The HBO prequel series is based on Fire & Blood, an extension of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire book series, which chronicles the reign of the Targaryen dynasty. If House of the Dragon is expected to run for two more seasons, it will have to pick up the pace to include many of the Dance's key moments. This leaves a significant number of battles and moments to be expected in season 3.

10 Rhaenyra Takes King’s Landing

Rhaenyra Taking The Iron Throne Could Be Imminent

House of the Dragon's season 2 ending has heavily alluded to Rhaenyra retaking King's Landing. Her side now has a notable advantage in dragon strength, a navy, and an army. Not to mention, Alicent has directly prepared Rhaenyra for this to transpire, claiming that she'll surrender the Red Keep upon her arrival.

Compared to the book, House of the Dragon's timeline has shifted the order of certain events, and Rhaenyra's capture of King's Landing seems to be happening just before other major events. This could happen as early as season 3's premiere, excitedly allowing many of the main characters to once again find themselves under the same roof. Daemon aids Rhaenyra in capturing the city in the book, and Alicent will also be taken prisoner upon their arrival.

9 The Battle Of The Gullet

Season 3's Major Battle Will Be at Sea

The biggest action set piece of season 3 could be the Battle of the Gullet, which offers something none of the best battles in the Game of Thrones franchise have had yet: an all-out naval confrontation. House of the Dragon's season 2 finale saw Tyland Lannister delegating with the Triarchy, who set sail for the Gullet in the closing montage.

Corlys Velaryon established his blockade of the Gullet in the season 2 premiere, cutting off King's Landings supply lines and causing the city to starve. The Triarchy is the Greens' counter to this, and they'll come head-to-head with the Velaryon fleet on the seas. The Blacks will send forth their dragonriders to aid the fleet, resulting in what could be one of the most visually astonishing sequences in fantasy television.

8 The Battle At The Red Fork

The Lannisters & Riverlords Should Collide Soon

Another fateful but ultimately less climactic battle has been set in motion by the season 2 finale. Jason Lannister marches the Lannister forces into the Riverlands, where they'll eventually be met by bannermen of House Tully in a conflict called the Battle at the Red Fork. This could've been an interesting battle to include in season 2's ending, as it doesn't require any dragon CGI.

The Battle at the Red Fork sees the forces of the Westerlands and Riverlands meeting for a brief conflict, resulting in the death of Lord Jason Lannister. He's the most notable character involved, so it could be a relatively quick battle sequence. But it importantly sets the Westerlands into a craze, causing the Greyjoys to get involved in the war as they start raiding Lannisport amidst the chaos.

7 The Battle Of The Honeywine

The Hightower Army Finally Arrives

Another battle set up in the finale's closing montage is the Battle of the Honeywine, which will see the Hightower forces and Prince Daeron Targaryen diving into the conflict for the first time. Daeron is the third son of Alicent Hightower and King Viserys I Targaryen, who's spent the duration of the show thus far at Oldtown, living with relatives. The finale saw his blue dragon, Tessarion, taking flight along with the Hightower army, and they'll be heading straight into battle early in season 2.

Lord Lyman Beesbury was a Rhaenyra loyalist killed by Criston Cole in the small council meeting following King Viserys' death. In return, House Beesbury finds themselves loyal to the Blacks during the Dance and confronts the forces of House Hightower in the Reach, along with House Tarly and other local allies. This battle could end up tied to Otto Hightower's mysterious disappearance and captivity, as he could be being held at a nearby castle.

6 The Winter Wolves Arrive

Cregan Stark's Northmen Enter The War

Lord Cregan Stark teased the arrival of the Winter Wolves in House of the Dragon's season 2 premiere, setting up the North's involvement in the war. As he describes them, the Winter Wolves are essentially older northern warriors who are vicious fighters prepared to die in the conflict and are sworn to Rhaenyra. They're one of the smaller armed forces during the Dance, but they pack a punch, and the season 2 finale sees them crossing the Twins and heading into the Riverlands.

The Winter Wolves will be moving about the Riverlands in season 2, combatting the Lannister forces and Criston Cole's Hightower forces. They'll essentially be an exciting team to root for going forward, as, though they aren't currently traveling with any major characters, audiences love House Stark, and they'll be devastating for the Greens. Along with Daemon's Riverlands army, the Winter Wolves will be a thorn in the Greens' side going forward.

