With Rhaenyra on the throne, we now get to see how she would do as the actual Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 focuses on her transition into leadership. As the new queen, new expectations and eyes are watching her next move. Establishing a new council, dealing with menial tasks, and ensuring she is seen as the true ruler of Westeros are all top of mind. Yet the reality of this new role is far more crushing, anxiety-ridden, and frustrating than she had realized.
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What happens in House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3?
Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) stands in front of Ormund Hightower (James Norton) as they barter for terms. Ormund does not trust Daemon, but after mentions of Otto’s death and handing over Oldtown to Ulf, Ormund offers his allegiance to Rhaenyra. Before the soldiers leave, Daemon demands Ormund hand over Daeron Targaryen. He agrees, and the son of King Viserys joins Daemon.
Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) speaks of the “ghosts” of her father and mother in the Queen’s quarters. Daemon tells Rhaenyra that Daeron is in the Red Keep. Rhaenyra asks him about Aegon, Ormund, and others, but the young boy does not look her in the eyes or answer her questions. She demands he be locked in his room, but Daemon reminds her that he has a claim to the Throne as Viserys’ son. She will have to kill him.
Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) tells Corlys (Steve Toussaint) that the Crown’s gold has been taken away from King’s Landing. Corlys estimates they only have enough to run the court for a few weeks, even with her reserves from Dragonstone. Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) believes Orwyle, and while Daemon throws a barb her way, Rhaenyra names her confident Mistress of Whispers.
Rhaenyra acknowledges they are in a difficult position. However, she needs to be crowned to ensure her legitimacy. Corlys and Mysaria advise against throwing a massive coronation at the moment. The Triarchy hordes roam the Seven Kingdoms, and there is limited food for the poor. Rhaenyra chooses to demand payment from each of the great families while also telling Corlys that her small council from Dragonstone betrayed her. She will not bring them to King’s Landing. Rhaenyra then puts up a bounty for whoever kills Aemond: the rule of Harrenhal itself.
As she wanders through the Red Keep, Rhaenyra is peppered with questions about candles, beds, her Kingsguard, and rat catchers. Ser Largent gets the other members of the staff to back away as Rhaenyra enters the chambers where Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Helaena (Phia Saban) are being held. Rhaenyra demands answers for where the gold, Aegon, and Aemond went, but Alicent has no additional information. Instead, she tries to plead for their release and Aegon’s safety, but Rhaenyra cannot let them leave until Aemond and Aegon are dead.
Rhaenyra tells Largent to circulate rumors of Aegon’s death and tells him to return Joffrey from the Veil, as he is next in line for the throne. As she walks through the halls, Rhaenyra and Mysaria discuss the next steps for Daeron. As they do, Rhaenyra has a vision of Jace walking the halls. She remains paranoid of the staff, who may still harbor allegiance to the Hightowers. Rhaenyra tries to woo Balman (Simon Chandler), the High Septon of the Faith, to coronate her. However, he declines, warning against making an enemy of the religion.
In a private meal, Corlys reveals he is the father of both Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim). This surprises Rhaenyra at first, but she thanks both men for their allegiance and service to her. However, when Corlys asks for her to make them his legitimate heirs, she balks at the request. As she wanders the halls of the Red Keep, she spots Baela (Bethany Antonia) but cannot bring herself to speak to her. She joins Daemon in bed.
The next morning, Rhaenyra readies to meet with the smallfolk, but she grows frustrated when her period starts moments before meeting the people. On the throne, she hears the frustrations of the people. Dragons eat too many sheep, so the butchers are running out of product. As the people starved during Rhaenyra’s blockades, the highborn families hoarded food.
In the small council, Daemon and Mysaria argue about the people’s will versus the devotion they require from the noble houses. As they argue, Rhaenyra grows more uneasy and paranoid. No word has come back about Sheepstealer or Vhagar. She knights Ulf, Hugh, and Addam. They will now be known as “Ulf the White,” “Hugh Hammer,” and “Addam of Hull” (much to Addam’s disappointment). Afterward, Hugh asks when he can expect his new living situation, but Rhaenyra asks him to wait for now.
