House of the Dragon season 3 got off to an epic start this past weekend with a gargantuan battle episode the likes of which the series has never seen. "Sea and Salt, Fire and Blood" featured the Battle of the Gullet, by far the most ambitious naval sequence ever filmed for a Game of Thrones series. Throw in a big shocker death, and most of what's been talked about in the wake of the premiere is the Gullet.
But there were also plenty of standout moments outside the battle as well, for good and bad. We got an introduction to Ormund Hightower (James Norton), an important new character who'll be shaking things up this season. Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) kissed his mom, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), and audiences the world over cringed in discomfort. Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) waged war in the Riverlands and joined forces with a new ally, Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan) and the Winter Wolves.
Then there was King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), whose escape from the Red Keep with Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) lasted all of two minutes on screen before they were promptly captured by soldiers loyal to Queen Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy). Aegon has been a fascinating character in House of the Dragon, swaying between morally reprehensible actions and kind ones, cowardice and surprising resolve. He displayed the latter in this instance, refusing to bend the knee to Rhaenyra even though it would have gotten him off scot-free.
Instead, Larys has to reveal Aegon's true identity to avoid them both getting their throats slit. When last we see them, they're taken captive by men loyal to House Staunton, which is the minor house that controlled Rook's Rest prior to the battle there in season 2. These House Staunton guards want to take Aegon and Larys to Duskendale, where they can catch a ship to Dragonstone to collect a reward from Rhaenyra.
There's just one problem: the last time we saw Duskendale, it was controlled by the Greens. Has something changed, or is this a new plot hole introduced by House of the Dragon season 3? Let's get into some minor spoilers from Fire & Blood to talk about the fate Rook's Rest and Duskendale.
Who controls Duskendale and Rook's Rest in House of the Dragon season 3?
In Fire & Blood, Aegon II and Larys completely disappear from the narrative after escaping King's Landing until much later in the story, when they resurface for major events far from the Red Keep. The time period between is a mystery — and that is exactly what House of the Dragon is fleshing out for these characters in season 3, by giving them their own journey. Considering how magnetic Glynn-Carney has been in the role, this is an undeniably smart choice for the series.
At this point in the show, we're much in need of details for the lay of the board in the Crownlands; the castles there change hands multiple times during the Dance of the Dragons in Fire & Blood, so it's definitely possible that has already begun to happen off screen. To some extent, I expect that Aegon II's story will function as a vehicle for this information, clueing viewers in to how the balance of power has shifted in places like Rook's Rest and Duskendale.
In the book, Rook's Rest is eventually retaken by Lord Walys Mooton, who leads a small force of fighters loyal to Rhaenyra there and defeats the garrison left by Criston Cole after the battle. We haven't seen this happen in the show or heard any mention of it, so as things stand the assumption should be that Cole's garrison is still present at the castle. This could explain why House Staunton guards are randomly wandering the forest, instead of defending their keep: they're essentially a roving pack of bandits loyal to Rhaenrya.
Then there's Duskendale, where these House Staunton guards want to catch a ship to Dragonstone. We saw Criston Cole's army sack Duskendale at the beginning of House of the Dragon season 2 episode 4, where he beheaded Lord Gunthor Darklyn (Steven Pacey) and forced the remaining levies to bend the knee to Aegon. Since then there's been no word of how things might have changed there.
Duskendale plays an interesting role in the Dance in that it gets conquered by the Greens, its soldiers taken into their armies at key points, but its loyalty vascillates between factions. In the months following its sack, Lady Meredyth Darklyn begs for aid from Queen Rhaenyra out of fear that Aemond and Vhagar might show up and burn the city to the ground. Rhaenyra never sends that aid, which isn't forgotten by Lady Darklyn. What's more, the blockade of the Gullet actually has an adverse effect on Duskendale just as much as King's Landing, which strains the city's alliance with the Blacks even further.
This all comes to the fore later in the Dance, when Lady Meredyth helps Rhaenyra return to Dragonstone — but only reluctantly, showing how much things have devolved between Duskendale and the Black Queen.
All this begs the question: who will be in control of Duskendale if Aegon and Larys are taken there? Has Lady Meredyth reasserted control — and her faith in the Blacks? Or does the recent sack and influence of the Greens in nearby castles like Rook's Rest keep them in line with Regent Aemond's wishes?
This matters, because if Duskendale is still under the sway of the Greens, it makes no sense for House Staunton guards to want to go there. They'd be walking directly into hostile territory, instead of a city they expect to be friendly enough that they can charter a vessel out to Rhaenyra's stronghold. So while House of the Dragon may have glossed over this plot point, it actually is fairly important for whatever may happen next with Aegon and Larys.
Of course, this is all assuming they make it there at all. New images from episode 2 cast doubt on that front. If they don't, then it's anyone's guess how we'll find out more about the state of things in Duskendale.
Hopefully, House of the Dragon season 3 gives us some more concrete answers to these questions and more. New episodes premiere Sunday nights on HBO and HBO Max.
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