The House of the Dragon Season 3 finale is finally here, and it could deliver one of the franchise’s greatest battles yet. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was a relatively light and breezy take on the Game of Thrones universe, while the series’ first spinoff is sure to quench your thirst for high-octane fantasy action. The Targaryen civil war is coming to a head, making this a night of must-see TV on HBO.
If you are counting down the seconds until the next big twist in the Dance of the Dragons, here is everything you need to know ahead of Season 3 Episode 8:
When does House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8 come out?
Season 3 Episode 8 will premiere on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 9. It will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time. The episode is expected to have a runtime of 1 hour and 15 minutes, but its title remains unknown.
Like Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and most other major HBO titles, House of the Dragon is releasing one episode a week – all on Sunday nights. There will be eight episodes in Season 3, as there were in Season 2, making this week’s episode the season finale. After that, HBO has greenlit a fourth and final season with a scheduled release date of 2028.
(Warning: Spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7, Game of Thrones and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 ahead.)
Who will show up this episode?
After a rush of major character deaths to open Season 3, the House of the Dragon main cast has stayed pretty stable in recent weeks – Criston Cole notwithstanding. Not all of them will make it to Season 4, though, so there could be another culling on the horizon. Here is a look at the living characters who could show up in Season 3 Episode 8:
- Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower
- Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
- Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
- Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon II Targaryen
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen
- Oscar Eskinazi as Joffrey Velaryon
- Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
- Jefferson Hall as Tyland Lannister
- Kurt Egyiawan as Orwyle
- Kieran Bew as Hugh Hammer
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
- Clinton Liberty as Addam of Hull
- Tom Bennett as Ulf the White
- James Norton as Ormund Hightower
- Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Daeron Targaryen
- Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
- Ellora Torchia as Kat
- Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
- Amanda Collin as Lady Jeyne Arryn
- Archie Barnes as Oscar Tully
- Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly
- Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort
- Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood
What to expect in House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8
Aegon is once again a real player in the game, rather than just a fugitive. He has his dragon back, too, although he probably won’t be using Sunfyre to fight alongside Vhagar anytime soon. Also, because Rhaenyra declared him dead once she took over in King’s Landing, she will either have to own the fact that she lied or let people think he rose from the dead alongside his dragon.
As for Aemond, Alicent just poisoned him and left him for dead. While Alys will surely save the prince, Aemond is no longer in a position to trust his mother over his lover. This could really strengthen Aemond and Alys’ relationship, which was already trending towards creating a new Targaryen line.
All eyes will be on Tumbleton in the finale, with the massive army of Rivermen and Winter Wolves finally approaching the city walls. Ormund, Daeron and Gwayne are holed up, preparing for battle, on top of holding Corlys hostage. On top of that, Ormund has seemingly swayed Ulf to his side. That gives the Greens another dragon in Silverwing, all while the Blacks lost Vermax at the Gullet. Rhaenyra’s dragon, Syrax, is also injured after a skirmish with Sheepstealer, who no longer has Rhaena riding him.
We still don’t know where Vhagar is, or if Sunfyre is healthy enough to fight this season. Would either of their riders really fly to Tumbleton to save their younger brother, despite the fact that he is making a claim of his own for the Iron Throne?
Here is the trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8:
House of the Dragon FAQs
When does House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8 come out?
Season 3 Episode 8 will premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 9.
Where can I watch House of the Dragon?
House of the Dragon Season 3 is available to stream on HBO Max. The first two seasons are also available on the streaming service if you are looking to catch up, as are all eight seasons of Game of Thrones and the first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
Will there be another season of House of the Dragon?
HBO confirmed in November that House of the Dragon would return for a fourth and final season in 2028.
When does the next Game of Thrones spinoff come out?
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 2, which will adapt The Sworn Sword novella, is scheduled to come out in 2027. The Game of Thrones: Aegon’s Conquest film is in development, although Warner Bros. has yet to lock down a theatrical release date.
