House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 has few of the season’s blasting revelations, powerful moments, and loads of new material to unpack. As was seen in its season 1 ending, Westeros of House of the Dragon was barreling straight to war, with Aemond Targaryen slaying Lucerys Velaryon on dragon back.
More than this, Season 2 has shown Rhaenyra and her camp retaliating to that heinous crime. The third episode importantly continues the idea that now, even if an understanding can be agreed upon, a cycle of blood has already begun, and there’s no going back.
1. Alicent & Rhaenyra’s Reunion Explained. What is Aegon’s Dream?
The biggest dangling thread in Alicent and Rhaenyra’s reunion has to be the former’s misinterpretation of King Viserys Targaryen’s last words. Delirious, the late Lord of the Seven Kingdoms spoke of Aegon’s dream—the Conqueror’s vision of the Song of Ice & Fire, the events of Game of Thrones.
Alicent believes that Viserys changed his mind at the last moment, and Viserys declared his son Aegon the king. This clears up how the capturing of the throne happens from the Greens’ side in season 1, episode 9.
Rhaenyra probed for information from Alicent regarding King Viserys’ final words and finally realized she had made a mistake. She corrects her by saying that it was the story of Aegon’s Dream, to which Alicent also nods, realizing her mistake.
It is important to note that Alicent thought she was doing what was right, correlating to the desires of Viserys, whom she loved to some extent.
This prophecy originates from the television series, making Alicent more sympathetic; the book Fire & Blood seems to make her just do this to help her son usurp Rhaenyra from the throne.
There’s more to this scene than just Aegon’s prophecy point, as it’s also about Rhaenyra’s season-long arc. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, House of the Dragon season 2, episode 3 director Geeta Vasant Patel briefly discussed it, connecting Rhaenyra’s motivations with her late and much-loved father.
Rhaenyra demands to know whether Viserys did change his mind, and for once, she is vindicated in her cause, knowing full well she was the rightful heir after all.
2. Why Alicent Says It’s Too Late To Stop The Civil War After Realizing Her Mistake?
Though Alicent realizes the fault in Aegon’s prophecy, she just washes away the fact, stating that it is too late to stop anything. Rhaenyra hopes to find common ground, but while they do, much has gone wrong.
She has already realized that Aegon is a bad king, but the moment he was put on the Iron Throne, it became unchangeable.
Aegon is Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Aemond Targaryen killed Lucerys in the skies above Storm’s End, Blood & Cheese assassinated the little Jaehaerys Targaryen, and both factions called banners and began to march their armies for war.
The Dance of the Dragons has begun.
3. The Battle of the Burning Mill: Episode 3 Title Explained
“House of the Dragon” Season 2, Episode 3 is named after the titular battle we see at the beginning of the episode. The Blackwoods and Brackens feud has only gained momentum, with Westeros torn between Aegon (Team Green) and Rhaenyra (Team Black) for the Iron Throne.
The Blackwoods are Team Black and the Brackens Team Green, and when a land border dispute devolves into shouting about which person the other family supports, the shouting and threats slam cuts to the same field littered with bodies and a smoking mill in the background.
The Battle of the Burning Mill is the first official skirmish in the Dance of the Dragons Civil War.
In the books, it’s a little different. It’s less instantaneous and more tactical. The show makes it seem like the tensions between the two families reached a breaking point and they decided to send their armies at each other. In “Fire and Blood,” the families clash; Amos Bracken and Samwell Blackwood, the same two who dueled for Rhaenyra’s hand, end up dead, and the most remarkable thing is that Daemon and Caraxes were a part of it.
With much more power and backing across Westeros, this battle proved that the Blacks were far stronger than Aegon and his Greens, which brought in reputation-damaging glimpses of moments like Blood and Cheese.
4. Did we see Benjicot Blackwood?
Many presumed that the character Kieran Burton played in the opening of Episode 3 was the fan-favorite book character Benjicot Blackwood because he looked like him in so many ways physically, but also because he teased on his social media that there might be a possibility.
Helpfully understood through subtitles, it was finally revealed that Burton was playing a character created for the show.
Son of Samwell Blackwood, Benjicot Blackwood succeeded as Lord of his house at 11 years old when his father died during the Battle of the Burning Mill.
He is an unabashed and vocal supporter of Rhaenyra during the Dance, and he proves repeatedly that he is quite lethal on any number of battlegrounds.
He acquired the nickname Bloody Ben for his ferocity.
5. What Baela & Moondancer Chasing Criston Cole Sets Up?
The first look at dragon action in House of the Dragon season 2 episode 3 was Baela riding Moondancer. She caught Ser Criston Cole and Ser Gwayne Hightower in the open in a very tense moment, plummeting down on top of them from the skies.
This is a serious character definition for Baela, who has spent most of her time until now out of the way. In Fire & Blood herself, Daemon’s wildcard, clearly doesn’t follow Rhaenyra’s orders to stay high above, out of trouble in that sparring exercise. But the scene meant more to sustain deeper reflections for season 2 of House of the Dragon.
Dragons have been loosed, and episode 3 is the precipice of the Dance of the Dragons living up to its name.
Criston Cole did his best to keep his army below the tree line, but they’ve been spotted, and Rhaenyra’s side knows they’ve mobilized. Baela alerts the Blacks to the Greens’ movements, shifting the conflict towards war as both sides must take immediate action.
6. About House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
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