Just like that, we’re halfway through Season 3 of HBO’s House of the Dragon. After an action-packed first few episodes, the last two hours have been more of a slow burn. That’s not a bad thing by any means; plotting and scheming is when the world of Westeros is at its best. Still, in this bloody Targaryen civil war, it’s only a matter of time until fans are treated to another pivotal battle and more shocking deaths.
Rhaenyra might have control of King’s Landing, but she’s surrounded by enemies. What’s in store this week on House of the Dragon? Let’s dive into a few predictions ahead of Sunday’s episode.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 5 Predictions
War in the Riverlands
The whereabouts of Prince Aemond are all but uncertain following his swift siege of Harrenhal. Rhaenyra’s dragons have been sent on frequent patrols to locate the gargantuan Vhagar and her rider. However, that hasn’t stopped the leader of the Greens from burning almost everything in sight.
Perhaps nobody is more invested in finding Vhagar than Ser Criston Cole. The king’s hand was expecting battlefield support from the world’s most powerful dragon. Instead, his already depleted army finds itself outnumbered against Daemon’s massive host. Still, that hasn’t stopped Cole from hatching up a scheme to pick off the Blacks. At the end of Episode 4, he divulged his plans to Gwayne: despite lacking manpower, their troops will operate from the shadows. A guerrilla warfare approach is better than simply getting picked off one by one on the battlefield. Eventually, the hope is to link up with Ormund and Daeron marching from the south (more on them later).
Still, there’s no guarantee that Cole’s gambit will prove successful. After all, traveling undetected throughout the Riverlands is no easy task. That’s especially true when multiple dragonriders are on the prowl for enemies big and small. Keep in mind, the local population is firmly for Rhaenyra following Aemond’s pillaging. One false move here from Cole could lead to utter disaster for the Greens.
Daeron’s Ascendance
Ormund has proven to be an effective foil to Rhaenyra this season, outwitting her and Daemon with a false pledge of fealty in Episode 3. Daeron (the real one) is a budding young commander, equipped with a dragon of his own in Tessarion. Still, we have yet to see the Targaryen’s battlefield prowess on-screen. The Hightower army currently controls the small town of Tumbleton, despite frequent raids from the Blacks and their dragons.
Rhaenyera has her hands full right now in King’s Landing. As for Daemon and the others, their main focus remains on vanquishing Aemond. That means less attention on The Reach, and a growing army to the south. There shouldn’t be much opposition for Ormund and Daeron’s forces on the rose road. Still, it’s only a matter of time until we get some conflict in that region. After all, Hugh’s own wife remains trapped under Hightower rule in Tumbleton. With that being said, tensions between Rhaenyera and Ulf have only risen in recent weeks. Something is coming to a climax in regard to the two dragonseeds.
Chaos in King’s Landing
Speaking of Rhaenyera, she’s dealing with a slew of problems on the Iron Throne: a crippled economy, dissatisfied citizens, and issues winning over the Faith. That’s an unenviable position for anyone, even if she happens to control King’s Landing. Dameon’s grip on the City Watch remains secure, but an irritated populace can only be held down for so long. Eventually, the Blacks need to give the people some reason for optimism.
As if things couldn’t get any more difficult, Corlys is enraged at the Queen. Her inability to legitimize Addam and Alyn has angered the Sea Snake, who now has nobody to pass down his family name. It’s a move that comes with plenty of risk for Rhaenyra; her most experienced council has openly called her children bastards out of spite. Unless she suddenly reverses course (unlikely), there will continue to be major tension between the two. That’s not ideal for a man responsible for the Blacks’ naval dominance in this war. Appeasing Corlys, or going in another direction, feels inevitable.
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.
