Before the release of House of the Dragon season 3, Emma D'Arcy stated that audiences' loyalty to their character, Rhaenyra Targaryen, was about to be tested. At long last, episode 8 delivered on this promise.
When the daughter of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) and rightful heir to the crown finally got to sit on the Iron Throne, audiences cheered. Even real-life companies swore their loyalty to the new Queen of the Seven Kingdoms as a new era of prosperity was seemingly upon Westeros. Unfortunately, Rhaenyra's reign has slowly but steadily spiraled out of control to the point where there's no turning back.
The finale of House of the Dragon season 3 not only marked the conclusion of many storylines (and characters) but also set up a huge twist that's bound to have devastating repercussions for the Blacks. But before we go any further, be warned: This article contains major spoilers for both House of the Dragon season 3 episode 8 and George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood. If you don't want to have a sense of where season 4 is heading, it's best to turn back now.
Throughout the first two seasons of House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra was characterized by her compassion. Her father chose her as his heir because he wholeheartedly believed Rhaenyra could not only bring peace to the Seven Kingdoms but also unite them against the upcoming winter. Even when King Viserys wanted to hunt the White Hart, Rhaenyra simply let this majestic creature live. Additionally, she refused to go head-first into war on multiple occasions throughout season 2. Unfortunately, all that goodwill has now crumbled.
Rhaenyra's despicable acts in the House of the Dragon season 3 finale set up the smallfolk turning against her
Now, strictly speaking, Rhaenyra herself did nothing wrong. Let's be honest, she doesn't do a whole lot most of the time. However, the problem lies in the atrocious actions the men under her banner committed. Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan) led an entire army inside the walls of Tumbleton. But in order to accomplish that, they had to go through... literal children.
Ormund Hightower (James Norton) purposefully reinforced the city gates with small kids, likely believing that Rhaenyra's compassion would prevent the Blacks from storming the city anyway. However, at the very beginning of the episode, the queen ordered Daemon to "Attack Tumbleton, root out every Hightower and kill every last man," so that's exactly what he did, no matter the cost—despite Rhaenyra telling him not to make a “monster” out of her.
The Blacks' army killed (and even burned) children to breach Tumbleton's walls and doors. Once they entered the city, they attacked innocent civilians who had all sworn their loyalty to Rhaenyra Targaryen. Kat (Ellora Torchia) is the perfect example, as she was one of the war's unfortunate casualties despite having done nothing wrong herself.
Rhaenyra's latest orders will surely be the straw that breaks the camel's back. So far during her reign, the Gold Cloaks were killed, leaving the smallfolk in King's Landing unprotected. Furthermore, there has been no money to pay anyone or to attend to the smallfolk's countless problems. The High Septon was also unceremoniously stabbed, and Rhaenyra was labeled the "queen of bastards." Things have been going from bad to worse, and this will only lead to the smallfolk eventually turning against Rhaenyra, just as they did in Fire & Blood.
In Martin's book, Rhaenyra's severe mismanagement of the crown came to a breaking point when a prophet known as the Shepherd began to preach against her, and the smallfolk joined his cause. Thousands of rioters rose against the crown and even stormed the Targaryens' Dragonpit (in an event fittingly called the Storming of the Dragonpit), where they killed every dragon living there, including Rhaenyra's mount, Syrax.
With her back against the wall, Rhaenyra returned to the only place she thinks she will find refuge: Dragonstone. Unfortunately for her, Aegon II Targaryen had already taken over the place, and it is at that very moment that he fed Rhaenyra to his dragon, Sunfyre.
To add more fuel to the fire, Rhaenyra sees a prophecy of this moment during the House of the Dragon season 3 finale, thanks to the tapestry knitted by Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban).
Rhaenyra's acts during the finale of House of the Dragon season 3 have all but sealed her fate. The smallfolk are bound to turn against her, especially if word gets out that kids have been killed by her army. This maneuver is extremely likely to cost her the crown (and her life) on the small screen.
All episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 are now streaming on HBO Max.
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