HBO’s fantasy replacement for Game of Thrones is about to get even better. After Game of Thrones, people wondered what would be next for George R.R. Martin’s World of Ice and Fire. The acclaimed series had ended on a whimper, but there was still much of the universe to explore.
Online, people claimed they were giving up on Game of Thrones forever, though internet comments are like words in Game of Thrones: wind. Some fans must have decided they were willing to give the franchise another chance, because when House of the Dragon arrived, it also found a massive following.
However, it hasn’t been completely beyond reproach. Even as someone who loves it, I can admit that the first two seasons of the show have been very slow. We’ve waited and waited for events to happen, and when we’re rewarded, like with the Battle at Rook’s Rest, it’s exciting, but those moments are few and far between.
The board has been set, though, for the events of House of the Dragon season 3. The end of season 2 almost literally sets up armies like toy soldiers ready to face off. This is because season 3 is likely to be one of the most explosive seasons in the Game of Thrones universe.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Will Have Some Of The Most Intense Scenes Of The Franchise
From the trailer for House of the Dragon season 3 alone, you can see that this will be the most intense season of the show yet, and maybe of the franchise. If the show’s source, Fire & Blood, is to be believed, then season 3 should begin with one of the most bloody battles of the series: the Battle of the Gullet.
If we’re just talking about battles, then the timeline is likely to include the Battle of the Honeywine, the Fishfeed, and the Butcher’s Ball. It’s also possible that the first Battle of Tumbleton ends season 3. These are battles on the scale of something like the Battle of the Blackwater in Game of Thrones season 2.
Then, there’s the Fall of King’s Landing, everything that Daemon (Matt Smith) is getting up to, and the smaller battles that occur in between the big ones I mentioned. Also, we have a host of new dragon riders.
It’s not clear if every major moment from the books will be depicted in HOTD season 3, but even if only a fraction of them are, it’s going to be an explosive season.
House Of The Dragon Is An Admirable Successor To Game Of Thrones
While House of the Dragon has not reached the same heights of cultural popularity as Game of Thrones, it’s still a worthy successor to that series. This prequel strikes a much more serious tone and is closer to a chamber drama than the sprawling epic that was Game of Thrones.
House of the Dragon season 3 will premiere in June 2026.
That change in tone and style might throw some people off at first, but if you stick with it, you’ll find a rich character portrait that still includes the fiery violence and political maneuvering that fans of the franchise love. House of the Dragon is a deeply sad family drama, and one that will move you if you accept it.
House of the Dragon is a slow-burn. We’ve taken our time to get to know both sides of the conflict, so that when they attempt to destroy one another, we feel the loss, even if they are pitched as villains. House of the Dragon season 3 is when the dragons come home to roost, and it should be spectacular.
Release Date
August 21, 2022
Network
HBO
Directors
Clare Kilner, Geeta Patel
Fabien Frankel
Ser Criston Cole