It's hard to believe House of the Dragon season 3 is already coming to an end, but the finale is almost here—and there are a number of threads it needs to resolve before closing out this chapter.
This season of House of the Dragon drastically upends the power dynamics within the Dance of the Dragons, putting Rhaenyra Targaryen on the Iron Throne and forcing both Aegon and Aemond to lie low. After the most recent episodes of the Game of Thrones spinoff, the odds look set to change again, however. Rhaenyra continues to face challenges that threaten to topple her reign, Aegon is reunited with his dragon, and Lord Ormund Hightower (and thus, Daeron) has powerful pieces in play.
The latter will be the focus of season 3's finale, which will set its sights on Tumbleton as a major battle unfolds there. With House of the Dragon season 4 confirmed to be the show's last, fans can anticipate prominent storylines and characters coming to an end there. This week's episode is unlikely to determine who will sit permanently on the Iron Throne, but it will move the story forward in a big way. So, when can fans expect the finale on HBO and HBO Max?
What time is season 3 episode 8 out?
House of the Dragon season 3 continues to maintain a consistent schedule heading into its finale, occupying HBO's primetime slot on Sunday nights. Like the seven episodes before it, the season 3 finale will air on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday. Fans should savor it, as it's likely to be another couple of years before we return to the Targaryen civil war.
Those planning to watch this week's finale on HBO will need to be ready at 9 p.m. exactly, unless they're fine with missing key details of the episode. Viewers who are running behind shouldn't worry too much, though, as HBO's schedule indicates it will air again at the following times: 10:15 p.m., 12:11 a.m., 1:26 a.m., and 2:41 a.m. Given the likelihood of spoilers circulating, fans should try to catch at least one of those showings.
HBO Max subscribers are less chained to a specific viewing time, as they can begin the finale at any time after 9 p.m. ET on April 9. They also have the option to fast-forward, rewind, and pause throughout its run. For a series where details matter, that's a handy tool.
How long is season 3 episode 8?
Per HBO's schedule, House of the Dragon season 3's finale is listed as being 1 hour and 15 minutes. That runtime likely includes credits and post-episode commentary, but it's still notable as the longest of the season. Even the premiere, which featured the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet, clocked in at 1 hour and 12 minutes. Needless to say, season 3 is going out with a bang — and thank goodness for that, since we're going to be without dragons for a while.
Sign up for HBO Max
Those intent on keeping up with House of the Dragon week-to-week probably already have HBO Max subscriptions, but it's not too late for other fans to catch up on this outing. In fact, for anyone waiting to binge it all in one go, it's the ideal time to sign up. Once the finale is out, they'll be able to fly through the eight newest episodes.
Viewers planning a binge will probably be interested in one of HBO Max's monthly plans. The streaming service offers several of them, as well as annual options. Each tier comes with different benefits, and the best one will ultimately come down to preference. The platform does have a lot of great movies and shows for those interested in a longer-term arrangement. See the plans below.
Basic With Ads | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|
$10.99/month or $109.00/year | $18.49/month or $184.99/year | $22.99/month or $229/year |
Watch with limited ads | Watch on the go | Watch on the go and in 4K |
Stream on 2 devices at once | Stream on 2 devices at once | Stream on 4 devices at once (only 2 for sports) |
Full HD video resolution | Full HD video resolution | 4k Ultra HD video quality |
30 downloads to watch on the go | Dolby Atmos immersive audio (as available) | |
Live sports | 100 downloads to watch on the go | |
Live sports |
Students attending a U.S.-accredited college or university can also take advantage of HBO Max's student discount. It gives subscribers 50% off the Basic With Ads plans, which is an even cheaper way to get House of the Dragon access.
What happened in episode 7 and what to expect from the finale
House of the Dragon season 3, episode 7 raises the tensions on several storylines, leaving Rhaenyra with new problems to grapple with in the finale. She now knows that Rhaena is Sheepstealer's rider, causing a rift between Rhaenyra and Daemon and leaving Rhaena confined to the Red Keep without the wild dragon. Sheepstealer's fate remains ambiguous, but we don't technically see him die on-screen.
Aegon also announces his presence to Rhaenyra's armies—and burns her soldiers, thanks to Sunfyre's return—so he's a proper contender again. The finale will need to reveal what he plans to do next, and HBO's preview shows Rhaenyra and Daemon deciding how to respond. Addam also notes that the development has "set Rhaenyra on a dark path."
It also sees Rhaenyra's forces readying for battle, a sign that things at Tumbleton are about to boil over. A shot of Daeron confirms that Ormund has plans even he isn't privy to. Whether he's talking about Ulf's betrayal from House of the Dragon season 3, episode 6, or some other surprise remains to be seen.
With Daemon and Caraxes, the Winter Wolves, and the Rivermen marching, the Greens look like they'll face huge losses at the hands of the Blacks. As Lord Corlys puts it in the preview, they'll be facing "a mountain of dead Hightowers." As Rhaenyra's armies go scorched Earth, even Helaena notes that their father would hate this. Fire & Blood fans won't, though, as we may finally see the ruthless queen described in its pages. We'll have to watch the House of the Dragon season 3 finale to find out.
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