Showrunner Ryan Condal of the series “House of the Dragon” has hinted at significant advancements in Season 3, prompting fans to speculate on their nature. Given that the show is based on George R.R. Martin’s fictional history book “Fire & Blood”, it becomes easier to forecast the story’s direction from a high-level perspective. At a recent panel with some of the show’s main actors and creative minds, Condal hinted at “four major events” from the book unfolding in Season 3, which could help us determine what these events might be since the show plans for four seasons.
WARNING: there are spoilers for House of the Dragon ahead!
In simpler terms, Condal shared that Season 3 of the show is even more grandiose than Season 2. This is evident in the numerous significant events from the book that they’re bringing to life in this season, which he finds particularly thrilling when considering scope and scale. He also mentioned that the structures they’re creating are awe-inspiring, but what truly excites him is the opportunity to inject some humor into the season. There’s an episode with a unique concept, departing from the usual structure of a “House of the Dragon” episode, focusing more on character development, and he’s eagerly waiting to see how it unfolds.
House of the Dragon takes a slice from the book Fire & Blood, chronicling roughly the initial half of the Targaryen rule in Westeros, spanning from 1 AC (“after conquest”) to 136 AC. The series primarily focuses on the internal conflict, referred to as “The Dance of the Dragons,” occurring between 129 AC and 131 AC. To provide background for these characters, the show begins earlier in the timeline, and it may extend beyond the war’s conclusion for similar reasons. Predicting how far Season 3 will progress is challenging due to our uncertainty about where the show will ultimately end.
Battle of the Gullet
Initially, our assumption leans towards the fact that Season 3 might commence with the Battle of Gullet, considering Condal’s statements in previous interviews. This battle, initially planned for the end of Season 2 but postponed due to HBO reducing the show’s episode count at the last moment, will be a naval conflict where ships from the Triarchy engage House Velaryon’s blockade in Blackwater Bay.
This upcoming naval battle in Westeros is set to be one of its most significant – even when considering the less emphasized naval battles from Game of Thrones series, as they were relatively less highlighted compared to the books. This confrontation will offer Admiral Sharako Lohar an opportunity to clarify his unconventional strategies, and perhaps present Prince Jacaerys with a task worthy of his attention for once.
The Fall of King’s Landing
In a somewhat unexpected sequence of events, the finale of Season 2 gave off an impression that Rhaenyra was poised to seize King’s Landing at any instant. This deviates slightly from the original storyline, yet it aligns well with the creators’ intention to focus on the complex bond between Rhaeyra and Alicent. Given Alicent’s current incarceration in the Red Keep, it becomes simpler to maintain these two key characters in the limelight by keeping them close.
This conflict appears relatively peaceful due to the city guard’s unwavering allegiance to Daemon. Consequently, it might lack the excitement typically associated with such events. In fact, it seems this particular incident might not have been one of the major occurrences Condal mentioned during his panel. If that’s the case, there are other exciting events listed below you could consider instead.
Battle of the Red Fork
In the upcoming phase of this conflict, known as the Battle of the Honeywine, there’s a notion gaining traction among enthusiasts that it might be briefly depicted in the TV series. What’s significant about this battle is its potential to introduce Prince Daeron Targaryen and his dragon, Tessarion, who have been isolated in Oldtown throughout the narrative thus far. This could very well be one of the grand spectacles that showrunner Condal mentioned, yet it may only showcase this introduction and the subsequent aftermath, similar to the Blackwood-Bracken feud in Season 2, where we only witnessed its conclusion.
Instead, I anticipate that the upcoming significant event Condal mentioned is linked to several significant battles in the Riverlands occurring around this period. The series might combine some of these conflicts into a single battle, such as the Battle at the Red Fork and the Battle at Acorn Hall. In this scenario, the Lannisters and their vassals secure substantial victories, but they suffer heavy losses of key leaders, with Lord Jason Lannister among them.
The Lakefront Clash could potentially fall under this “occurrence,” yet it could also function independently as the third significant event mentioned by Condal. This skirmish holds importance because it marks House Stark’s arrival from the North, joining the fight for the first time. Scholars often regard this battle as the “bloodiest of the Dance,” and it carries a chilling moniker, “The Fishfeed.
Ironborn Attack
If not for the Fishfeed event, Condal’s next major move could be the Ironborn entering the conflict. Lord Dalton Greyjoy, a character frequently mentioned in the series, has so far declined any alliances with Aegon II and the Hightower faction. However, he seems open to raiding the western coastline as it is currently weakened due to war. Instead of proposing new titles or honors, Rhaenyra and Daemon request Greyjoy to attack the Westerlands while the Lannisters are preoccupied.
The infamous “Red Kraken,” also known as Greyjoy, leads his Ironborn forces on a destructive rampage along the western coastlines, leaving ruin and plunder in their wake at places like Lannisport and Fair Isle. Despite their successes, they are unable to breach the fortifications of Casterly Rock. This violence, though seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of the Targaryen war, aligns perfectly with George R.R. Martin’s recurring anti-war messages.
Butcher’s Ball & First Tumbleton
There’s more than enough content to stretch out an entire season if each part gets its full share of focus, but the current pace of this show might not accommodate that. So, let me outline the next two battles that could wrap up Season 3. First is Butcher’s Ball, a cunning clash between House Stark and Ser Criston Cole’s forces. In this encounter, the Northmen will camouflage themselves among the dead on a battlefield in the Riverlands. When Cole’s army passes by, they will suddenly rise up to attack with a surprise offensive, overpowering the Hightower forces.
Butcher’s Ball should be included in the series due to its distinctive structure and grisly elements, and it could even be blended with Fishfeed for conciseness. However, it’s more probable that the season finale will be the First Battle of Tumbleton, a conflict between the Hightower army and Rhaenyra’s supporters. This battle would logically involve Daeron and Tessarion once again, making it an ideal choice to conclude the season. Furthermore, the dragonseeds Ulf and Hugh are expected to participate in this battle on their dragons’ backs, which is crucial for the series to make full use of its dragon scenes whenever possible.
Feel free to delve into the details of these battles and come up with your own theories in “Fire & Blood”, which is currently accessible in print, digital, and audio formats. The third season of “House of the Dragon” is tentatively scheduled for release in 2026. Until then, a fresh spinoff titled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” will premiere on HBO and Max sometime this year.
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2025-03-11 02:42