We’ve just gotten another jam-packed episode of House of the Dragon season 3, and fans are already counting down the days until we can see what happens next. The second episode, which released tonight, gives us the highly-anticipated Fall of King’s Landing, as Rhaenyra Targaryen takes back her seat on the Iron Throne. But it’s not without consequences. Something tells me victory might not feel as sweet as expected.
We’re still processing the concluding moments of tonight’s episode, but we’ve got to start looking ahead to next week, because HBO has shared the trailer for episode 3 and it looks like another great one.
Preview for next week
Not much of a surprise, the trailer for next week’s episode focuses on Rhaenyra’s new role as the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. “I must justify my father’s faith in me,” she proclaims at the start of the video. As she walks through the Red Keep, she learns first-hand how much is now being asked of her. From navigating requests from the people of King’s Landing to deciding the next move in the war, she must make quick—and smart—decisions to pull this all off.
And, as this trailer suggests, Rhaenyra might not be able to remain her kindhearted self while doing so. We see a quick clip of Daemon saying, “You’re going to have to kill him” (though we don’t know who he’s referring to) followed by a scene of Alicent saying, “You may not rule and remain yourself. There is a new door that must shut. You’ll do things that your heart would’ve recoiled from.” Rhaenyra struggles with this, believing she can rule fairly as her father did. But of course, Viserys’ circumstances were much different.
At long last, she’s back at King’s Landing in the chair her late father once sat. The power is hers, but at what cost? She’s lost two sons, one in the season 3 premiere, and though she has supporters in the city, she also still has many doubters. Plus, there’s the fact that Aegon has fled the castle. She can claim he’s dead all she wants, but what of when he inevitably turns back up?
And just because Rhaenyra sits the Iron Throne doesn’t mean the Dance of the Dragons is over. There are still many who pledge allegiance to Aegon, and more bloodshed is unavoidable. She’s also going to have to deal with matters of the city without a strong Small Council. She might’ve been born into royalty, but she’s still new to ruling.
Her friendship with Alicent is also bound to add some complexities to Rhaenyra’s rule. Of course, the two women hatched up a plan in the season 2 finale, but Alicent can no longer hold up her full side of the bargain with Aegon gone. Plus, Rhaenyra has just killed Alicent’s father Otto. There’s no way that will go over well with Alicent, understandably. But Alicent has still taken Rhaenyra’s side over her own son, so who knows where her head will be at? We’ll find out next week, we suppose.
What comes next in Fire & Blood
In addition to the trailer for season 3 episode 3, we also have ideas of what’ll happen next based on what happens in the source material, George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood. The show has made several changes from the book, so the timing of events doesn’t line up perfectly, but we know a few key moments that should happen next. WARNING: Spoilers for Fire & Blood are below.
More battles will continue throughout the rest of season 3—though we don’t know how many we’ll straight-up see, considering the show has removed depictions of more than one already, including the Battle by the Lakeshore. Criston Cole should arrive at Harrenhal soon to chart his army’s next move, but with Aemond now injured, we’re not sure how that will go. One thing we can expect is a relationship between Aemond and Alys Rivers to form. It’s likely she will agree to nurse him back to health, and during that time, they should form a bond that goes past platonic.
Aemond and Alys’ looming relationship has been largely kept under wraps, though actors Ewan Mitchell and Gayle Rankin have referenced it subtly during the press tour for season 3. Rankin even deemed their dynamic “juicy” and “surprising,” so I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes.
Back in King’s Landing, traitors of Rhaenyra are punished for their actions, with not just Otto and Jasper Wylde executed but other lords as well. We don’t know how bloodthirsty show Rhaenyra will be after killing Otto, but there’s a chance others will face punishment of some kind. In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra is described as becoming “a vindictive woman” after taking the Iron Throne, with one even nicknaming her “King Maegor with teats.” Considering the direction the show has taken with Rhaenyra, we doubt this will be the case onscreen.
Navigating the city and all of its needs won’t be an easy feat for Rhaenyra, but she’s here now. She’s back in the seat she deserves, and that’s a step in the right direction.
The next episode of House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, July 5.
Add us as a preferred source on Google