The Gullet is calm in the aftermath of naval and aerial warfare. But for all the destruction, and floating corpses, and Baela Targaryen on dragonback, transforming straggling Triarchy pirates into charcoal briquettes. Dragonstone is also silent upon her arrival, with the body of Baela’s betrothed Prince Jacaerys draped across her saddle. Rhaenyra is given all the space as she hurls questions at her son and heir, who of course cannot answer. “What have you done? How could you do this?” And as her grief arrives through great gulps of stricken oxygen, the sound of the queen’s weeping floods the chamber. Team Black won the Battle of the Gullet. But this is its greatest cost.
The impressive staging of the Gullet throwdown was a thrilling start to House of the Dragon Season 3. But its scale is matched more than once here in Episode 2, because the war is not over and rage beasts now fly everywhere. Daemon Targaryen receives news of Jace’s death while singing lusty battlefield songs with Roddy the Ruin in the Riverlands, their camp overlooked by the heads of Lannisters and lions on pikes. With this development, he will reunite with Rhaenyra. Roddy will march south to meet Team Black at the city, while Harrenhal is garrisoned by Rivermen led by young Ser Oscar Tulley (Archie Barnes). That kid has his work cut out for him. As Daemon heads off on Caraxes, distracted by an argument with Alys Rivers over looming omens, Aemond One-Eye steers Vhagar toward the castle’s massive bulk.
Alicent watched the prince regent depart King’s Landing. Maybe she was thinking about how her son kissed his mom? But she can’t dwell on that bit of Spanish Habsburgs-baiting in the Game of Thrones universe, because there is too much to do. Rhaenyra is en route, and Alicent must clear the way on the ground. First she enters the open flames and nudity of the gold cloaks locker room, and tests the loyalty of Commander Luthor Largent (Tom Cullen). She puts the intention of giving up the city on Helaena — no one can know of her secret mission — who is technically queen while Aemond and Aegon are away. Then she approaches her daughter herself, takes her from her intense bug study, and enlists her in opening the city. So they may flee together, and be free of this awful conflict. “You,” she tells Heleana, “I may yet redeem.”
But it is growing more difficult for Alicent to contain her plan. A suspicious Ser Rickard (Vincent Regan) narcs on her to Lord Jasper “Ironrod” Wylde (Paul Kennedy), Aegon’s Master of Laws. Jasper corners Alicent in her rooms, but Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) prevents his attempted rape of the dowager queen. Rhaenyra cannot arrive in King’s Landing soon enough.
At Dragonstone, Rhaenyra’s grief is all-consuming. Until Daemon arrives with his own new information. Remember, it’s only been a short time since Season 2. While he was not aware of Mysaria’s promotion to Queen Whisperer, Rhaenyra is shook to hear her uncle-husband murmur ancient prophecies in High Valyrian. His visions at Harrenhal: The Song of Ice & Fire. “I saw it. The darkness in the north. I saw a girl with silver hair in a desert far away, and there were dragons at her breast.” If it is true, this future he saw, what Viserys I Targaryen told Rhaenyra, “what then would you do?”
It’s enough to get Rhaenyra out of grief and onto dragonback. Her small council can stuff their concerns. She will fly with Daemon to King’s Landing, with cover from Ulf on Silverwing and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) on Vermithor, and see that Alicent was true to her word.
Did they follow the King’s Road south by air? Because if so they might have passed Aemond on Vhagar as he headed north to Harrenhal. As the gigantic dragon burns the garrison and crumbles columns, Aemond dismounts, moves through swordsmen like smoke, arrives in the main hall. And leave it to Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) to be ever unassuming and gracious. But it is for nought. Aemond’s bejeweled eye socket gleams as he murders Simon and two of his sons, but not before one of those guys lands a lucky stab underneath the prince’s armor plate. He stumbles, and finds Alys Rivers looking down at him. What was she saying to Daemond about the beginnings of new omens? “Help me,” Aemond strains, and passes out.
Rhaenyra and Daemon have parked their dragons on King’s Landing parapets and found their way into the Red Keep. Rickard is there, blocking the way for Team Green. But that doesn’t last, because Largent pledges his Gold Cloaks to Daemon, their former commander. All that is left is for the queen and one true heir to take her place on the Iron Throne. But Rhaenyra pauses. Even now, it is not yet hers. She must kill the usurper, and calls for Aegon to be found.
Otto Hightower, ex-Hand of the Wannabe King, will have to suffice. He is hauled from a dank dungeon cell beneath the Red Keep, and prostrated before the queen. “If you wish to rule” — Daemon in her ear again — “show them you do not waver.” But suddenly, she is not sure what sort of queen she wishes to be. It’s as if any proximity to the sword chair itself draws blood and violence out of people. It takes two hacks at the exposed nape of Otto’s neck, but with her emotions surging, Rhaenyra chops off his head. Just in time for Alicent and Haelena to arrive, detained while trying to flee the city. This is the peace they so carefully arranged?
The two queens regard each other as their gambit reaches its conclusion. Alicent, reflected in the gathering pool of her father’s blood, realizes peace was always an illusion, while Rhaenyra steadies herself. She pushes the emotion from her features. I am Queen – I did this, she seems to be saying. But she might be trying to convince herself of how she must now rule.
Hot D’s for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2:
- We’re the only ones in Westeros who know where Aegon is. As King’s Landing is overtaken, the usurper and Larys Strong are still on their bickering and bloody buddy comedy road trip in a raven cart prison. When their captors are attacked on the road, Aegon and Larys free themselves by attacking both their captors and their captors’ attackers, and Aegon declares Rook’s Rest their new destination. All they gotta do is get there in one piece.
- “The queen will be hunting you.” Distraught over her role in the Battle of the Gullet, Rhaena flew Sheepstealer back to the Vale. But Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) is not happy to see her. She only grants Rhaena asylum since the region is Sheepstealer’s home, and she can’t stop a dragon from hanging out. And besides, with Vhagar still on the prowl, her realm requires the protection.
- And Lord Corlys Velaryon lives! With High Tide sacked and his fortune gone, Corlys can only offer Alyn his name as gratitude. It is accepted with grace. Beyond the title, public recognition was all Alyn and his brother Addam ever wished from their dad.
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.