After facing criticism for its relatively slow pace in the past, House of the Dragon Season 3 has hit the ground running. The Game of Thrones prequel series is flying through the Dance of Dragons, hitting everything from coups to shocking deaths and everything in between. For as much good will as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms built with the fanbase due to its smaller scope and lighter tone earlier this year, House of the Dragon is leaning even harder into blockbuster battles and canon-shifting events.
If the Battle of the Gullet and not-so-peaceful transition of power have you dying to find out what comes next, here is everything you need to know ahead of Season 3 Episode 3:
When does House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 come out?
Season 3 Episode 3 will premiere on HBO at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 5. It will be available to stream on HBO Max at the same time. The episode is expected to have a runtime around 60 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. 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 2, Game of Thrones and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 ahead.)
Who will show up this episode?
House of the Dragon didn’t stop chipping away at its ensemble cast following its explosive Season 3 premiere. Rhaenyra and Daemon executed Rhys Ifans’ Otto Hightower and Paul Kennedy’s Jasper Wylde, for example, while Aemond killed Simon Strong at Harrenhal. The actor who plays Ser Lorent Marbrand, Max Wrottesley, confirmed that the member of Rhaenyra’s Queensguard will not be returning, either. Here is a look at who is likely to show up in Season 3 Episode 3 and beyond:
- 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
- Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole
- 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 White
- Ellora Torchia as Kat
- Freddie Fox as Gwayne Hightower
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
- Phil Daniels as Gerardys
- Nicholas Jones as Bartimos Celtigar
- Vincent Regan as Rickard Thorne
- Archie Barnes as Oscar Tully
- James Norton as Ormund Hightower
- Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly
- Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent
- Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
- Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort
- Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood
What to expect in House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3
Now that Rhaenyra is in charge in King’s Landing, she will have no shortage of menial tasks to complete. She also has to turn the Red Keep over from Green to Black, all while Alicent watches on and judges her former friend. The deal that the two women agreed to at the end of Season 2 didn’t come to pass exactly as planned, since Rhaenyra lost a son and Alicent lost her father. Suffice to say there will be animosity between them moving forward.
While Rhaenyra and Daemon readjust to life in the capital, there is still a war going on across Westeros. Aemond just stormed Harrenhal on dragonback, all while Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower mobilized their troops in the Riverlands. Aemond opted to kill Ser Simon Strong and burn countless troops with Vhagar’s fire, so it remains to be seen which Tullys, Blackwoods or Brackens are still in the picture. One of Simon’s grandsons stabbed Aemond during his raid, leaving the prince regent to plead Alys Rivers for his life. Alys just helped Daemon settle into Harrenhal and rally the Riverlords, so we’ll have to wait and see how she interacts with the next Targaryen who stumbled onto her doorsetep.
There is another Hightower force led by Alicent’s cousin, Ormund. On top of their thousands of troops, they also have a dragon in their ranks. Alicent’s youngest son, Daeron Targaryen, was squire to Ormund when he was raised in Oldtown. He rides Tessarion and is next in line to the throne after Aegon and Aemond. As we hear from Daemon in the preview for Episode 3, Rhaenyra is going to need him dead in order to secure her crown. Daemon will also meet Ormund, Daeron, Tessarion and their army in an open field, although they might not come to blows just yet.
Here is the trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3:
House of the Dragon FAQs
When does House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 come out?
Season 3 Episode 2 will premiere at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 5. The next six episodes will drop once a week at the same time.
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.
