The third season of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, drops its season premiere this Sunday on both HBO and HBO Max. The story of the Targaryen dynasty’s bloodiest war of succession picks up just after the events of Season 2, which left Team Black and Team Green on the verge of all-out war.
Rhaenyra leads the forces of Team Black. Her claim to the throne is strongest, since her father King Viserys, publicly proclaimed her his heir at the start of Season 1. This succession was muddied thanks to the meddling of the King’s Hand, Otto Hightower, and the king’s own mumbled words on his deathbed to his wife, Alicent. Delirious, he murmurs something about “Aegon” and she believes he’s telling her that their son, Aegon, should be king. In fact, his words are about the prophecy of the Song of Ice and Fire. The damage is done, however, and the Greens seize power.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 Recap
At the end of the first season, when Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys visits Storm’s End to petition House Baratheon to join their cause, he and Alicent’s second son, Aemond, trade barbs. This escalates into a dragon chase and Aemond’s giant, ancient beast is overcome with bloodlust, killing Luke and his dragon much to the dismay of Aemond One-Eye.
If peace could have been reached before, there’s 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’s young son and heir, Jaehaerys, instead. The second season continues a very slow build as both sides navigate alliances and shore up their power, though the Battle of Rook’s Rest gives us our first real dragon battle. Rhaenyra’s 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’s Landing.
All that might change, however. In a secret meeting between Rhaenyra and Alicent, the queen dowager agrees to help Rhaenyra take King’s 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’s 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.
Season 3 opens with the Battle of the Gullet, the largest naval battle in the history of Westeros, and the moment that the Dance of Dragons kicks off in earnest.
What Time Does ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3, Episode 1 Premiere?
The House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere drops at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Sunday, June 21 and will run for a total of 72 minutes. An updated opening credits sequence and theme music will accompany the new season.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season Release Schedule
Like Season 2, Season 3 will be just eight episodes long instead of 10. Here’s when they air on HBO and HBO Max:
- Episode 1: Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Episode 2: Sunday, June 28, 2026
- Episode 3: Sunday, July 5, 2026
- Episode 4: Sunday, July 12, 2026
- Episode 5: Sunday, July 19, 2026
- Episode 6: Sunday, July 26, 2026
- Episode 7: Sunday, August 2, 2026
- Episode 8 (Finale): Sunday, August 9, 2026
Watch The ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Trailer
Here’s the very dark, quite intense trailer for Season 3:
We catch many glimpses of dragons, including the new blue dragon, Tessarion, who belongs to Daeron Targaryen and flies with the Hightower host. Battle, conspiracy, plotting, and some new faces in the cast. Speaking of which . . . .
‘House of the Dragon’ Cast
House of the Dragon stars:
- Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen
- Emma D’Arcy as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower
- Rhys Ifans as Ser Otto Hightower
- Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon
- Ewan Mitchell as Prince Aemond Targaryen
- Tom Glynn-Carney as King Aegon II Targaryen
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Harry Collett as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Phia Saban as Queen Helaena Targaryen
- Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
- Freddie Fox as Ser Gwayne Hightower
- Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull
- Gayle Rankin as Alys Rivers
Newcomers include:
- James Norton as Ormund Hightower
- Tommy Flanagan as Roderick Dustin
- Dan Fogler as Torrhen Manderly
- Tom Cullen as Luthor Largent
- Joplin Sibtain as Jon Roxton
- Barry Sloane as Adrian Redfort
- Annie Shapero as Alysanne Blackwood
Look for my review of the Season 3 Premiere here on this blog directly after the episode airs, and let me know your thoughts on House of the Dragon on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
