How are we feeling, House of the Dragon fans? Even if you’ve read Fire & Blood, George R.R. Martin’s Targaryen history book the prequel series is based on, seeing Jacaerys Velaryon’s (Harry Collett) death play out onscreen in the season 3 premiere was simply heartbreaking. We knew it was coming, yet we still couldn’t have prepared ourselves for the devastating way he went out.
If you haven’t read the source material and avoided spoilers, Jace’s death was likely even more upsetting for you. And while there weren’t any major indications he’d be meeting his fate prior to the season 3 premiere, it actually was foreshadowed. Don’t remember? It was pretty sneaky!
Season 2 subtly referenced Jace’s cause of death
As X account @westerosies pointed out this week, Jace’s death was foreshadowed in the second season during a scene between him and his betrothed, Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia). In episode 2, “Rhaenyra the Cruel,” Jace approaches Baela at Dragonstone as she’s practicing with her crossbow. It’s a heartfelt moment between the two characters as they talk about their fathers, but now eagle-eyed fans can’t help but notice the connection to Jace’s death.
Prince Jacaerys Velaryon’s death was foreshadowed in Season 2 when he approached Princess Baela Targaryen while she was practicing with her crossbow. #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/W21Qt2nZbZ
— westerosies (@westerosies) June 22, 2026
Of course, Jace dies at the Battle of the Gullet when being shot repeatedly with arrows. Even as someone who knew the cause of his death before season 3 premiered, I didn’t even put two and two together when watching this season 2 episode. When there’s so much going on between the families, it can be easy to miss such small details!
We’ll need showrunner Ryan Condal and the writers to weigh in on whether this was intentional or not, but now that we see it, we have trouble believing it was an accident.
Jacaerys’ death is a huge one for Team Black, and the Battle of the Gullet serves as a turning point for the Dance of the Dragons. Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) is about to learn she’s lost another son, which will likely fuel her even more to take back her rightful seat on the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, Corlys Velaryon’s (Steve Toussaint) fate remains up in the air after he was thrown off a ship during the battle, and Baela has to return to Dragonstone with a body. We’re expecting a very sad start to the second episode of season 3.
As for Collett, he knew his character’s death was coming since the first season, and he’s expressed nothing but gratitude for his experience in the days following the season 3 premiere.
“I was just in ADR and they were like, ‘This is gonna break some hearts,’” Collett recalled in May to Entertainment Weekly on the production of the Battle of the Gullet. “I was like, ‘I know it's morbid, but I hope so.’ I hope that people feel sad by it because it is sad, and the way they’ve done it is remarkable. Hopefully, I’ve imprinted enough Jace onto people's hearts that by the time I actually pass on the show, it makes an impact.”
That hope was certainly fulfilled.
We’ll be feeling Jace’s absence for the rest of House of the Dragon, but the war must (unfortunately) go on. Catch the next episode this Sunday, June 28 on HBO and HBO Max.
Add us as a preferred source on Google