landing. Outnumbered, Team Black risked losing its naval dominance. Just in time, Prince Jaqueris and Princess Baela arrived on the back of a dragon.
The tide turned, the battle was almost won, the Triarchy archers managed to hit Jace’s dragon, Vermax, and the dragon and rider collapsed into the waves. While the Crown Prince managed to free himself from the dragon before sinking, Triarchy crossbowmen shot him from a nearby ship, killing both dragon and rider.
Elsewhere, Damon and his troops celebrated their victory and joined the people of the North. Gwaine Hightower and Criston Cole continue their march through the Riverlands, wary of Team Black’s dragons and unsupported by Team Green’s own winged beasts. Plots and machinations were also set in motion in King’s Landing, where Alicent plotted against her own sons, sending Aemond out of the city and paving the way for Rhaenyra to take over the city.
What time will the premiere of Episode 1 of Season 3 of “House of the Dragon” be released?
House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 2 will air at 9:00 pm ET/6:00 pm PT on Sunday, June 28 and will run for a total of 68 minutes. The new season is accompanied by an updated opening credits sequence and theme song.
House of the Dragon season release schedule
Like the second season, the third season will consist of only eight episodes instead of ten. Here’s when they’ll air on HBO and HBO Max:
- Episode 1: Sunday, June 21, 2026 (Recap)
- Episode 2: Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Episode 3: Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Episode 4: Sunday, July 12, 2026
- Episode 5: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Episode 6: Sunday, July 26, 2026
- Episode 7: Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Episode 8 (final): Sunday, August 9, 2026
Watch the teaser for Episode 2 of Season 3 of “House of the Dragon”
Here’s a teaser for episode 2:
Summary of the second season of “House of the Dragon”
The first season’s time-jumping plot ended with the death of King Viserys I and a difficult path to succession, with Team Black, led by his daughter Rhaenyra and her husband and uncle Daemon, and Team Green, led by the Hightowers and Visery’s sons along with Alicent, Aegon and Aemond, vying for power.
At the end of the first season, when Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys visits Storm’s End to ask House Baratheon to join their cause, he and Alicent’s second son, Aemond, exchange barbs. This escalates into a dragon chase, and Aemond’s giant ancient beast is consumed by bloodlust, killing Luke and his dragon, much to Aemond One-Eye’s dismay.
If earlier it was possible to achieve peace, now there is no turning back. In season two, Daemon sends assassins to kill Aemond in revenge, but they can’t find him, so they behead Aegon and Helena’s young son and heir, Jaehaerys, instead. The second season continues to move very slowly as both sides form alliances and increase their power, although the Battle of Rook Rest gives us the first real battle of the dragons. Rhaenyra’s aunt Rhaenys is killed in battle and Aegon is mutilated and his own dragon is left for dead on the battlefield. Team Black gains an advantage when they recruit riders for their spare dragons from the common folk, but Team Green still holds King’s Landing.
However, all this could change. In a secret meeting between Rhaenyra and Alicent, the Queen Dowager agrees to help Rhaenyra take King’s Landing, even if it costs her son Aegon his head. Meanwhile, Lord Corlys Velaryon and his fleet blockade the city while Team Black commands from Dragonstone, the Daemons fight in the Riverlands, and Aemond languishes on the throne he took from his crippled brother. Laris leads Aegon out of the city, and we see Otto Hightower languishing in a prison cell.
Actors of the series “House of the Dragon”
House of the Dragon stars:
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
- Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Christon Cole
- Sonoya Mizuno as Misaria
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacquerys Velaryon
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Reyna Targaryen
- Fia Saban as Queen Helena Targaryen
- Matthew Needham as Laris Strong
- Freddie Fox as Ser Gwaine Hightower
- Abubakar Salim as Aline from Hull
- Gail Rankin as Alice Rivers
- Tom Bennett as Ulf the White
- Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
Among the newcomers:
- James Norton as Ormund Hightower
- Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Torren Manderly
- Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent
- Joplin Sibtain as John Roxton
- Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort
- Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood
You can find my review of the Season 3 premiere here on this blog right after the episode airs, and let me know what you thought of “House of the Dragon.” TwitterInstagram or Facebook.