The second season of the fantasy series House of the Dragon has come to an end after just eight episodes, leaving fans with a huge cliffhanger. Armies, fleets and dragons are on a collision course. War is inevitable – and the wait for season 3 is already torture.
Here you will find all the important answers: When will the third season of House of the Dragon start? And what does the end of season 2 and the book reveal about how the conflict between the Greens and the Blacks will continue?
When is House of the Dragon season 3 coming?
Epic and expensive blockbuster series like House of the Dragon have one disadvantage: new seasons often take several years to arrive. After the first two seasons a break of two years separated, fans should prepare themselves for a longer wait for season 3 after the last eight episodes.
The trailer for the finale of House of the Dragon Season 2:
House of the Dragon – S02E08 Trailer (English) HD
Unfortunately, it is not yet clear when filming for the third season will begin. Production could begin this year or in early 2025, as WinterIsComing reports. Based on the production effort of the first seasons, season 3 should be first half of 2026 will be released on HBO in the USA.
But HBO is not letting fantasy fans down. To bridge the wait for season 3, the new Westeros series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will start next year, which takes place between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.
More about House of the Dragon:
What happens next? House of the Dragon Season 3 must escalate the dragon dance
At the end of the second season, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) has managed to recruit enough dragon riders and loyal soldiers to defend her claim to power and take King’s Landing in the next few days. Now the armies of the Green and Black are marching on huge Confrontations on land, air and water An escalation of the war can no longer be stopped.
There are many indications that the plot of the third season could span a period of just a few days. Based on George RR Martin’s book Fire and Blood, the events in House of the Dragon will unfold rapidly and conflicts will be played out in several places almost in parallel.
The Season 2 finale sets up several battles and events from the original that are now imminent. Here’s a quick overview of what we can expect in House of the Dragon Season 3.
Warning, massive (book) spoilers follow:
The Battle of the Gurgel
HBO
The battle in the throat is imminent
Since the beginning of season 2, the siege of the Gurgle by the Velaryon fleet an important role in the developments in King’s Landing. Now that Tyland Lannister has the Triarchy on his side, the beginning of the next season will see the bloodiest naval battle in Westeros history: The Battle of the Gullet. Not only will two huge fleets of ships be involved, but so will Rhaenyra’s dragon riders. And unfortunately there will be tragic losses.
The Battle of the Honeywine: The Debut of Daeron and Tessarion
HBO
Tessarion joins Team Green
In the final montage of season 2, a Hightower army is on the march. Above them, a nimble blue dragon flies in the sky. It is the dragoness Tessarion and her rider Daeron Targaryenwhich we will see for the first time in the next season after numerous mentions.
Looking at the original, we could expect the so-called Battle of the Honeywine, in which Alicent’s son Daeron plays an important role and helps the Greens to weaken Rhaenyra’s influence in the Reach.
Battle(s) in the Riverlands: The Riverlords defend themselves
HBO
The war in the Riverlands begins now
Part of the second season was spent Jason Lannister is already moving his army towards the Red Arm in the Riverlands. In the end, he has finally arrived. In season 3, a conflict between Lannister’s army and the river lords recently united under Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) is to be expected.
However, the conflict in the Riverlands cannot be reduced to just one battle. At the end of Season 2, a battalion from Winterfell is already in the area, and Prince Regent Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Kriston Kraut (Fabien Frankel) and his army are also on their way.
The road to Harrenhal is difficult for the Greens and is accompanied in the original by numerous fighting actions, which could either be summarized in one huge battle or extend over the entire next season.
This could be the finale of season 3
HBO
Rhaenyra will soon be on the throne
At the end of season 2, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) betrayed her own son, King Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), setting up what is arguably the most important event to come. She reveals that King’s Landing will soon be unprotected and Rhaenyra in just three days can use the opportunity to take over the city and ascend the throne himself.
A lot can happen within three days, and if we can believe the montage at the end of season 2, then season 3 will have to slow down its narrative pace enormously in order to be able to show all the prepared battles. This also means that Rhaenyra’s greatest triumph could be ideal conclusion to the next season to get voted.
When she finally ascends to the Iron Throne, she will have made countless sacrifices. In the book, however, a bitter twist. Because the Black Queen cuts herself right on the throne, which in George RR Martin’s mythology is an omen that the seat of power declares her unworthy. But don’t worry: This will not be the end of the Dragon Dance.