{"id":849090,"date":"2026-08-09T12:18:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-09T12:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/849090\/"},"modified":"2026-08-09T12:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T12:18:10","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-season-3-episode-8-release-time-when-to-watch-the-season-3-finale-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/849090\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019 Season 3, Episode 8 Release Time: When To Watch The Season 3 Finale This Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

House of the Dragon returns to HBO and HBO Max tonight<\/a> for the third season\u2019s penultimate episode. The Game Of Thrones prequel has had a much, much better run this season than last. I\u2019ve already seen the finale and while I won\u2019t spoil anything, I can say that it was pretty awesome. Like genuinely one of the most awesome episodes in the Game of Thrones universe. I\u2019m excited to discuss it with you after it airs, so be sure to look for my review here on this blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The forces of Rhaenyra and Team Black have been on the rise, and up until things started going badly in King\u2019s Landing, Lord Ormund and the forces of Team Green and the Hightowers have been on the defensive. Now, with Ormund playing puppet master and Rhaenyra spinning out of control, it\u2019s really anybody\u2019s game \u2013 especially after a certain dragon came back from being (only mostly) dead last week.<\/p>\n

Read on for everything you need to know about this week\u2019s episode, plus recaps of each episode and a trailer for tonight\u2019s foray into the Dance of Dragons. Season 3 so far has the highest Rotten Tomatoes score<\/a> of any of the fantasy series\u2019 seasons, with 91% on the review aggregate website. Viewership has dropped, but big battles with their fearsome fire-breathing dragons could easily bring viewers back, especially since this really has been a step in the right direction compared to Season 2. <\/p>\n

Be sure to also check out my weekend streaming guide<\/a> for all the best TV shows and movies out this weekend.<\/p>\n

The Battle of Tumbleton is coming to House of the Dragon and it looks like it\u2019s going to be brutal and epic and basically everything we\u2019ve been hoping to see in this show for three seasons. Massive armies, dragons in the skies, fire and blood.<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6 drops at 9pm ET \/ 6pm PT on Sunday, August 2 and will run for a total of approximately 63 minutes.<\/p>\n

Like Season 2, Season 3 will be just eight episodes long instead of 10. Here\u2019s when they air on HBO and HBO Max:<\/p>\n

\u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Season 3 So FarWhat Happened In \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Episode 7?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Screenshot: Erik Kain<\/p>\n

Read my full recap and review of Episode 7 here<\/a>. The main thing that went down in last week\u2019s penultimate episode is we basically witnessed Rhaenyra truly lose her hold over those loyal to her and Team Green gain some massive advantages just when things seemed at their worst.<\/p>\n

A massive dragon fight between Rhaenyra, Addam, Daemon and Rhaena saw Rhaena taken captive and Sheepstealer driven off, badly wounded. It was an incredible moment of fantasy TV, but it was also another example of Rhaenyra sacrificing her advantage in favor of her rage and spite.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Aegon\u2019s final stand against Rhaenyra loyalists didn\u2019t go at all the way we expected, with his dead dragon, Sunfyre, suddenly coming to back to life (not because he was truly resurrected but because he was never dead in the first place, which Aegon said to Larys earlier this season).<\/p>\n

All told, this episode set the stage for a massive finale, with Ormund seducing Ulf the White to the Hightower cause and Team Black slowly losing control of King\u2019s Landing and their most important allies.<\/p>\n

What Happened In \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Episode 6?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

For a full recap of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6 read my review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The most important event of the episode, and certainly the ones fans talked about the most, was the ignominious death of the bastard (in the figurative sense) Ser Criston Cole, one of the most-hated men in all of the Thrones-verse. What I think was most interesting about this death, however, was how we had begun to see Ser Criston not through the eyes of Rhaenyra or Alicent, but through that of his friend, Gwayne, a man we respect and admire as truly noble and good. It might not have changed who Ser Criston was, or our overall opinion of him, but I found that it made his death somehow more tragic. There was some thought flitting about the back of my mind: \u201cWhat kind of man could Ser Criston have become if he had not been thrust so young amidst the machinations of Targaryen royalty, beautiful young princesses and so forth?\u201d<\/p>\n

Much more happened this episode of course, including the capture of Corlys, the return of Tyland Lannister and ongoing strife in King\u2019s Landing, where Rhaenyra continues to show just how poor a leader she truly is, while Lord Ormund\u2019s wily plotting has her off-balance at every turn.<\/p>\n

What Happened In \u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019 Episode 5?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Screenshot: Erik Kain<\/p>\n

For a full recap of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 5 read my review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another very strong episode, \u201cUnbowed and Unbent\u201d is all about the various resentments and bitterness that\u2019s grown up all across the noble Houses of Westeros. Aemond raves about his horrible older brother who spent their youth tormenting him. Aegon vows to kill Aemond, the golden child his mother loved best, at whose feet he lays all the blame. Larys stops his whinging short, saying that he was a lousy king and remains a \u201cterrible man\u201d and, oddly enough, may have earned the crippled king-in-exile\u2019s respect in the process.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Gold Cloaks are being murdered horribly in King\u2019s Landing, all part of Lord Ormund Hightower\u2019s plot to create chaos in the city and sow doubt about Rhaenyra\u2019s capacity to rule (after all, she is just a woman). Ormund has very low opinions of women, outside the Yellow Toad of Dorne who he seems to admire greatly.<\/p>\n

