Warning: spoilers ahead! Do not proceed until you have watched the “House of the Dragon” season 3 premiere.
good night sweet prince.
“House of the Dragon” Season 3 opens by brutally murdering another main character: Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon (Harry Collette), the first son and heir of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy).
In the episode, Rhaenyra is informed that ships are gathering and preparing to fight. She wants to lead her dragon, Syrax, into a naval battle – called The Battle of the Gullet.
Jace insists that, because his mother is the queen, he should not risk going. He locks Rhaenyra in her chambers and disobeys her orders, unleashing his dragon, Vermax, to enter the battle.
As Jace and Varmax fly over the water where ships are fighting, his cousin, Lady Rhaenys Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), flies in on Sheepstealer, the wild dragon she has recently tamed.
Unfortunately, Jace had no idea that Reena was coming to his aid, and he becomes both surprised and disoriented.
Since she is new to flying the dragon and is a wild animal that steals sheep, Rehana’s control over the dragon is limited. The beast keeps spitting fire at people the wrong way – no matter what side of the war they are on.
Rena and Sheepstealer distract Jace, allowing enemies on the ships below to shoot down the Wormax.
Jace falls from the injured Vermax. As he swims into the water, archers on a nearby ship shoot him in the chest with arrows, killing him. His dead body was left floating in the water.
During an HBO press conference attended by Page Six, Colette said that Jess had “reached his boiling point”, which is why he locked his mother in his room and entered the fight against her orders.
He added, “He’s very determined. He knows what he wants, he knows what has to be done and he won’t let anyone stand in his way of getting it.”
But, in the end, Jess Was Stopped – by distracting dragons and a hail of arrows.
The show takes place approximately 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” In the years following “House of the Dragon”, the Battle of Gullet has become known as the bloodiest sea battle in the history of Westeros.
The main forces fighting in the battle are the Triarchy, led by Sharko Lohar (Abigail Thorne) and Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall), who are violently clashing against Jace’s grandfather, Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his forces.
“House of the Dragon” follows Rhaenyra and her allies – including Corlys – fighting for control of the Iron Throne.
In true “House of the Dragon” style, Jace isn’t the only death involved in the season 3 opener.
Sharko and Tyland were also killed in the battle of Gullet.
Tyland’s twin brother, Jason Lannister (also Hall), is beheaded offscreen at the beginning of the episode.
Jace is Rhaenys’s second son to die, after his half-brother Aemond Targaryen (Evan Mitchell) the dragon. ate her son Luceris “Luke” Velaryon (Elliot Grihault)At the end of Season 1.
For those keeping count: Rhaenyra started out with five sons, and now has three. Her eldest three sons (including Jace and Luke) were fathered by Harvey Strong (Ryan Core). The father of her younger two sons (who did not appear much on screen) was her uncle-slash-husband, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).
During a press conference attended by Page Six, showrunner Ryan Condal said, “It’s a Shakespearean family tragedy,” adding, “Things get darker and a little bleaker.”
This is the final season, as HBO has announced that the show will end with the upcoming season 4.
Condal said, “There’s a darker mood that you’ll see unfold not only in the rest of this season, but in the final season as well.”
“House of the Dragon” airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on HBO.
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