{"id":551029,"date":"2026-07-20T19:18:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/551029\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T19:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:18:13","slug":"this-weeks-house-of-the-dragon-goes-full-grand-guignol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/551029\/","title":{"rendered":"This Week\u2019s \u2018House of the Dragon\u2019 Goes Full Grand Guignol"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve reached the fifth episode of House of the Dragon season three<\/a>, and both sides of the Dance of the Dragons<\/a> are starting to realize how cruel and tedious war can be\u2014even when there are no dragons involved.<\/p>\n

This week, we spend time with Cole\u2019s increasingly raggedy army, as well as another beleaguered group of soldiers: Daemon<\/a>\u2019s Gold Cloaks of the City Watch in King\u2019s Landing. The tension builds throughout and yields some awfully gruesome returns; extra praise must be given to the House of the Dragon special effects team this week for truly outdoing themselves.<\/p>\n

\"Io9<\/p>\n

We first check in with young Lord Tully and his army of rivermen (plus Roddy the Ruin and the Winter Wolves), whose journey to Tumbleton by way of the Stoney Sept has been slowed by sabotage from Cole, Gwayne, and company. Tully tasks a group to go ahead and protect the river crossings, and Roddy says he\u2019d be happy to chase down Cole\u2019s forces and fight them outright.<\/p>\n

But Tully suggests they instead \u201cplay at his game,\u201d an idea that becomes more urgent when Cole leads an attack on Team Black\u2019s camp that results in slashed throats and burned tents.<\/p>\n

Next, we\u2019re in Harrenhal, where the Black Phillip of Westeros makes another cameo before a group of rough-looking men enter, intent on collecting Rhaenyra\u2019s prize for killing Aemond: ownership of Harrenhal itself. Alys Rivers, who\u2019s grown accustomed to such invaders, is there to \u201cgreet\u201d them. She assures them Aemond is not there and then shoos them away with help from Harrenhal\u2019s resident ghosts.<\/p>\n

But of course, Aemond is there, recovering from his wound and having some classic Harrenhal nightmares. He wakes up disoriented, rattled by a vision of Aegon\u2019s burning face and taunting laughter. Alys comforts him as he says, presumably speaking about Helaena, \u201cShe saw it. She said that I would die, that I ruined everything.\u201d Then, as he clutches onto Alys, he says, \u201cMother.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Gayle\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

Speaking of Helaena and mother-related subjects, we cut to the Red Keep, where Grand Maester Orwyle chats his way past Alicent\u2019s guards by explaining he\u2019s there to assist with a \u201cdisorder of the female persuasion.\u201d<\/p>\n

A maid silently takes note of his approach. Side note: there are now cats galore roaming around the castle. Orwyle hands Alicent the special potion he\u2019s brought and apologetically says he won\u2019t be able to keep doing favors for her. She gets it.<\/p>\n

Far less understanding is Helaena. She flat-out refuses to drink any abortion tea, despite Alicent telling her that if she has this baby, it will face either certain death or a life as \u201ca hostage or a pawn.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the castle is someone we\u2019d almost forgotten about: Lady Sabitha Frey, who\u2019s hopping mad that Rhaenyra offered up Harrenhal as a bounty. In season two, Jace (RIP) promised it to House Frey if they\u2019d let the Winter Wolves cross at the Twins. Rhaenyra doesn\u2019t back down, but she does offer Lady Frey a seat on her Small Council as a consolation prize.<\/p>\n

Speaking of, it\u2019s time for that group to meet, and the table of advisors is no longer empty. (Love the side bit of Lord Manderly gossiping with Lady Frey and Daemon\u2019s disapproving glare at their chatter.)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot going on: Baela and Addam, who\u2019ve been on dragon patrol, report that Vhagar has been spotted randomly burning farms just outside of Wendish Town, east of Harrenhal. (Nobody in this group realizes it\u2019s Vhagar solo, without Aemond guiding her movements, though Daemon points out that \u201cdragons need to eat.\u201d)<\/p>\n

Closer to home, there\u2019s more unrest. The people are hungry, the City Watch is unpaid, and the violence we saw last week over the \u201cQueen of Bastards\u201d graffiti has caused more ill will, with the tables turning against authority: two Gold Cloaks were just found dead in Flea Bottom.<\/p>\n

Plus, Ormund is still hunkered down at Tumbleton, and Rhaenyra remains frustrated by the fact that nobody knows or can even guess what his plan might be. She\u2019s also angered by the update that Cole\u2019s army has been sabotaging the Tully crew and asks Baela and Addam to fly back out and investigate.<\/p>\n

