The House of the Dragon season 3 finale is finally here, and there's a lot to process: from shocking deaths and Emmy-worthy performances to moments that are bound to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. This epic finale acts as a monumental payoff for the setup built throughout previous episodes, but it doesn’t tie up every single loose end.
The fourth and final season of House of the Dragon is currently set to be released in 2028. Unfortunately, there's a long wait ahead of us, but we may have an idea of where the HBO show is headed thanks to a prophecy that could have devastating repercussions for Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy).
But before we go any further, consider this an official warning: There will be major spoilers for House of the Dragon and Fire & Blood ahead. If you don't want to know how this tale may end, then it's best to turn away now.
Helaena's tapestry depicts Rhaenyra Targaryen as a queen, but there's a huge catch
House of the Dragon has made it very clear that Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) has dragon dreams—prophetic visions of events bound to play out in the future. Rhaenyra Targaryen herself is desperate to know whether she appeared in any of these dreams wearing a crown on her head, proving that she was truly destined to rule the Seven Kingdoms.
Rhaenyra's own insecurities lead her to search for divine answers about whether she is meant to be queen. However, we have a good-news/bad-news type of scenario here.
Before her unfortunate death, Helaena knits a large tapestry that acts as one huge prophecy. We know these events will indeed materialize, as Helaena's own death is immortalized in the fabric. On the bright side, Rhaenyra is also there, wearing a crown right in front of the Iron Throne... so her reign should be undeniable, right?
Well, this is where I have to issue a second spoiler warning: If you haven't read George R.R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood and don't want to know how the Targaryens' tale plays out, then it's best to stop reading.
Still here? Great, then chances are you noticed there's something off with Helaena's tapestry. Sure, Rhaenyra is depicted on the Iron Throne wearing a crown, but she also has what appears to be blood all over her as she extends her arms. To make things more interesting, fire is spreading from behind the Iron Throne, so what is really going on? Well, it turns out the answer was already spoiled in the first adaptation of Martin's novels.
During the third season of Game of Thrones, Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) breaks down the fate of the current Queen of the Seven Kingdoms: "Rhaenyra Targaryen was murdered by her brother, or rather, his dragon. It ate her, while her son [Aegon III] watched. What's left of her is buried in the crypts right down there."
In Fire & Blood, the smallfolk of King's Landing turn against Queen Rhaenyra. A mob of angry rioters even kills her dragon, Syrax, during the Storming of the Dragonpit. Betrayed by her own people and with nowhere left to go, Rhaenyra flees with Aegon III to Dragonstone—the only place she thinks could act as a refuge. Unfortunately for her, the castle had already been seized by her half-brother, Aegon II Targaryen (played by Tom Glynn-Carney in House of the Dragon).
It is at that moment that Aegon orders his dragon, Sunfyre, to eat Rhaenyra while her son can do nothing but watch this tragic scene.
It seems the show could take some liberties when adapting the queen's death, especially if she is killed in King's Landing right in front of the Iron Throne, and not on Dragonstone. Regardless of the case, it doesn't change the fact that a grim ending is coming for a character whose story we've been following for years on the small screen.
Game of Thrones was never afraid of killing off any of its main characters, and it seems the same will hold true for House of the Dragon. Unfortunately, we have to wait two years before we find out how this tale will conclude, but don't expect a happy ending to come our way.
All episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 are streaming on HBO Max.
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