This advanced review of House of the Dragon season 3 is a spoiler-free review for the first four episodes.
There was always going to be another show in the Game of Thrones Universe. The HBO series was a genre-defining moment in pop culture. Since its conclusion, there have been many attempts at a spinoff or prequel show to maintain the franchise’s relevance. The show that finally made it to air was House of the Dragon.
House of the Dragon tells the story of House Targaryen and the battle for the throne 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. The first season didn’t start the way audiences may have suspected, with a time jump halfway through. One of the reasons audiences were so invested in Game of Thrones was watching the young cast grow into adults who would eventually defeat the Night King and Cersei Lannister. Jumping forward in time during the first season created an unnecessary hurdle for the audience in connecting with the show’s leads.
Even with a bump in its first season, House of the Dragon was a huge hit, leading to the greenlight of seasons 2, 3, and 4. One of the main criticisms of the second season was that nothing really happened. Daemon spent the majority of the season in a castle fighting ghosts, and Rhaenyra and Alicent kept hinting at an inevitable battle that never came. Game of Thrones has had many iconic battles during its run, and season 2 of House of the Dragon didn’t have any.
Season 3 finally gives Game of Thrones fans what they have been longing for. The first two seasons spent a majority of their time building the relationships that audiences knew would have to come to a head so that we could see what sold this show to begin with, which was Targaryans fighting Targaryans. Characters that have spent most of their time apart are finally brought together and the drama is what you would expect it to be.
Game of Thrones was known for its brutality. Beloved characters can die, and it kept audiences on the edge of their seats, not knowing if their favourite character was going to make it. House of the Dragon had the difficult task of reestablishing the universe and what the status quo was during the time it is set. The third season had the benefit of rewarding viewers with shocking twists that you won’t see coming.
Choices that characters have made will have consequences, and the payoff will thrill audiences who have been watching since the start. Allegiances change, and it’s kill or be killed in Westeros, and with all of the foundation laid, the writers and cast have delivered the best season of the series.
House of the Dragon premieres Sunday, June 21, on HBO.