The dragon riders Ulf and Hugh are seen very little, but they have their own resentments and worries that Rhaenyra and Daemon continue to ignore or exacerbate. Perhaps not the wisest way to handle your most powerful chess pieces. Corlys, too, has been spurned, though his bastard son, Alyn, has taken his place in Rhaenyra\u2019s Small Council. Things end with Lord Tyland Lannister reappearing at Rook\u2019s Rest and finding Larys and Aegon, as Daemon discovers a gruesome mass murder of his Gold Cloaks and Alicent and Helaena trying to escape the Red Keep (Helaena is pregnant, alas) and getting lost in the dark. Oh, and Aemond continues to convalesce in Harrenhal with Alys Rivers, the witch.<\/p>\n

What Happened In \u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019 Season 3, Episode 4?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

For a full recap of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 4 read my review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s episode, \u2018Tumbleton\u2019, largely focused on Ormund Hightower and his mercurial personality<\/a>. The Hightower high lord and his armies have occupied Tumbleton and have Rhaenyra in something of a bind. But the lack of support from House Baratheon, and a still missing Aemond, have Ormund in a tight spot of his own. His reaction to these setbacks is unhinged, to say the least.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, both the Stark and Riverland forces march to war, while Ser Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower debate how to proceed, with no dragons to support their armies either.<\/p>\n

In King\u2019s Landing, Rhaenyra tries to convene her Small Council and figure out what to do about unrest in her city and a lack of funds, though Daemon manages to secure some gold from Lady Arryn of the Vale. Here, he discovers that his daughter, Rhaena, has become dragonrider to Sheepstealer, though she has no intention of returning with him to King\u2019s Landing to see Rhaenyra\u2019s forgiveness for her part in Jace\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Much of this last episode continues to setup big things to come. Ulf the White growing increasingly discontented with Rhaenyra\u2019s demands. Tension between Rhaenyra and her once-friend, once-enemy Alicent and her pregnant daughter, Haelena. Aemond finds himself at the mercy of the Harrenhal witch, Alys Rivers, while Aegon and Larys continue their misadventures near Rook\u2019s Rest, where the fallen and crippled king must, for once, learn some humility. Chess pieces move across the board as tension mounts and we edge ever closer toward all-out war.<\/p>\n

What Happened In \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Season 3, Episode 3?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

For a full recap of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 3 read my review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Episode 3 of House of the Dragon, \u2018Rhaenyra Triumphant\u2019, was mostly about Rhaenyra\u2019s dawning realization that actually ruling is quite challenging<\/a>, with a thousand people always trying bend your ear. Everybody needs something and with no gold and barely your feet on the ground, this is no easy task. The one reassuring thing is that Lord Ormund bent the knee and gave over Alicent\u2019s youngest son, Daeron, to Daemon. Only, it\u2019s all a subterfuge. At the end of the episode we learn that this was a false Daeron. The real one is back with the Hightowers in Tumbleton, which Ormund has sacked and occupied.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Rhaenyra clashes with Lord Corlys, refusing to legitimize his sons Addam and Alyn with her hold on power so tenuous. Corlys has some very harsh words for the new queen. She also clashes with the High Septon who is no fan of Targaryens and their dragons and still very foreign ways. It was a very strong episode overall, and my favorite of the season so far.<\/p>\n

What Happened In \u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019 Season 3, Episode 2?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: Netflix<\/p>\n

For a full recap of House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 2 read my review right here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the second episode of House of the Dragon Season 3,<\/a> titled \u201cQueen\u2019s Landing,\u201d Rhaenyra discovers that her eldest son, Jacaerys, is dead, slain at the Battle of the Gullet. This breaks her. She\u2019s determined to discover who Sheepstealer\u2019s rider was and bring them to justice, not knowing yet that it was Rhaena. Rhaena goes to the Vale and begs Lady Jeyne Arryn for sanctuary, but the noblewoman wants nothing to do with her. In the end, she allows Rhaena to live in the wild, her dragon a defense of Arryn lands.<\/p>\n

Rhaenyra and Daemon head to King\u2019s Landing, where Alicent has done all she can to provide them a smooth landing. Alicent is very nearly raped by the Lord of Laws, Jasper Wylde, but the High Maester, Orwyle, intervenes. The Gold Cloaks end up turning on Team Green, allowing Rhaenyra to take the Iron Throne.<\/p>\n

Daemon, set to execute Orwyle since Aegon has absconded (and is off on a fun adventure with Larys), decides to spare the High Maester, who offers him Jasper Wylde instead. But Daemon makes another discovery. Larys has imprisoned Otto Hightower beneath the Red Keep. Daemon brings both men to Rhaenyra, who lops off Otto\u2019s head \u2013 though it takes two swings, the first wedging into the older man\u2019s back. Just as she climbs the Iron Throne, Alicent and Helaena arrive, horror written over their faces as they see Otto\u2019s decapitated body on the floor.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a gripping end to the episode, setting the tone for what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n

