The House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere has left fans reeling with its intense and dramatic start. The episode, which picks up where Season 2 left off, delivers a series of shocking deaths and significant changes from George R.R. Martin’s book, Fire & Blood. From the fate of Prince Jacaerys Targaryen to the Battle of the Gullet, the premiere sets the stage for an epic and brutal season ahead.
The episode opens with the looming war between Team Green and Team Black, setting the stage for the Dance of Dragons. However, the show’s creators have made several notable changes from the source material, some of which have left fans questioning the narrative choices.
The Fate of Prince Jacaerys Targaryen
One of the most devastating moments of the premiere is the death of Prince Jacaerys Targaryen, or Jace as he is commonly known. In a shocking turn of events, Jace defies his mother Rhaenyra’s wishes and joins the battle at the Gullet, only to meet a tragic end. Multiple arrows to the chest bring his journey to a brutal close, leaving fans to question whether his sacrifice was worth the victory.
The Battle of the Gullet: Changes and Consequences
The Battle of the Gullet, a pivotal naval battle in the history of Westeros, is a major focus of the premiere. However, the show’s version of this epic battle differs significantly from the book. In the books, Jace is joined by other dragonriders from Team Black, including Ulf the White, Nettles, Addam Velaryon, and Hugh Hammer. In the show, only Jace and Baela Targaryen fly to war, with the other dragonriders waiting to ambush Aemond Targaryen.
Another significant change is the role of Sheepstealer, the wild dragon tamed by Rhaena Targaryen in the show. In the books, Sheepstealer is tamed by Nettles, a teenage girl who is not featured in the show. This change has led to some criticism, as Sheepstealer’s actions in the show are directly responsible for the death of Jacaerys and his dragon Vermax, creating a striking similarity to the death of Lucerys Targaryen.
The Death of Sharako Lohar
Another notable death in the premiere is that of Sharako Lohar, the treacherous admiral of the Triarchy fleet. Alyn of Hull kills Lohar during the Battle of the Gullet, but not before she causes significant damage to the Velaryon fleet. Lohar’s character has been criticized for being a one-dimensional, cartoon-like villain, with some fans comparing her to Euron Greyjoy from Game of Thrones.
The Fate of Jason Lannister and Corlys Velaryon
The premiere also brings the death of Jason Lannister, one of the Lannister twins. His head is delivered to Daemon Targaryen in a bag as proof of his demise, with Ser Roderick Dustin taking credit for the kill. Meanwhile, the fate of Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, remains unclear. As per the agreed-upon rule with Game of Thrones, no body means no death, so fans are left to speculate on his survival.
Adaptations and Criticisms
The premiere has also brought about several adaptations and changes from the books, some of which have left fans questioning the narrative choices. One of the most criticized changes is the exclusion of Nettles, the teenage girl who tames the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the books. In the show, Nettles is replaced with Rhaena Targaryen, who does not have a dragon in the books.
Another criticized change is the neutering of the Blood & Cheese assassination, a horrific moment in the books that lacks the genuine brutality of the original scene. The relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent has also been criticized for being bloated and wearing out its welcome, with some fans questioning the show’s insistence on making Rhaenyra the good guy.
Despite these criticisms, the premiere delivers a thrilling and intense start to Season 3, with shocking deaths and significant changes setting the stage for an epic and brutal season ahead. Fans will have to wait and see how these changes play out and whether they will ultimately be worth the sacrifice.
