The third season of House of the Dragon is fast approaching, and with each week that goes by, fans are uncovering more clues when it comes to what we can expect. Of course, the HBO series adapts George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, so us book readers have a general idea of what’s to come. But we don’t know how major events will be adapted, for instance how battles will be depicted and how much of the book the third season will cover.
The Game of Thrones spinoff, which follows House Targaryen at the height of their power, has faced criticism for its book changes, particularly in its second season. We can absolutely expect more deviations in the third season, though we’re banking on a few big moments guiding us through. The Battle of the Gullet is one highly anticipated sequence we know should start the third season, and the Fall of King’s Landing is another moment we’re banking on seeing play out.
Freddie Fox all but confirms Gwayne Hightower survives season 3
But just because the show should adapt these major moments, doesn’t mean they’ll all go the same way they do in the book.
Warning: MAJOR Fire & Blood book spoilers are below.
In a recent interview with Hello! Magazine (as spotted by X account @rhaenicentfiles), actor Freddie Fox casually mentioned returning for House of the Dragon season 4 when talking about what he’s got going on next. The English actor joined the fantasy series in the second season as Gwayne Hightower, Alicent Hightower’s brother who is loyal to Team Green in the Targaryen civil war.
“I’ve just wrapped on Sharon Horgan’s new show Youth. After High Society is over, I hope to do some more theatre and then do the final season of House of the Dragon,” Fox shared. “I have also just finished the edit on a documentary feature about British theatre in the 20th century.”
It’s a quick comment, but Fox’s confirmation that he’ll be back for another season also confirms a key book change, as we know Gwayne Hightower dies in Fire & Blood during the Fall of King’s Landing. Given the timeline we expect the show will follow, this major moment will take place in season 3, but all things point to Gwayne not being there.
This is something we’ve been suspecting for a while. Based on what we know so far, Gwayne seems to be headed to Harrenhal with Criston and Aemond, meaning the show will likely be giving him an expanded role compared to the book. In the latest season 3 teaser trailer, we get a quick shot of Gwayne looking distraught outside in the rain, in what appears to be in route to battle:
At the very least, that’s not King’s Landing.
Depending how the season Frankensteins the source material, it was possible that Gwayne could’ve been in a different location at the start of season 3, only to return to King’s Landing to be killed, but that’s not likely. And now that Fox has confirmed he’ll be in the final season, there’s no reason to believe he’ll be present for the Fall of King’s Landing.
It’s always possible, I guess, that Gwayne could appear in the final season through flashbacks, but again, that’s really not likely. He’s not a central enough character to warrant it, and it wouldn’t make sense for someone like Alicent to see him in a vision. (Though this show loves their visions!)
Fans on social media had been suspecting, like us, that Gwayne would survive season 3, and it seems the general consensus is intrigue. Fox is great in the role, though it’s been minor so far, so I wouldn’t mind seeing more of him in the next two seasons. Let’s just hope the choice to keep him alive actually makes sense, and serves the story in some way.
House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on June 21.
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