House of the Dragon season 3 is here, and that premiere episode was about as epic, action-packed, and devastating as it gets.
Even for viewers who knew what was coming, it still managed to shock and surprise. Of course, the episode covers the Battle of the Gullet, which is regarded as one of the biggest naval battles in the history of Westeros. Translated for television, it made for one of the most expansive and explosive battles ever put to screen.
And at the heart of it was Harry Collett's Jacaerys Velaryon, who rides into the fight along with his dragon, Vermax. Knowing this would mark his final episode, the actor was adamant on saying one thing: “Dracarys.”
The Battle of the Gullet sees the massive armada from the Triarchy battle against Queen Rhaenyra’s forces. Jace flies into the midst against his mother’s wishes. His dragon causes devastation, charring enemy ships in its charge— but ultimately, Vermax's killing spree is cut short by a rain of arrows and spears.
Vermax falls down into the water. While Jace manages to unhook himself from his dying dragon and catch his breath, he is killed by enemy arrows, dying in the waves of the Gullet. He's the second son Rhaenyra has lost, after Lucerys in season 1.
It felt like the writing was on the wall when Jace disobeyed his mother. At 16, he is your typical over-confident teenager, thinking he could tackle the Triarchy army on his own.
Harry Collett talks Jace’s death in House of the Dragon
"[Rhaenyra] has been fighting so hard to keep me at home and keep me safe because she knows that I'm the heir," Collett told Entertainment Weekly. "Now, he's playing the 'I don't want to listen to mum. I'm gonna be my own man now,' which is completely fair enough because 16 in the Game of Thrones world is probably 30-odd."
Naturally, Collett knew Jace's death was coming, but he ardently requested to the House of the Dragon writers that he be able to do one thing before bowing out of the series: shout dracarys”—the High Valyrian command for a dragon to shoot fire. The command has become one of the most notable words from the franchise's language.
“There's no way I can leave this show without saying ‘Dracarys!’” Collett stated. “There was no way. Not on my watch.”
This moment was not initially planned. "I'm shouting these Valyrian words and saying 'Dracarys,' which wasn't really originally in the script," Collett added. "I actually asked if I could say that. So I was really happy about that."
After wrapping, Collett recieved one of the coolest pieces of memorabilia from the House of the Dragon team in the form of a 3D model of Vermax's head, as well as Jace's sword. Not a bad haul. "As soon as I got home, I was FaceTiming all of my friends. 'Look what I've got!'" he recalled. He also got to DJ at a screening event in New York City on Sunday night.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1, “Salt, Sea, Fire and Blood,” is now streaming on HBO Max. Are you still processing Jace’s death? Us too.
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