Addam protests that Baela is exhausted, but she insists she\u2019s A-OK to fly\u2014and their only available back-up, Daemon, says he\u2019s not going anywhere until he figures out who killed the Gold Cloaks.<\/p>\n

Rhaenyra is infuriated by his defiance, and she chases after him to call his priorities into question. \u201cRevenge may wait,\u201d he tells her, and insists whatever treachery is going in King\u2019s Landing should be his focus right now. And anyway, she shouldn\u2019t have let herself get so rattled by that ridiculous graffiti. \u201cYou are the Queen of Dragons. Your strength is your legitimacy,\u201d he reminds her.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re interrupted by a maid who tells Rhaenyra that wee Prince Joffrey has arrived from the Vale and is asking to see his mother. She puts off the reunion for now.<\/p>\n

\"Matthew\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

We then jump to Larys and Aegon trudging through the woods. Or rather, Aegon is trudging, chasing after those same tales of Vhagar sightings, and Larys is urging him to return to the camp at Rook\u2019s Rest. A stubborn Aegon declares his brother to be the cause of \u201cevery one of my miseries\u201d and vows he\u2019s going to kill him or die trying.<\/p>\n

In the Red Keep, Mysaria visits Alicent. She knows the Grand Maester was called upon to provide his special concoction, despite Alicent\u2019s frantic attempt to cover for her daughter by chugging the entire pot of tea herself. But the Mistress of Whisperers hasn\u2019t told Rhaenyra\u2026 yet.<\/p>\n

In the forest, Gwayne is riding along telling Cole how wonderful Oldtown is. He offers Cole a future place in House Hightower\u2019s service. Before Cole can respond, horses start screaming and falling, and we realize someone has studded the ground with razor-sharp crow\u2019s feet. It\u2019s a wrenching scene (Cole putting his own steed out of its misery is especially brutal), but now we know what Tully was getting at when he suggested giving Cole\u2019s men a taste of their own medicine.<\/p>\n

Back in King\u2019s Landing, Daemon is scolding Ser Luthor for being so harsh with the smallfolk; Luthor basically says, \u201cI learned it from watching you,\u201d and tells Daemon the murdered Gold Cloaks had their throats and their bowels cut. If you\u2019re wondering what that might look like, fear not: two more City Watch bodies have just been discovered, and we get a full visual of what \u201cdying in agony in their own shit\u201d looks like.<\/p>\n

A small girl watches the scene from afar, then runs into a house and whispers a report to a man seated there. Another man goes to the window and sends a bird on its way.<\/p>\n

The message is \u201cGold blood shed. Three marked in the tally. The account lies open.\u201d We\u2019re wondering why it doesn\u2019t say \u201cfour marked,\u201d but we recognize the recipient: Ormund Hightower, who reads it while ordering more effort be put into the building of reinforcements at Tumbleton.<\/p>\n

He then steps over to quiz Daeron on Westeros history, and when the boy admits he doesn\u2019t know the story of Meria Martell, Ormund launches into the tale of \u201cthe Yellow Toad of Dorne,\u201d an incredibly gifted military strategist. Ormund admires her despite the fact that she was a) unattractive and b) a woman. Imagine that.<\/p>\n

\"Benjamin\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

While he\u2019s talking, the pair are playing what looks like Cyvasse, a Westeros version of chess. When Daeron makes the winning move, he\u2019s proud for about half a second before he panics. And indeed, Ormund\u2019s first instinct is to angrily sweep the pieces onto the floor. But instead of yelling at Daeron for daring to win, he claps him on the shoulders and tells him, \u201cNever apologize for victory.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he has a surprise: he\u2019s had gold coins made that are imprinted with Daeron\u2019s likeness. \u201cYou are the sign our allies have been waiting for,\u201d he tells the boy he really, really wants to make king.<\/p>\n

In the garden, noted insect aficionado Helaena is warning little Jaehaera not to touch a certain caterpillar\u2014\u201cThey eat the leaves of the nightshade, but that would be death for you or me,\u201d which certainly could be interpreted as foreshadowing\u2014when Alicent approaches. It\u2019s time for another attempt at fleeing King\u2019s Landing. With Rhaenyra\u2019s guards helping the Gold Cloaks track down Flea Bottom\u2019s version of Jack the Ripper, there\u2019ll be fewer eyes checking on them.<\/p>\n

But Helaena says she won\u2019t leave without her daughter, despite Alicent\u2019s assurances that leaving Jaehaera behind is the best (and only) course of action. \u201cYou look away when you lie,\u201d Helaena observes.<\/p>\n

