'House of the Dragon': 5 Highlights From the Season 3 Premiere
Warning: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 1
The Dance of the Dragons is now in full swing. HBO's House of the Dragon Season 3 arrived with a roar, along with some fire and blood for good measure. The highly anticipated next chapter in the brutal familial civil war, based on George R.R. Martin's Targaryen compendium Fire & Blood, kicked off with the Battle of the Gullet, the bloodiest naval battle in Westerosi history.
In Season 3, Episode 1, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) contemplates Alicent's (Olivia Cooke) proposal from the Season 2 finale, while Daemon (Matt Smith) tears it up in the Riverlands, finally free from the Harrenhal House of Horrors. Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan) makes a fashionable entrance with the Winter Wolves (and Jason Lannister's head). Meanwhile, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), Alicent's shrewd cousin, lies in wait with his enormous Hightower host (and my sweet dragon girl Tessarion the Blue Queen).
Let's dive into five highlights from the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere:
Daemon Doing What He Does Best
Our Rogue Prince is back to wreaking havoc as only he can-adorned in full Targaryen armor with a sword in his hand and blood on his face. And, of course, there's Caraxes in the background, emitting his adorable chirps before he sets people ablaze. While I enjoyed the magical aspects of Harrenhal in Season 2, Daemon was stuck in that dilapidated castle for far too long. We need at least one character who behaves chaotically but with intent.
Larys and Aegon, Our Resident Odd Couple
If anyone can weasel their way out of an impromptu execution, it's Larys Strong (Matthew Needham). Something tells me that Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys won't actually make it to Dragonstone, but they won't get to Essos as planned, either. If anything, Aegon will want to investigate for himself if his precious dragon Sunfyre is really dead. These two are fun together, and I sense we'll get some unexpected moments of levity from their dynamic.
The Magical Mysteries of Harrenhal
House of the Dragon Season 3 continues leaning into the magic surrounding the aforementioned Harrenhal. While Ulf (Tom Bennett), Addam (Clinton Liberty), and Hugh (Kieran Bew) await Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Vhagar's arrival on the Isle of Faces (presumably), they encounter a Green Man, a strange goat, and Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), our favorite barn owl who's cursed to live in human form. It makes sense that there's so much magic here; after all, the dragons are still at their apex, and they are inherently magical.
The New Character Introductions
Ormund and Roddy's introductions are spectacular, particularly the latter. Book readers know that Roddy is a beast, and he gets an intro worthy of a warrior who wants to "die" for his queen. Ormund isn't quite as fleshed out in Fire & Blood, but I have a feeling that he'll become one of my favorite characters. You don't bring James Norton in for a bit part. Here's hoping he'll be the driving force behind Team Green since they seem utterly rudderless at the moment.
The Battle of the Gullet
I saved the best for last. This is a spectacle-massive in scope and scale. The production values are through the roof. I also love how not-choreographed and messy the fighting feels. It's uncoordinated and rough, as it should be in those tight quarters. Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) versus Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn) is entertaining to watch. Jace (Harry Collett) and Vermax's deaths are heartbreaking (although I inexplicably find it more difficult to watch the CGI dragons die; it must be the animal lover in me).
While I love Sheepstealer's design, I'm not a fan of Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) inadvertently causing Jace's death (but that's another article for another day). Regardless, the battle is well-executed.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 9:01 PM.