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House of the Dragon S3 Ep 1 Review

Remember back when Game of Thrones was in its heyday, and every episode was enough to make the Internet shake? The battles were epic, the betrayals and drama had us on the edge of our seats, and we cared when the characters we liked bit the dust? So many of us were hoping that House of the Dragon would recapture that feeling, but outside of a few key moments, last season was a snooze-fest. For all this talk about a civil war between the Targaryens, there was barely any war involved. But that has now changed. The fight at Rook’s Rest was a good warm-up, but Season Three opened up by giving us the best battle the franchise has seen since the original series! Smoke and salt, fire and blood, the gullet runs red!

So Much to Keep Up With!

It’s been two years or so since we last saw House of the Dragon, so I was a little disappointed to see the new season not open with a recap. Plus, I still don’t know if I like the tapestry intro. It was hard for me to keep track of things on this new tapestry, but that’s just one small gripe.

Given how massive the show’s cast is, there’s a lot of jumping around, with some moments proving to be more important than others. However, the most important aspects of the episode center around a few key plot points. Firstly, Alicent has now decided to sell out the Greens to stop the war that she partially started, offering Rhaenyra King’s Landing in exchange for sparing her and her daughter. Her plans are almost derailed, though, by Aegon’s flight (the irony that he’s captured by Rhaenyra’s supporters is not lost on me), and Aemond now declaring himself King like he always wanted.

Which reminds me. Remember how I said that I respected Aemond more than his older brother, and thought that he at least had the potential to be a king? What respect I did have for him is largely gone now, and it all has to do with that one scene with him and his mother. I know that incest is common in the Targaryens, but kissing your own mother? Somehow, that feels even worse than kissing your sister! What the heck were the writers thinking with that? Furthermore, it feels like Alicent’s attempts to trick her son out of King’s Landing were way too telegraphed! Aemond should be smart enough to realize his mom was up to something, but no! He falls for it hook, line, and sinker.

I know the show is trying to follow the established history, but come on. The writers can do better!

Speaking of doing better, we have one of the moments that I wanted to see only for it to get rushed: Rhaena and Sheepstealer.

Sheepstealer Didn’t Disappoint…but his Rider did

I was excited when the season two finale gave us a look at Sheepstealer, the wild dragon that will come to have a role to play in the Dance of the Dragons, and while I’m sad that his rider from the books was written out, I’m happy to see another dragon. Though I have to admit, Sheepstealer is one ugly-looking SOB! His scales are jagged, his teeth are crooked, and it’s obvious that he’s had a hard life. I guess the dragons the Valyrians raise tend to look much healthier, given how they’re probably well-fed and groomed. Beyond that, though, I didn’t like how quickly Rhaena was able to gain Sheepstealer’s trust onscreen. It should have taken her more than a single episode to win him over, but she does so by eating some of the sheep he cooked? That doesn’t make much sense! In all honesty, it feels like the show was rushing things just so it could get to the real highlight of the episode, the Battle of the Gullet.

Why didn’t we get the Battle of the Gullet in Season Two?!?

This was the kind of battle that we expected to take place in season two. The Battle of the Gullet is the biggest naval battle that we’ve ever seen in the franchise, and HBO clearly went all out on it. The sight of ships being set aflame, the brutal melee combat on the decks, and the sight of dragons flying overhead all made for spectacle that we haven’t seen since the heyday of Game of Thrones. I think that the franchise has improved its combat scenes since then, if this is any indication. I especially appreciated the one on one between Corlys Velaryon’s crew and Admiral Lohar of the Triarchy. That chase between the shallows was nail-biting! And then seeing Corlys lose the will to fight as Driftmark was sacked! Watching his legacy be tarnished while his own ship, the Sea Snake (I’m assuming), died under him is just incredible! Even if he survives the war, House Velayron may never recover what it has lost.

Speaking of which, this battle sees Rhaenyra suffer another devastating loss: her son, Jaceaerys. And the worst part is that it was his decisions that got him killed.

RIP, Jace

I think we all saw the red flags waving when Jace ordered his Mom be kept in her room so she couldn’t join the battle. I know he was trying to keep her safe, but he was depriving himself of another dragon rider in a situation where that was desperately needed. Maybe if she and Syrax had been there, Jace wouldn’t have had to die. Of course, it wasn’t just Jace’s desire to prove himself that did him in. Why Rhaena thought it was a good idea to take Sheepstealer into battle right after she got him to let her ride on his back is beyond me. She wanted a dragon so badly, she forgot the training that goes with it. And now, her cousin’s death is on her hands.

The Battle of the Gullet is nothing short of a bloodbath that neither side can say they won. The only real winners were us, the viewers, who got to see the bodies hit the floor, and it’s only going to get worse. By the time the show’s done, almost everyone on the cast will likely be dead, and the show knows it. Steel yourselves for what’s to come, guys.

I Give “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood” a 5/5