‘House of the Dragon’ Review: Dragons, Sea Battles and Powerful Women

The third season of HBO’s House of the Dragon hits screens two years after the frankly disappointing season two conclusion in 2024. You’ll be forgiven for spending much of the first episode trying to remember where we are in the complicated civil war, but once you get there, this is a thrilling season that finally ups the ante.

Season two concluded with Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) striking a deal with Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to end their conflict and avoid adding flames to the conflict with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). The show ends with Corlys Velaryon sailing out to join his blockade with Rhenyra declaring now is the time to go to war. Team Green, meanwhile, started working with the Triarchy pirates, while Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) escaped to the East and Aemond headed to Harrenhal to fight Daemon (Matt Smith).

While season two felt like it set up more plots than it answered, three promises to propel the story of warring houses forward. The press were sent four of eight episodes of this third series, so it’s unclear whether this show will replicate the previous season’s big build with no payoff, or conclude satisfyingly. What we can confidently say is that this series is far from boring and uneventful from what we’ve seen.

House of the Dragon fleetingly lays down the groundwork for where the many characters are, what they want, and how they are going to get it. So, if you’re not up to speed with your lore and family tree, it might be worth watching a catch-up video or reading a little reminder.

The Most Epic Sea Battle You Have Ever Seen On TV

The opening episode of season three is as epic as TV can get. Depicting the Battle of the Gullet, the naval battle sees fiery dragon’s take on a fleet of ships. It’s hard to put into words just how grand these scenes are, and it’s clear that no budget was spared in bringing it to life. Emmy-winning stunt coordinator Rowley Irlam claims that three million litters of water, 25 tons of propane and 200 tons of steel were used in these scenes, plus not to mention how many extras and stunt people were involved.

The scenes feel especially monumental because finally, the team behind the fantasy series have understood how to light the scenes so you can actually see what happens. For years, cast and crew put their all into the show only for it to blend into the background of the dim, grey-tone lighting.

Why season two didn’t end with this spectacular battle, well that’s between Ryan Condal and the HBO accounting department. Once it ends and the adrenaline of battle wears off, there is a notable lull as the show moves from all-out war into political intrigue. The series is almost the wrong way round, starting with the big battle that surely can’t be replicated in the latter episodes, and then ending in quieter episodes.

Rhaenyra Steps Into Her Roles As Queen

The series predominantly follows Rhaenyra as she tries to prove to King’s Landing that she is their saviour. It’s strangely relatable to see one woman struggling to live up to the pressures of the name and her job, while her husband swans around. In one fabulous moment in episode three, she berates the elite for flaunting their wealth while her kingdom starves. The writers are not so subtly mirroring Westeros to real world issues, but that is what good fantasy does.

Emma D’Arcy is once against stealing scenes as the strong-willed woman king, trying to keep her house together and stay on the right side of her people. Matt Smith is very much in support here, although is having a ball chewing scenery with a permanent face of a naughty child.

This series, like its predecessor Game of Thrones, struggles with having just too many plot strands to spend time evenly with everyone. The plot involving Aemond is sidelined in these opening episodes, although he is off to the side, plotting his next move. Alicent fans my find themselves yearning to spend more time with her, as she is demoted to being a mediator.

The Women Come To The Foreground

The series belongs to the women as Rhaenyra takes control. She’s not the only one. Youtuber Abigail Thorn returns as Triarchy commander Sharako Lohar, commanding some of the series’ most epic moments. Gayle Rankin also returns as the mysterious healer Alys Rivers guiding the Targaryens on their mission for the Iron Throne.

While House of the Dragons is always expanding its world and adding new characters, there are two notable additions to the world. James Norton appears playing Lord Ormund Hightower, Alicent’s cousin. Norton brings his Shakesperean experience to Ormund, with a touch of the swagger of his House of Guinness character.  Tommy Flanagan also joins the cast as Ser Roderick Dustin, the leader of a group of Northern warriors called Winter Wolves.

They seemed to have learned a lesson from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in terms of tone, injecting the Shakespearean drama with a bit of comedy. The Winter Wolves are a crude, rude, joke-making breath of fresh air. Although, the tonal shift can occasionally feel like you are watching two totally different shows.

While season two of House of the Dragon was criticized for being slow-paced, series three certainly won’t have this issue. These opening four episodes are well-paced and gripping from start to end. Even TV watchers who aren’t loyal fans of the George RR Martin’s universe will be engrossed (and only a little confused).

The script does get convoluted with too much lore and too many characters, but the actors always sell the writing. Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith and James Norton deliver the writing like it’s Shakespeare (and one or two lines here have directly been lifted from the bard). It’s a shame fans will have to wait for the likes of Olivia Cooke, Fabien Frankel, and Ewan Mitchell to shine, but there is plenty of time left.

House of the Dragon season 3 premieres on Sunday, June 21 on HBO and HBO Max.

Verdict: You won’t be bored with these fiery opening episodes of season three of House of the Dragons