Baela and Addam are still coming up empty-handed on the hunt for Vhagar. Addam can tell that Baela is exhausted, and she admits her determination comes from the guilt she feels over Jace\u2019s death\u2014and Rhaenyra\u2019s lingering fury at Baela\u2019s part in Jace\u2019s fatal \u201clock my mom in her room\u201d mistake.<\/p>\n

She also has fears about her future now that Jace is gone, imagining she\u2019ll be married off to whichever creaky old lord offers the most gold. \u201cThen I\u2019ll come find you and we\u2019ll fly to exile,\u201d Addam promises and insists they take a meal break. Is there a spark between these two?<\/p>\n

At Harrenhal, Aemond has another nightmare and wakes up yelling for Vhagar. \u201cShe\u2019s gone,\u201d Alys tells him. He\u2019s devastated, and he should be. He\u2019s good with a sword, sure, but without the power of Vhagar, \u201cI\u2019m nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The hits keep coming, as Alys reminds him that King\u2019s Landing is now being ruled by Queen Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra has declared Aegon dead and blames Aemond for killing him.<\/p>\n

But of course, Aegon is alive, if not exactly well. Just as Aemond is remembering how much he\u2019s always hated Aegon, Aegon is returning the favor, moaning to Larys about what could have been if only he\u2019d been given the same advantages and favoritism that Aemond enjoyed.<\/p>\n

Larys soaks in this \u201cwoe is me\u201d rant and finally says what he really thinks for once. He points out that Aegon\u2019s injuries came after he chose to fly \u201cdrunk into a battle to which you were not invited,\u201d and that ever since then, \u201cyou\u2019ve done nothing but whinge and self-flagellate with a tenacity I find astonishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, Larys observes, Aegon had literally every imaginable advantage handed to him. \u201cYou could have risen to greatness,\u201d he says. \u201cBut instead you trampled your birthright in the mud.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the honest truth: \u201cYou were a terrible king. But worse than that, you are a terrible man.\u201d<\/p>\n

In King\u2019s Landing, Rhaenyra is kneeling in the sept, a sight that makes Daemon chuckle. He\u2019s there to update her on the situation in the streets: four Gold Cloaks dead, all murdered in the same gruesome way. \u201cI fear this is but the beginning,\u201d he tells her.<\/p>\n

\"Matt\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

As they talk, they switch to High Valyrian. Rhaenyra admits she now realizes her enemy is \u201cwithin.\u201d While there are likely many conspirators involved, there\u2019s one mastermind steering the plot against her. The gods wanted her to rule, so why is someone daring to challenge that?<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you imagine there would be no dispute?\u201d Daemon chides her. \u201cYou are a woman, Rhaenyra. There will always be those who oppose you.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Rhaenyra sees it as something more cosmic than patriarchy and politics. \u201cSomething stirs against me: something crouched, something formless. I feel the dread of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daemon doesn\u2019t agree. He thinks it\u2019s just ordinary men, albeit maddeningly elusive ones. \u201cYou are more than this,\u201d he scolds as he leaves.<\/p>\n

In the woods, Cole, Gwayne, and the rest of their now-horseless army are hacking their way through the underbrush. Everyone\u2019s exhausted; desertion is a growing concern. You can tell Gwayne is hoping Cole will agree to turn back, but instead Cole suggests a shortcut to speed up their progress.<\/p>\n

Amid the squalor of Rook\u2019s Rest, Larys sees Aegon limp into camp. \u201cJust hire the fucking ship,\u201d the terrible man sighs. Suddenly a familiar face appears out of nowhere. Turns out Tyland Lannister did not die in the Battle of the Gullet after all!<\/p>\n

In the Red Keep, Alicent and Helaena, disguised as maids, are sneaking to freedom when Mysaria stops them. She calls out Helaena\u2019s unborn child as \u201cthe inconvenient heir\u201d and makes it clear she\u2019s done keeping secrets from Rhaenyra.<\/p>\n

But while she\u2019s no fan of Alicent or the Hightowers, Mysaria is a big-picture thinker. She listens when Alicent suggests Rhaenyra\u2019s feelings about her could turn on a dime. And when Alicent suggests the Hightowers could return the favor someday if Mysaria doesn\u2019t tell Rhaenyra about Helaena\u2019s pregnancy, she takes that into thoughtful consideration.<\/p>\n

Helaena, we see, has set up a habitat for the nightshade-chomping caterpillar. A little deadly friend.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the castle, Rhaenyra peeks in on a sleeping Joffrey. Can she keep this heir safe, or will he suffer the same fate as Jace and Luke?<\/p>\n

Back to Gwayne and Cole and their men, who are now slogging through rain and mud. At least one soldier falls out of line and dies on the spot. Gwayne, who has to yank a leech off his leg, looks 100% over it, but Cole keeps pushing on.<\/p>\n

