House of the Dragon season 3 has now passed the halfway point, and trouble is brewing for Rhaenyra in King's Landing. Ever since taking the crown, the Dragon Queen has held a very loose grip on power and it seems things are only going to get worse. Episode 5 sees Team Black dealing with potential traitors on all sides as Team Green makes some long-awaited wins.
Now we're more than halfway through the penultimate season, the losses are continuing to pile up on both sides and no one's seat looks certain. Below, we get into more details about the biggest moments of the episode as well as breaking down all of the House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 Easter eggs, big deaths, and what it all might mean going forward.
Naturally, we're about to get into big spoiler-territory. Make sure you've seen House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 before reading on.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 recap
The episode begins with Criston Cole leading his army to descend on House Tully's camp, executing a win for the Greens after so much loss. However, over the episode, their luck begins to run out. Their horses are maimed, leaving them to move ahead on foot in awful weather before finding that the Rivermen have already crossed the waters and burned the bridge in their wake. There's nothing left for Cole, who vows he will die in glory and sacrifice himself.
Meanwhile, Aemond is still in Harrenhal, seemingly being kept prisoner by Alys Rivers who is still extremely adept at seeing off those looking for the lost prince. Alicent and Helaena are trying to plot their way out of the mess of the latter's pregnancy and being stuck in the castle. Throughout the episode, they get close by trying to escape as maids but they're spotted by Mysaria. By the end of the episode they get much closer, finding a hidden passage behind the room, before being blocked and their light going out…
Daeron Targaryen is still under the watch of Ormund Hightower in Tumbleton, who has plans for him to become the true heir to the throne. He's created a coin to show as much, which is something that lands in Daemon's hand at one point, revealing a new treachery to the crown. Aegon and Larys Strong's journey continues and they see a familiar face, Tyland Lannister, who survived the Battle of the Gullet.
All the while, Rhaenyra is still struggling to contain her power amid soldiers being killed in the city. They're being disembowelled as she and Daemon wonder whether their enemy is one or many hands acting as one. It seems the threat is growing though as the episode ends with Daemon discovering Ser Luthor Largent and more of his men with their eyes plucked out and seated at a table. On the wall reads, "A feast for traitors" written in blood.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 Easter eggs *book spoilers*
Flea Bottom: Flea Bottom gets a shout out in the latest episode. It's called a "realm unto itself" and "full of undesirables". The impoverished part of the kingdom is always portrayed like this in the Game of Thrones universe. But underestimate it at your peril, as it's also the place that brought us Gendry and Ser Davos Seaworth.
Meria Martell: Another iconic character in George R.R. Martin's Westeros universe is mentioned in the new episode. Ormund tells young Daeron the story of Meria Martell, known as the Yellow Toad of Dorne. Around 80, she was described as fat, blind, and almost bald, but her wits were not to be underestimated – opposing the invasion of the Targaryens with gusto.
Cyvasse: When Daeron and Ormund are speaking, they are also playing a game of something that looks a bit like chess. Our bet is that this is Cyvasse, a board game mentioned in A Song of Ice and Fire.
Window shopping: At one point, Alicent tells Helaena to look out the window when she says she wants to go outside. For those who know their book lore, this could be a nod to Helaena's ultimate fate. She jumps out a window and kills herself in the book.
Criston's glorious speech: Criston Cole gives an emotional speech about dying in battle. However, in the book, his death is not quite so impressive. He does die in battle with the Rivermen, but ends up with his head on a spear and it's all quite anticlimactic.
House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5 MVP
While it's tempting to give this mantel to Ormund Hightower every episode because he's just having so much fun, this time it's got to be Ser Criston Cole. Love him or hate him, the Kingmaker has been an intriguing character since he first stepped onto our screens back in episode 1.
However, season 3 episode 5 is where he finally regains his power. In a speech to Gwayne Hightower, he tells him that he will make a sacrifice. He is planning to join the Rivermen in battle for one last shot of glory. Cole gives a poignant speech about what's coming for him.
He says he's always been in service to the highborn but he will not let them "diminish him now". "I am the realm's greatest warrior, and I will die as such, clear-eyed, unbent, glorious in battle, and not in their service, finally, but in my own," he tells the queen's brother. And, he adds, he hopes they will sing songs of it, leaving him one last hope: Alicent will hear of them.
Who dies in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 5?
While Criston Cole's death is set up, it's not actually him who kicks the bucket in this episode. Several of the Rivermen, the Kingsguard, and a traitor tortured by Daemon are all killed. However, the biggest death is that of Ser Luthor Largent, who is disembowelled with his eyes plucked out. Daemon discovers him and his other men as the wall is painted with blood, reading "a feast for traitors". Yikes.
What's next for House of the Dragon season 3?
There's been a lot of build up over the past few episodes of House of the Dragon season 3 as each character edges closer to their goal. However, with just three episodes remaining, it feels like something big is coming. Let's not forget either, season 3 is the penultimate season of the whole show, so we're getting pretty close to the endgame now. Here are some of our big questions:
- Can Rhaenyra hold on to power? Her position is pretty weak at the moment and with Alicent likely about to make an escape from King's Landing, she's about to look even weaker.
- Just how big of a threat is Daeron? The young heir is currently biding his time in Tumbleton with Ormund Hightower but it seems his guardian has big plans for him.
- What is going on with Aemond? He's been stuck in Harrenhal for a while now and given he's got his strength back, is he going to return to retake King's Landing?
House of the Dragon season 3 air weekly on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays in the US and on HBO Max, Sky and NOW on Mondays in the UK.
