The third season of House of the Dragon is finally complete, and now we shall await the coming of season four in two years time. MeinMMO editor Sophia Weiß loved everything about this season. However, she’s looking at the next season with concern.
Now, eight episodes later, the third season of House of the Dragon is fully online. This time there were finally some really cool dragon fights, a few epic battles, and exciting character developments. Without spoilers: This was basically a really good season, of which I would like to have more of that caliber.
This round the series took it’s time to lead up to the major events and plot points. It shows – not tells – why characters are now behaving differently than they did in seasons one or two. This finally gives the show the weight that I felt it was lacking at the beginning.
But exactly this lead-up now worries me when I think aoubt the future of the show, considering that we only have one season left with presumably eight or ten episodes ahead of us.
And I don’t know if that will be enough.
Brilliant performances turn hated characters into new favorites
Let’s start with the positives: Season three delivered some of the best performances from the entire Westeros universe. Emma D’Arcy shines in episode two as Rhaenyra Targaryen. The queens grief and anger over the death of her son Jacaerys and the implied betrayal by her own people comes across quite well.
This emotional outburst lays the groundwork for Rhaenyra’s subsequent development: She becomes increasingly insecure, struggles with her self-worth, and almost desperately seeks legitimacy for her rule and position. She tries for too long to follow in her father’s footsteps, to promote peace and cooperation. But this is no longer the world in which she lives.
At the same time, her adversary, her younger brother Aegon, played by Tom Glynn-Carney, is developed as a sympathetic character. His road trip with Larys Strong across Westeros has almost The Office
-qualities in terms of humor.
Aegon starts the season as a whiny loser, finds his self-confidence, and ends it triumphantly in the face of his reformed younger brother and tormentor Aemond. A really great character arc, and I can understand if there are now more fans of Team Green. One could almost forget that he is a drunken rapist.
Daemon also truly excelled this season. After trying to make himself the king in season two, he now firmly stands behind his wife Rhaenyra and is devoted to her. He is also the only one in Team Black who has sorted out the priorities clearly. Aside from the problems surrounding his daughter Rhaena.
Daemon completely misjudged Rhaenyra with the thought that she might mean harm to Rhaena. By the way, I like that Rhaena has taken on Nettel’s story arc. Even in the books, Daemon is said to take care of Nessel almost like a father. If the shoe fits.
The dragons good again this season, too: Whether it’s Sheepstealer with his nasty underbite, the lovebirds Vermithor and Silverwing, or the really aggressive Syrax this time. The award for the best house dragon goes to Noodle-Boy Caraxes, who makes excellent decisions even without Daemon’s orders. For example in the last episode, he stops Ulf and Silverwing from completely burning down Tumbleton.
Ulf’s betrayal, by the way? Pure perfection. That he would betray Rhaenyra was wonderfully set up. But that he would then be treated just as badly by Ormund and then simply side with both sides? I love it. House Hohenturm, who brought a brilliant villain like Ormund into the play, unfortunately misplayed that.
All in all, there was finally more of what I watch House of the Dragon for: more dragons, more battles, and great character developments.
Character development is not always good
I found Aemond’s story difficult. The guy from Team Green with the largest and most dangerous dragon gets himself stabbed, after which he is almost helplessly exposed to the influence of a woman over 100 years old. His initial self-confidence wanes, and Aemond becomes tame.
Character development is good, but Alys exploits him, and his behavior towards the returned Aegon is almost submissive. Yes, Aemond tried to kill his brother. Now he could at least stand behind that decision.
Alicent also did not deliver a masterpiece this season. At the end of season two, she wanted to help Rhaenyra ascend to the throne as a major puppet master. What turned out was a golden cage for her and her only daughter Helaena.
For Alicent’s worry about her children was the real reason for the antagonization of Rhaenyra, she especially quickly threw her older two sons to the she-dragon as fodder. Aegon and Aemond not being innocent lambs should have been clear to her in advance.
But jer 180-degree was truly strange. Especially considering that season three Alicent went on to be stubborn and she even talked back to her jailer, Rhaenyra. And then she left her innocent daughter Helaena alone to kill one of her sons herself?
Alicent’s wasn’t consistent at all this season.
Time to breathe, but at the cost of pacing
Season three did much more right than season two, which almost starved us concerning the actual Dance of Dragons. But this season also took a lot of time for all plot points. I think it’s good to see how Rhaenyra slowly but surely becomes desperate and then finally switches gears in the finale, becoming an active participant in her own war.
In the end, House of the Dragon gave us what we missed in season 1 as well as in the final seasons of Game of Thrones: time to let the characters breathe and develop. Rhaenyra doesn’t go mad and burn King’s Landing in the blink of an eye like Daenerys. We can understand how her madness, her paranoia, slowly grows. That’s good.
But we also know that season four will be the last. Episode eight has now brought us the first of two battles for Stolperstadt. But there are still a whole series of other events that need to be told in about eight, at most ten more episodes. Including among others:
- The fall of Dragonstone
- The revolt of King’s Landing
- The storming of the dragon pit
- The second battle of Stolperstadt
- The battle above Gods Eye
- Battle on the Kingsroad
- The hour of the wolf
That could get pretty tight. Of course, not every single confrontation needs to be shown – the battle at the lakeside was only hinted at in episode two. But I think it would be suboptimal if at least the fights in which dragons and main characters die don’t make it to the screen.
And there are still comparatively many fire-breathers alive – I was expecting a stronger thinning out throughout the season. But aside from Vermax, we didn’t lose any of the beasts. I don’t want to complain, I love the dragons. But losing them all at once in the grand finale will be tough.
Want a second helping? See you in two years!
It’s good that we’ve had so much time to observe the characters in their development. Season three was also incredibly fun. From the battle in the gorge to the first confrontation in Stolperstadt. But I am indeed worried about whether and how much of the considerable pile of material still ahead of us we will really be able to adapt.
Especially if we maintain the current level of detail and continue to give the characters so much room to breathe, I tend to be pessimistic. At the same time, I am very grateful for this pacing, because it makes the characters’ decisions clearer.
A great season with its ups and downs that tried to avoid the mistakes of Game of Thrones. If they would produce five seasons instead of four now, I would be perfectly fine with that.
However, I am a bit sad about the upcoming wait: House of the Dragon is unfortunately not an annual show due to the CGI dragons, but only returns every two years. In 2027, we can look forward to a new round of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but there will be no dragons involved. We are collecting all information that is already known, and also future new announcements in a dedicated article. So if you want to know more about season four, you can read it directly here: House of the Dragon Season 4: Release, cast, plot and more – All information about the new season
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