At Harrenhal, an especially determined gang of bounty hunters has scaled the cliff to get to the castle. For once the men aren\u2019t scared off by Alys; instead, they grab her\u2014not realizing that Aemond is nearby with his sword and a desire to protect this mysterious woman who\u2019s been taking care of him. \u201cSeems you\u2019ve taken a turn for the better,\u201d Alys quips once Aemond has finished cutting down all the intruders.<\/p>\n

\"Phia\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

At Rook\u2019s Rest, Larys and Tyland argue about what to do. The trio is also being newly scrutinized. A few feet away, Aegon catches the camp\u2019s self-styled leader\u2014the man who made him kiss his boots\u2014rifling through Aegon\u2019s bag and trying for a \u201cgotcha\u201d moment when he discovers the king\u2019s crown. \u201cYou may call me Your Grace,\u201d Aegon declares as he swiftly stabs the guy to death.<\/p>\n

In King\u2019s Landing, the Gold Cloaks are in a panic. When Ser Luthor can\u2019t calm them, Daemon swoops in to give the ultimate Westeros version of a locker-room speech, and \u201cthe Lord of Flea Bottom\u201d proves he\u2019s still got what it takes. Morale restored, the men head out to kick ass and do their duty. Making things even better, Daemon and Ser Luthor learn a suspect in the killings is now in custody.<\/p>\n

After much struggle, Cole and company reach the river, only to find that their rivals have already torched the bridge crossing. Gwayne looks distraught. \u201cSo we have failed,\u201d he says, but Cole just stares blankly across the river.<\/p>\n

We quickly return to Daemon and Luthor\u2019s interrogation of their suspect, who refuses to talk and has an eye plucked out as punishment. When Daemon asks if he\u2019d rather lose his other eye or his tongue next, the man screams he was doing \u201cthe king\u2019s work.\u201d But he doesn\u2019t mean Aegon. He has a coin stashed in his boot: one of Ormund\u2019s custom-crafted pieces decorated with Daeron\u2019s likeness.<\/p>\n

In the forest, Gwayne tells Cole he\u2019s heading to Tumbleton to link up with Ormund. But Cole\u2019s going to stay the course.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a battle he can\u2019t win, and he knows it. \u201cOur fate was always assured, Ser Gwayne. When we set out, we were doomed to death and defeat,\u201d Cole says. He\u2019s been a servant all his life\u2014a life that\u2019s been defined by oaths and devotion and whoever is giving the orders.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am the realm\u2019s greatest warrior, and I will die as such,\u201d he tells Gwayne. \u201cClear-eyed. Unbent. Glorious in battle. And not in their service, finally. But in my own. And they will sing songs of it, and Queen Alicent herself will hear them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the Red Keep, Daemon shows Rhaenyra the Daeron coin, calling it \u201cthe price of our humiliation.\u201d Also, he adds, \u201cWe should have burned them when we had the chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Matt\u00a9 HBO <\/p>\n

Back in the woods, Cole gets to give his own locker-room speech when he addresses the men who\u2019ve stuck around, but it\u2019s more of a last stand moment. His words saying the Seven will watch over them play over the sight of Helaena finding a hidden passage out of the room that\u2019s become a prison for her and her mother.<\/p>\n

We then see Daemon, confused to find the City Watch barracks are curiously empty. Where is everyone?<\/p>\n

When Cole gets to the part about the Stranger, the most ominous of the Seven, who \u201coffers us rest,\u201d Alicent and Helaena realize they\u2019ve become trapped in the tunnel just as their lantern goes out, leaving them in total darkness.<\/p>\n

Then, Daemon realizes where all the men are. He turns a corner and finds the mutilated bodies of every Gold Cloak, including Ser Luthor, arranged around a table in a macabre tableau.<\/p>\n

The words \u201cA FEAST FOR TRAITORS\u201d are scrawled on the wall behind them in blood.<\/p>\n

Forget Jack the Ripper. We are in Hannibal territory now.<\/p>\n

A new House of the Dragon arrives Sunday on HBO.<\/p>\n

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel<\/a>, Star Wars<\/a>, and Star Trek<\/a> releases, what\u2019s next for the DC Universe on film and TV<\/a>, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019ve reached the fifth episode of House of the Dragon season three, and both sides of the Dance…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":551030,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[146,463,4302,6206,85,46,411,12962],"class_list":["post-551029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-game-of-thrones","tag-hbo","tag-house-of-the-dragon","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-tv","tag-tv-recap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=551029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/551029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/551030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=551029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=551029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=551029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}