The eighth and final episode of the third season of House of the Dragon has laid the groundwork for the fourth and final season, but which storylines will it tackle? Several clues are scattered throughout the eighth episode, and we will examine them together to reason about what awaits when House of the Dragon returns for a final cycle dedicated to the Dance of the Dragons. For some time now, Season 4 has been presented as the last, thereby bringing an end to the war between Blacks and Greens and revealing who will ultimately triumph on the Iron Throne. To reach that point, here are the various clues and narrative threads dropped throughout the finale of Season 3. Attention: following sections will refer to what happened in the last episode of Season 3 available on Sky and streaming on NOW and HBO Max and to some elements present in the novel by George R.R. Martin that could also be adapted for TV.
House of the Dragon 3 and the finale clues that foreshadow the plots of the final season
1. Aemon and Aegon reunited
Aegon has found his brother Aemond at Harrenhal. Descending upon the fortress with Sunfyre, the recovered King first threatened Aemond before explaining that he has a different plan for him than death: together they must reclaim the Iron Throne, sweeping aside Rhaenyra. Aemond has stayed at the castle for a long time alongside Alys, even planning a future together. Wounded and abandoned, Aemond is also forced to digest the absence of Vhagar, who had departed long ago and never returned to him. Aegon’s plan certainly involves Vhagar, being a precious dragon in battle, so it is likely he will help his brother to find her. The fourth season, after all, if it follows what is told in Fire & Blood, will feature a major clash for Aemond and Vhagar against Daemon and Caraxes.
2. Mysaria on the run: why did she disobey the Queen?
If in the seventh episode Rhaenyra drew closer to Mysaria, in the eighth she decided to do without her. Following Daemon’s advice, the Queen has understood who she truly wants by her side and has dispatched Mysaria, arranging her farewell journey. Mysaria, however, has no intention of indulging the Queen’s whims and at the first opportunity escapes, blending with the crowd in King’s Landing and even attending Rhaenyra’s speech. In Fire & Blood, her fate is not exactly pleasant (it involves the Walk of Atonement), but we will see what happens to her in the fourth season.
3. Tumbleton
The Battle of Tumbleton ended in a bitter outcome for both sides. Blacks and Greens are at the end of their strength, but those who have read George R.R. Martin‘s novel know this is only the first of two battles in the city. Interesting is Daemon’s stance, always at the front in the clashes, and this time he seems to waver, observing the damage inflicted on the innocents, victims once again of blood and fire. Returning to King’s Landing, Daemon will also bring Lord Corlys, recovered by the Greens. What card will the Sea Snake play and what weight will it bear on the Queen’s throne?
4. The two traitors
Connecting again to what happened at Tumbleton, the fourth season of House of the Dragon cannot ignore another important plot concerning the two traitor knights: on one side Ulf the White, who decided to rebel first against the Blacks by striking a favorable deal with Ormund Hightower before changing his mind after yet another humiliation and taking revenge on both sides; on the other Hugh Hammer, who disobeyed the Queen’s orders by reaching Tumbleton to save his wife Kat, but without success. The consequences of their actions will surely be addressed in the upcoming episodes.
5. The throne of Rhaenyra
Another important question that will find an answer in the next cycle of episodes concerns the duration of Rhaenyra’s throne: will she manage to defeat the Greens definitively or will Aegon blow the throne away from her again? Rhaenyra maintains that she is the rightful heir to the throne and desires that everyone recognizes that title, hence she is desperate, and the resurrection of Aegon and his dragon has pushed her onto a dangerous path. She killed the High Septon, who for the umpteenth time refused to publicly recognize her as sovereign, and she revealed to the people the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire, naming herself the Princess Who Was Promised, the one who will save the people from darkness. The murder of the High Septon and the suicide of Helaena will not put Rhaenyra in a good position in the fourth season, two events that could spark a revolt (as happens in the novel). Specifically, in the novel the death of Helaena leads to a revolt that includes the assault on the Dragonpit, a tragic event for the Targaryens that involves the deaths of key characters and also several dragons.
Go to NOW and watch House of the Dragon
Comments