5 Aegon Takes Dragonstone

Rhaenyra & Aegon House Swap

House of the Dragon's season 2 finale saw King Aegon II fleeing King's Landing with Lord Larys Strong, and they could both end up being less prevalent during season 3, as a lot still needs to happen before Aegon really becomes important again. He sustained serious injuries at Rook's Rest, and the show seems to have drastically altered his arc by proclaiming his dragon, Sunfyre, as dead. Larys' arc also seems to be diverting because he remains in King's Landing in the book after helping Aegon escape.

Eventually, Aegon will travel to Dragonstone and receive aid from the traitor, Ser Alfred Broome. Season 2 foreshadowed this by showing Broome's treachery in the finale, with the winds of the God's Eye even whispering "traitor" at him. In the book, he helps Aegon hide out at Dragonstone, and when Rhaenyra eventually returns, he sets a trap for her, allowing Aegon to capture her.

4 Rhaena Claims Sheepstealer

Rhaena Likely Bonds With The Wild Dragon In The Vale

Another plot point where House of the Dragon seems to be differing from the book is Rhaena claiming the wild dragon, Sheepstealer. In the book, Sheepstealer is claimed by a character named Nettles, who seems to be omitted from the show. Rhaena eventually hatches her own dragon, named Morning, but it's too young to be flown during the Dance. Having Rhaena tame Sheepstealer in the Vale is likely a method to incorporate the character into the action sooner.

The final moments saw Rhaena meeting Sheepstealer face to face after teasing their potential bond for the previous few episodes. Similarly, Baela Targaryen rides the dragon Moondancer in House of the Dragon season 2, who's much younger in the book and doesn't take flight this early in the war. The show seems to be expediting their dragon arcs to involve them more as characters, and it will be interesting to see how the show handles another massive dragon ing Rhaenyra's already powerful side.

3 The Two Betrayers

Hugh & Ulf's Character Will Be Tested

The Sowing of the Seeds was one of the most exciting events in House of the Dragon season 2, as the lowborn Targaryen bastards Hugh and Ulf walked away with the dragons Vermithor and Silverwing. While they're currently on Rhaenyra's side, the TV series has laid the foundation for their futures, with many discussions about the risks of allowing commoners to ride dragons. Rhaenyra has made men of questionable character some of the most powerful in the Seven Kingdoms, and it will be costly.

Hugh and Ulf eventually betray Rhaenyra at the First Battle of Tumbleton, where they help slay a Hightower onslaught, then turn and set the town ablaze. Season 3 will continue to explore these characters, but the foundation is already there for their turnaround. Ulf doesn't seem particularly loyal to anyone, while Hugh seems slightly disgruntled by Rhaenyra's willingness to kill innocents. Of course, there will be some more connecting tissue laid out over time, possibly involving Hugh's wife, who's original to the TV series.

2 The Battle Above The God’s Eye

Daemon & Aemond's Duel Has Been Teased

Not only has the Battle Above the God's Eye been established strategically, the fateful duel between Daemon and Aemond Targaryen has been directly announced by Alys Rivers and Helaena Targaryen. Both Daemon and Aemond are told blatantly that they're going to die at the God's Eye at some point in season 2, and their final duel could work as an incredible climax for season 3.

Aemond has already sent Criston Cole out to retake Harrenhal, and he'll eventually him in doing so. However, neither Daemon nor the Riverlands army will be there. The Riverlands forces will be crushing the Lannisters further west, while Daemon will have flown to King's Landing and helped Rhaenyra take the capital. In response, Aemond rides Vhagar around the Riverlands, lighting everything he can on fire until Daemon eventually flies out to meet him.

1 The Greens Retake Harrenhal

Aemond's Actions Lead To Other Character's Perils

As mentioned, the Greens will retake Harrenhal with little to no resistance. Here, Criston Cole and Aemond will have a fateful disagreement, as Cole suggests they return south to re forces with the larger Hightower host, while Aemond wants revenge against the Riverlands for tricking him into losing King's Landing. Aemond executes Ser Simon Strong and develops a romantic relationship with Alys Rivers while Cole retreats his army.

Aemond's refusal to guide Cole back south results in Criston Cole and his army being wiped out entirely at an event known as the Butcher's Ball. This could happen at some point in season 3 and will likely be one of the most delightful moments for House of the Dragon audiences, as he's quickly become the show's most hated character. The fate of Gwayne Hightower is still to be determined, as his character has become very different from the book counterpart.

House of the Dragon

TV-MA

Drama

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

8/10

179

8.3/10

Release Date

August 21, 2022

8/10

179

8.3/10

Taking place about 172 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon tells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.

Cast

Eve Best, Gavin Spokes, Graham McTavish, Bill Paterson, Matthew Needham, David Horovitch

Franchise(s)

Game of Thrones

Seasons

4

Streaming Service(s)

MAX

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