What Happened In ‘House Of The Dragon\u2019 Season 3, Episode 1?<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

For a full recap and review of the Season 3 premiere, \u201cSalt and Sea, Fire and Blood,\u201d be sure to check out my House of the Dragon Season 3 Premiere review<\/a>. I had pretty mixed feelings about the episode, which had some great moments but a lot of frustrating changes from the source material.<\/p>\n

The Season 3 premiere largely focused on the infamous Battle of the Gullet, when Triarchy forces attacked Lord Corlys Velaryon\u2019s blockade of King\u2019s Landing. Outnumbered, Team Black risked losing their naval dominance. Just in time Prince Jacaerys and Princess Baela arrived on dragon-back.<\/p>\n

The tide turned, the battle all but won, Triarchy archers managed to hit Jace\u2019s dragon, Vermax, and both dragon and rider crashed into the waves. While the crown prince managed to free himself from the dragon before sinking, Triarchy crossbowmen peppered him from a nearby ship, and both dragon and rider perished.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, Daemon and his forces celebrated victory and joined with the men of the North. Gwayne Hightower and Cristson Cole continue their march across the Riverlands, fearful of Team Black\u2019s dragons with no support from Team Green\u2019s own winged beasts. Plots and machinations have been set in motion in King\u2019s Landing as well, where Alicent conspires against her own sons, sending Aemond out of the city and paving the way for Rhaenyra to take the city. <\/p>\n

\u2018House Of The Dragon\u2019 Season 2 Recap<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon<\/p>\n

Credit: HBO<\/p>\n

Season 1\u2019s time-jumping plot ended with the death of King Viserys I and the fractious road to succession, with both Team Black, led by his daughter Rhaenyra and her husband and uncle, Daemon, and Team Green, led by the Hightowers and Visery\u2019s sons with Alicent, Aegon and Aemond, vying for power.<\/p>\n

At the end of the first season, when Rhaenyra\u2019s son Lucerys visits Storm\u2019s End to petition House Baratheon to join their cause, he and Alicent\u2019s second son, Aemond, trade barbs. This escalates into a dragon chase and Aemond\u2019s giant, ancient beast is overcome with bloodlust, killing Luke and his dragon much to the dismay of Aemond One-Eye.<\/p>\n

If peace could have been reached before, there\u2019s no turning back now. In Season 2, Daemon sends assassins to kill Aemond in retribution, but they cannot find him so they behead Aegon and Helaena\u2019s young son and heir, Jaehaerys, instead<\/a>. The second season continues a very slow build as both sides navigate alliances and shore up their power, though the Battle of Rook\u2019s Rest gives us our first real dragon battle. Rhaenyra\u2019s aunt, Rhaenys, is slain in the fight, and Aegon is mutilated, his own dragon left for dead on the field. Team Black gains an advantage when they recruit dragonriders for their spare dragons from the common folk, but Team Green still holds King\u2019s Landing.<\/p>\n

All that might change, however. In a secret meeting between Rhaenyra and Alicent, the queen dowager agrees to help Rhaenyra take King\u2019s Landing, even if it costs her son Aegon his head. Meanwhile, Lord Corlys Velaryon and his fleet have the city blockaded, while Team Black commands from Dragonstone and Daemon battles in the Riverlands and Aemond broods on the throne, which he\u2019s taken from his maimed brother. Larys sneaks Aegon out of the city and we see Otto Hightower languishing in what appears to be a prison cell.<\/p>\n

\u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Cast<\/p>\n

House of the Dragon stars:<\/p>\n

Matt Smith as Prince Daemon TargaryenEmma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra TargaryenOlivia Cooke as Queen Dowager Alicent HightowerRhys Ifans as Ser Otto HightowerSteve Toussaint as Lord Corlys VelaryonEwan Mitchell as Prince Aemond TargaryenTom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II TargaryenFabien Frankel as Ser Criston ColeSonoya Mizuno as MysariaHarry Collett as Prince Jacaerys VelaryonBethany Antonia as Baela TargaryenPhoebe Campbell as Rhaena TargaryenPhia Saban as Queen Helaena TargaryenMatthew Needham as Larys StrongFreddie Fox as Ser Gwayne HightowerAbubakar Salim as Alyn of HullGayle Rankin as Alys RiversTom Bennett as Ulf the WhiteKieran Bew as Hugh HammerArchie Barnes as Grover Tully<\/p>\n

Newcomers include:<\/p>\n

James Norton as Ormund HightowerTommy Flanagan as Roderick DustinDan Fogler as Torrhen ManderlyTom Cullen as Luthor LargentJoplin Sibtain as Jon RoxtonBarry Sloane as Adrian RedfortAnnie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood<\/p>\n

Look for my review of tonight\u2019s episode here on this blog<\/a> directly after it airs, and let me know your thoughts on House of the Dragon on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, or Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n