In the blink of an eye, we’ve made it: the final episode of HBO’s House of the Dragon. After seven hours of death, deception and dragons, it all comes down to this. Season Three has had its fill of must-watch action, but there’s still a slew of plot lines in flux heading into Sunday’s finale. One thing is certain: the war between the Blacks and the Greens is about to get bloodier.
What should viewers expect this week on House of the Dragon? Let’s dive into a few predictions ahead of Sunday’s eighth episode.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8 Predictions
Ulf Unchained
At the start of last week’s episode, Daeron (and viewers) wondered if the capture of Corlys Velaryon was Ormund’s big move. Not quite, although that will have an impact going forward. The de facto leader of the Hightowers was up to something far more monumental: persuading Ulf to backstab Rhaenyra. It’s a major plot point going forward for several reasons. The most obvious is that it gives the Greens a second dragon, and arguably a more reliable one since nobody knows about Vhagar’s whereabouts. For weeks, the Hightowers have had their army holed up in the small trading village of Tumbleton. Unable to move, they’ve used the local population as a human shield. Still, there’s only so long that strategy can work before attrition and other factors kick in. By securing Ulf’s loyalty, Ormund has evened up the playing field.
The other, less obvious effect is that this could lead to even more tumult in King’s Landing. The city is a mess at the moment due to food shortages, a lack of coin, and a network of City Watch assassins. Giving Rhaenyra a crippling blow such as this could push her into a spiral of anger and paranoia. That’s exacerbated by the absence of Corlys, a voice of reason on an otherwise chaotic small council. If any event was going to push the queen to the brink, it’s this one. When she finds out is another question entirely. Ormund stands little to gain by revealing his newfound strength. Don’t be shocked if Episode Eight’s climactic battle includes a shocking last-second betrayal.
Sunfyre’s Return
It’s safe to say that Aegon has been humbled; he’s had to live in squalor alongside Larys Strong all season. Factor in his poor physical health, and the Targaryen is a shell of his former arrogant self. However, we finally saw the old Aegon during Episode Seven. Facing certain death, the former king was rescued by none other than Sunfyre, his dragon. While most assumed he was slain at Rook’s Rest in Season Two, Aegon held out hope that the beast was still alive. That faith was rewarded in dramatic fashion, with a slew of Black loyalists charred to a crisp.
Even if Aegon doesn’t command a massive army (at the moment), there are worse things to control than a fire-breathing monster. Getting Sunfyre back gives him a shred of hope in the quest to unseat both Rhaenyra and his murderous brother Aemond. Still, sailing across the Narrow Sea to Essos remains the most likely course of action. There, Aegon and Sunfyre can lick their wounds and build strength while the rest of the realm wages war. Still, you’d think we see the would-be ruler do something before the end of the season, no? Word of his ‘resurrection’ will spread quickly throughout Westeros. It’s up to Aegon to capitalize on the moment…all while avoiding any potential assassins.
Aemond’s Ambition…
…or lack thereof! For nearly the entire season, we’ve heard good ‘ol One-Eye talk a big game about conquest and unsullied kings. However, that hasn’t amounted to much in terms of tangible action. Having spent a nice vacation at Harrenhal, a la Daemon in Season Two, it’s time for Aemond to get cooking. Granted, that’s easier said than done. As previously mentioned, Vhagar’s location remains a mystery to viewers (and perhaps her dragonrider). That’s without factoring in the fact that Aemond chose his current hiding spot to avoid hordes of Riverlanders and White Wolves. Evading enemy forces without the benefit of a dragon places the young prince in a precarious spot.
The psychological fallout of last week’s episode will need to be unpacked as well. Aemond was poisoned by Allicent, whom he has a *complicated* relationship with. This came despite warnings from Alys, who warned that his mother was up to no good. Much like Rhaenyra losing faith in those around her, it’s a similar story here. If anything, Aemond is even more isolated. We’ve seen his anger taken out on innocent people in the past. Could this latest development be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? No matter what, he’s the character I’m keeping an eye on the most this week. Expect Aemond to finally reunite with Vhagar, placing him on a collision course with the Blacks.
House of the Dragon FAQ
Where can I watch House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon airs every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) on HBO, but it will be available to stream on HBO Max simultaneously.
How many episodes of House of the Dragon will there be this season?
There will be eight total episodes for Season 3 of House of the Dragon.
What is House of the Dragon based on?
House of the Dragon is based on George R. R. Martin’s 2018 book, Fire & Blood, which details the “Dance of the Dragons”, the brutal Targaryen civil war.
