Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you have not watched the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere, please do not proceed.
Good night, sweet prince.
“House of the Dragon” Season 3 begins with the brutal murder of Prince Jaecaris “Jace” Velaryon (Harry Collett), the eldest son and heir apparent of Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma Darcy), another main character.
In this episode, Rhaenyra is informed that the ships have assembled and are preparing for battle. She wants to pilot her dragon, Syrax, into a naval battle called the Battle of Garet.
Jace insists that his mother is a queen and shouldn’t take the risk. He locks Rhaenyra in a room and disobeys her orders, sending his dragon Vermax to join the fight himself.
As Jace and Vermax fly over the ocean where ships are fighting, a wild dragon, Sheepstealer, recently tamed by his cousin Lady Reyna Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) flies towards them.
Unfortunately, Jace didn’t know that Raina was there to help him, and was surprised and distracted.
Since she is new to piloting a dragon and the Sheepstealer is wild, Laena has limited control over the dragon. This beast continues to erratically spit fire at people, no matter which side they are on in the war.
Rhaena and the Sheep Thief distract Jace, and Vermax is shot down by enemies on the ship below.
Jace falls off an injured Vermax. As he was floating in the water, an archer standing on a nearby boat shot him in the chest with an arrow, killing him. His body remains suspended in the water.
At an HBO press conference attended by Page Six, Collette said Jace had “reached a boiling point” so he locked his mother in a room and joined the fight against her orders.
“He’s very determined. He knows what he wants, what he has to do, and he won’t let anyone get in his way to achieve it,” he added.
However, in the end, Jace is stopped by a distracted dragon and a rain of arrows.
The show is set almost 200 years before the events of “Game of Thrones.” Years after House of the Dragon, the Battle of Galet became known as the bloodiest naval battle in Westeros history.
The main forces fighting in this battle are the Triarchy, led by Shalako Lohar (Abigail Thorne) and Tyrande Lannister (Jefferson Hall), who clash violently with Jace’s grandfather Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his forces.
House of the Dragon follows Rhaenyra and her allies (including Cory) as they fight for control of the Iron Throne.
In true House of the Dragon style, Jace isn’t the only death in the season 3 opener.
Shalako and Tyrande also die in the battle of Garet.
Tyrande’s twin, Jason Lannister (also known as Hall), is also decapitated off-screen early in the episode.
Jace is Rhaenyra’s second son, who died at the end of season 1 after her half-brother Aemond Targaryen’s (Ewan Mitchell) dragons consumed her son, Lucerys “Luke” Velaryon (Elliot Griholt).
For those keeping count: Rhaenyra originally had five sons, now she has three. Her three eldest children (including Jace and Luke) are fathered by Harwin Strong (Ryan Coe). Her two younger sons (who don’t appear much on screen) are fathered by her uncle, slash husband Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).
“This is a Shakespearean family tragedy,” showrunner Ryan Condal said at a press conference, which was also attended by Page Six, adding, “Things get darker and a little darker.”
This will be the penultimate season, as HBO has announced that the show will end with the upcoming fourth season.
“It’s going to be a dark atmosphere, not just this season, but going into the final season,” Condal said.
“House of the Dragon” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO.
