If it's a House of the Dragon season 3, episode 3 recap you're after – look no further. After a fiery start to the season that saw Jace die in the Battle of the Gullet and Rhaneyra finally take King's Landing, the third episode reckons with the realities of sitting on the Iron Throne.
Head below for a spoiler-filled breakdown of everything that happens in the new episode, including a list of deaths (spoiler alert: it's short this week) and Easter eggs. That means you can quickly get up to speed on the latest chapter of the Dance of the Dragons as House of the Dragon season 3 heats up.
If you've yet to see the latest episode, then our spoiler-free House of the Dragon season 3 review is where you need to head for our verdict on the first four episodes of the season. We'll be back next week with another recap. Be sure to bookmark our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule, so you never miss an episode.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 recap
The episode kicks off with Daemon in an uncharacteristically diplomatic mood. Instead of raining dragon fire down on Ormund Hightower's forces, he uses the threat of Caraxes, as well as Ulf/Silverwing and Hugh/Vermithor in support, to force a surrender out of Lord Ormund. "You have chosen wisely, if reluctantly," Daemon quips, before Ormund orders his troops to take the Roseroad homeward. But wait! Daemon has one more condition: Ormund must hand over his ward, Daeron Targaryen, son of Viserys, as hostage. He does so, again reluctantly, as Tessarion watches his young blonde rider leave without him.
Back in the Red Keep, Rhaenyra is still in a daze following her (slightly) bloody seizure of King's Landing. Turns out Daemon did want to "incinerate" Ormund and the Hightower forces (we never doubted the maniac for a second), but Rhaenyra forbade it, wishing to "justify my father's faith in me" and rule as the peacetime king "would have wished."
Shortly after, Rhaenyra meets her half-brother Daeron for the first time, but Daeron stays completely silent during their encounter, and he's confined to a chamber as a prisoner of Queen Rhaenyra. But as Daemon notes: "He's a claimant to the throne, you're going to have to kill him." Things go from bad to worse when Rhaenyra discovers that the crown's treasury has been stolen by Tyland Lannister – presumed dead after the Battle of the Gullet – and there's only enough money for a week. One person may know where the money is – the recently beheaded Lord Jasper. As Daemon puts it: "Oh dear."
With her coronation on pause, Rhaenyra is overwhelmed with questions about candles, the bedchamber, rats running rampant around the keep, and other mundane day-to-day matters, but Rhaenyra has more important concerns to attend to: the whereabouts of the usurper, Aegon. Alicent claims not to know, and instead suggests that Rhaenrya simply declares Aegon dead; after all, he's burned beyond recognition and no longer has a dragon, he's no threat. Rhaenrya agrees, and tells the High Septon of the Faith of the Seven as much. But the stubborn goat refuses to annoint Rhaenrya until he sees a body.
After winning the day at the Battle of the Gullet in her name, Lord Corlys reveals to Rhaenrya that Addam and Alyn are his bastard sons and requests that the crown legitimise them. Knowing all eyes are on her, Rhaenyra refuses, lest the legitimacy of her own heirs be scrutinized again. To say Corlys is not pleased would be an understatement.
Right before meeting the Smallfolk in the Throne room to hear their requests, Rhaenrya gets her period. Whether matters big or small, Rhaneyra finds there are no easy answers to the questions that are in front of her. Her solution to the Smallfolk's suffering – brought about by the highborn families and their hoarding of food during the blockade – is to invite the heads of each family to a banquet. But it's a trick: after serving them roasted rats, Rhaenyra tells the wealthy merchants and nobles that their food stores are to be requisitioned and redistributed to those in need. One such noble, Ser Torrhen Manderly, congratulates Rhaenyra for a "hand well-played" as she leaves.
Daemon, unsurprisingly, doesn't have much time for the suffering of the Smallfolk and instead has his sights on global domination. After all, they have six dragons – a power unmatched in the history of Westeros. Rhaneyra is more interested in getting her own house in order before looking beyond her walls, and sends Daemon on an errand to retrieve tribute from Lady Jane in the Vale.
After playing the benevolent ruler and handing out food to the Smallfolk in need on the streets of Kings Landing, Rhaenyra comes to a decision about Daeron – she will send him to the Wall to take the Black and live out his days, in lieu of execution. She tells Alicent as much and allows the two to reunite. But Alicent's reaction to seeing her 'son' reveals the truth to Rhaenrya – she has been tricked by Ormund, and this is not Daeron, but an imposter.
To make matters worse, a dragonkeeper turns up at the gate to inform Rhaenrya that Hightower troops reclaimed Tessarion and have taken Tumbleton. Rhaneyra's difficult first few days on the throne end as she watches the last vestiges of the Hightower era burn in cleansing flame.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3: Who dies?
No one dies in House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2, if you can believe that.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 Easter eggs
Tumbelton – We get our first mention of a very important location in the Dance of the Dragons this week. All we know right now is that Hugh's wife is living there with her brother, and that Ormund has taken the market town, preventing Rhaenyra from simply raining dragonfire down on them from above. For a full, spoiler-filled breakdown of why it matters, check out our spoiler-filled Tumbelton explainer.
Aegon the Conqueror – King Aegon I Targaryen is invoked by Daemon this episode, when he notes that the founder of the Targaryen dynasty conquered Westeros with three dragons – half as many as Rhaenyra currently has to her name. This very campaign will be depicted in Aegon’s Conquest, an upcoming Game of Thrones movie written by Andor's Beau Willimon.
Bad faith – Rhaenyra runs afoul of the High Septon – a recurring circumstance across the history of Westeros. The power of the Faith of the Seven is a major theme in Game of Thrones seasons 5 and 6, when the Faith Militant is reestablished under the High Sparrow's leadership.
Ulf the White – In Fire and Blood, Ulf White is named for his Targaryen silver hair. The Ulf of House of the Dragon has a head of grey hair, but adopts the name 'White' after Rhaenyra denies his request to take the Targaryen name upon being knighted.
House of the Dragon season 3 airs weekly on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays in the US and on HBO Max, Sky and NOW on Mondays in the UK. For more on the show, check out our guides, explainers and interviews:
- House of the Dragon season 3 showrunner Ryan Condal on what keeps him up at night making the Game of Thrones prequel, and the spin-off he wants to see next: "I think there's a really fascinating story to be told"
- House of the Dragon season 3, episode 3 is the best yet because it puts the focus on Rhaenyra ruling – and fits perfectly with George R.R. Martin's fantasy philosophy
- House of the Dragon season 3 episode 3 borrows a plot point that might never get resolved from George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones books
- Who is Ormund Hightower in House of the Dragon? His Game of Thrones origins explained
- The House of the Dragon dragons, listed and explained
- Greens vs. Blacks, explained
- The Targaryen family tree
- The House of the Dragon timeline
- Who wins the Dance of the Dragons?
- The Song of Ice and Fire prophecy