Rhaenyra tries to get a moment to herself, but Alicent asks for an audience. Her old friend asks for Otto Hightower’s remains to be returned to Oldtown, where he can lie with his wife. Rhaenyra agrees and then asks Alicent for counsel on being the ruler of the realm. Alicent tells her that Rhaenyra will have to give up part of herself to rule. Rhaenyra pushes back because her father could remain himself, but Alicent reminds her that he lived in his own world.
Rhaenyra sits down with the high folk of King’s Landing to dine with them. Several try to speak up and say they were always loyal to her, but she dismisses them. Instead, the entire table is served rats, which Rhaenyra points out were all the people could eat while the rich hoarded their stores. The Gold Cloaks are raiding their stores while their dinner goes on. As she leaves, Rhaenyra meets Torrhen Manderly (Dan Fogler), a noble who acknowledges her move was a strong one. She’s surprised by the smirk on his face, but it’s a memorable interaction nonetheless.
Rhaenyra and Daemon watch as the Gold Cloaks load up the food, but they acknowledge this is only a temporary measure. Despite how far they’ve come, Rhaenyra remains unsure about how to rule. Daemon reminds her the dragons generate their power. Thanks to these creatures, they are gods. He believes they should take Dorne, Essos, and the world beyond. Rhaenyra believes they need to secure King’s Landing before they can expand their empire. As he leaves Daemon reminds Rhaenyra she must kill Daeron. One night, she stands over a sleeping Daeron, looking down on her half-brother.
Mysaria asks Rhaenyra about her lack of sleep. They discuss the ways Rhaenyra has buried her grief, but she admits it’s hard to feel anything. They arrive at the Septum, where the women distribute food to the poor. Afterward, Corlys confronts her about Addam’s knighthood, which caused him to remain Addam Hull. She pushes back about questions of legitimacy regarding her own children, which further enrages Corlys.
Rhaenyra meets with Alicent, revealing that Daeron is in the castle. Alicent freezes as she articulates a response to the bombshell news. She asks about Rhaenyra’s intentions, and the new Queen reveals she will send Daeron to the Wall rather than kill him. Alicent demands an audience with her son.
Rhaenyra reveals her plan to Daeron, telling him he will go to the Wall. However, the boy remains unmoved. Rhaenyra calls in Alicent, but as soon as she steps into the room, she realizes what has happened. Ormund never turned over the real Daeron. It has been a ruse. The young boy admits that Ormund threatened to hang his real mother if he revealed the truth. Leaving the interrogation, Rhaenyra receives word that Ormund has taken Tumbleton and the dragon that remained. He will hold the people and the dragon hostage.
Is House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 worth watching?
Yes, House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 is intriguing on the personal level, even if it’s missing the big swings of the last few. We get some cool pairings throughout the episode, and get inside Rhaenyra’s head as she navigates her new role as leader. The brilliant musical compositions from Ramin Djawadi further add to the tension. This episode was much for House of the Dragon to give us a quick reset, but heighten stakes for the next stage of the war.
House of the Dragon continues to rely on Emma D’Arcy’s talent to land the emotional nuance in the tale. Once again, the actor rises to the challenge, delivering a brilliant turn as they work through each decision. D’Arcy’s regret over their actions in Episode 2 (since named “Queen’s Landing”) is palpable. Yet it’s the way they portray someone who is overwhelmed by getting everything they’ve ever wanted that is most alluring. The character work D’Arcy delivers further builds their case for an Emmy nomination, with the scenes opposite Olivia Cooke showing the depth of their chemistry.
House of the Dragon needed to give Matt Smith another foil to measure himself against, especially with Aemond missing. The show immediately proves Ormund Hightower (James Norton) is that foe. Norton and Smith have an incredible showdown in their one scene together, and the Hightower man’s move is an incredibly shrewd one. That said, it was still a gamble to assume Daemon and Rhaenyra would not recognize their nephew/step-brother. What Ormund is up to is still a question, but we know that he’s got a dragon and rider amongst his troops.
While House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 provides a fairly limited scope, it is impossible to ignore Djawadi’s brilliant score. The music throughout House of the Dragon continues to shine, and Djawadi ups the ante by crafting tension out of thin air. The soundscape of House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 is very different, in part because of the claustrophobia Rhaenyra feels in the Red Keep. Djawadi delivers music that fits the tension of the one-take movies of the 2010s, and he continues to be one of the great composers.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 airs on July 5, 2026. House of the Dragon airs every Sunday night.
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