House of the Dragon Season 3 Review: HBO’s Stunning GOT Prequel Is More Epic Than Ever, but Will Divide Fans

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Season 2 of House of the Dragon proved divisive, splitting both the fictional realm within the show and its audience. While critics still gave it a respectable 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes (down from 90%), viewer approval dropped more noticeably, from 82% to 72%. However, these numbers don’t fully capture the frustration many fans felt, particularly with the season’s cliffhanger ending after a build-up to a major battle. Adding to the concerns were criticisms from George R.R. Martin, the author of the source material (Fire & Blood). Martin publicly disapproved of changes made to the ‘Blood and Cheese’ storyline, specifically the removal of Prince Maelor, which he described as having negative consequences. He has also since admitted that his working relationship with the show’s creator, Ryan Condal, is very strained.

Season 3 of House of the Dragon arrives after a two-year wait, following a lot of online discussion about the show. The creators have stayed true to their original plan, with both successes and some missteps along the way. When looking at these first four episodes, there are two key questions. First, is it any good? The answer is yes – the acting is strong, the characters are compelling, and it’s visually impressive. Second, will this season address the criticism the show received? That’s more complex. While some changes will likely please viewers, other creative decisions might still be controversial.

Rating: 4/5

Pros Cons
The Battle of the Gullet is absolutely spectacular. It doesn’t (yet) do justice to all of its characters.
It finds the right balance between spectacle and story. It’s slightly disjointed.
Emma D’Arcy is better than ever as Rhaenyra Targaryen, and the rest of the returning cast is great. A few of the surprises and book changes will annoy some fans.
James Norton steals the show as Ormund Hightower.
Episode 3 is an unexpected highlight.

House Of The Dragon Season 3 Begins In Epic Fashion (& It Makes Up For Season 2)

HBO has openly discussed that the third season will start with the Battle of the Gullet and Rhaenyra’s journey to King’s Landing. They’ve especially emphasized the battle, with showrunner Ryan Condal telling Entertainment Weekly it’s potentially “the most ambitious and visually stunning episode of television ever made.” This massive sea conflict, one of the largest and most violent in Westeros history, will be a lengthy sequence in the season’s first episode. It pits the Velaryon fleet, led by Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), against the forces of the Triarchy, commanded by Admiral Shakaro Lohar (Abigail Thorn).

The Battle of the Gullet is everything people say it is – a truly epic and impressive event. It’s the kind of visually stunning spectacle that feels too big for television. You can understand why the creator called it insane; the sheer scale of the battle, both at sea and in the air with the dragons, is remarkable.

The Targaryens’ most powerful weapon is both stunning and terrifying, immediately throwing you into the brutal reality of battle. Visually, this sequence is as impressive as anything from Game of Thrones. While it doesn’t reach the same emotional depth as episodes like “Blackwater” in terms of character development, it’s still exceptionally well-executed.

Episode 2 then shifts focus to King’s Landing, offering a more contained story that still feels epic. The episode is packed with character development and crucial plot points, giving fans moments they’ve anticipated for a long time. Together with the first episode, it makes for an incredibly strong start to the season.

It’s evident that these episodes were originally intended to conclude Season 2, including storylines like the Battle of the Gullet. While this benefits Season 3 by adding content, it creates a slightly uneven flow. These episodes would have likely been more impactful as the final two installments of Season 2, giving viewers time to fully process those events.

House Of The Dragon’s Entire Cast Is Great – But Emma D’Arcy & James Norton Steal The Show

The cast of House of the Dragon is consistently excellent, and Season 3 continues that trend, with Emma D’Arcy particularly shining as Rhaenyra. Each season, D’Arcy reveals new depths to the character, showcasing a wide range of emotions. She brilliantly portrays Rhaenyra’s pain, anger, and strong moral compass, truly becoming the emotional core of the show.

Episode 3 truly shines, showcasing Emma D’Arcy’s talent – and there’s a standout scene early in Episode 2 as well. This episode is unlike any other in the series, primarily following Rhaenyra as she grapples with the realities of ruling. D’Arcy portrays her internal struggle brilliantly, and despite the season’s stunning visuals, I found this deeper exploration of her character and the true meaning of being Queen to be the most compelling part.

The returning actors all deliver strong performances, though some storylines get more attention than others. After only four episodes, it’s possible this will balance out over the rest of the season. However, characters like Aemond and Helaena aren’t currently featured enough. Balancing so many different stories and characters is always a challenge for shows like this, and it’s particularly noticeable in Season 3 with events scattered across Westeros. Sometimes it feels like certain plotlines are just included without having a strong focus or clear direction.

Matt Smith and Olivia Cooke continue to deliver strong performances, but Tom Glynn-Carney truly shines. He quickly became a standout in Season 2 by bringing depth to Aegon II Targaryen, and even as the character faces darker times now, Glynn-Carney is captivating – he portrays Aegon with a vulnerability that makes him feel genuinely human and heartbreaking.

Among the new cast members, Tommy Flanagan’s Roddy the Ruin is likely to quickly become popular with viewers. However, James Norton as Lord Ormund Hightower truly stands out. He plays the kind of unpredictable character that has always been successful in the world of Game of Thrones, and Norton masterfully balances charm with a hint of deceit. His performance is captivating – you’re constantly guessing his next move and eager to see what happens.

House Of The Dragon Season 3’s Bold Swings Won’t Be For Everyone

It’s hard to say much without spoiling things, but I don’t think Season 3 will address the issues some viewers had with Season 2. Frankly, I’m not confident the show’s current direction aligns with what George R.R. Martin would envision.

The adaptation takes some significant liberties with the original book, which will likely frustrate fans. A couple of these changes are especially daring, and even those familiar with the source material may be surprised by where the story is headed. Expect some strong reactions from viewers.

Changing details from the original book isn’t necessarily good or bad. With House of the Dragon, it’s almost required, since the source material is presented as fragmented historical records. However, any changes should ultimately serve the story and characters. Some of the alterations made so far are strong improvements, while the impact of others remains to be seen, and it will be fascinating to follow how these changes play out.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres at 9pm ET on HBO and HBO Max on June 21st.

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2026-06-15 18:13