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The penultimate season of “House of the Dragon” culminated in a dramatic and fiery conclusion, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
In the electrifying finale of the third season of this “Game of Thrones” prequel, which captivated audiences on Sunday night, a shocking event unfolded. Helaena Targaryen, portrayed by Phia Saban, appeared to take her own life by leaping from a castle window, delivering a devastating blow to the story.
Throughout the season, Helaena, who was with child, found herself essentially trapped under the authority of her half-sister, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Emma D’Arcy. Her situation added a level of intensity and tension to the ongoing narrative.
Rhaenyra’s ascent to the throne marked a ruthless consolidation of power, as she exercised strict control over Helaena, once an opposing figure in the turbulent conflict. Her actions painted a clear picture of the harsh realities faced by those on the losing side of this intricate battle for supremacy.
Shut in the castle, Helaena — a “dreamer” who could see the future — became increasingly more distressed. Shortly before her death, Helaena had a contentious meeting with Rhaenyra in which she criticized the queen, telling her “all the things you care about are ugly.”
As she refused to eat, Rhaenyra had guards force-feed Helaena.
Helaena’s death wasn’t explicitly shown but, at the end of the episode, she slowly walked to the window. Later, her dead body shown below it.
Before her death, Helaena had been working on a piece of embroidery, stitching images from her visions of the future. Rhaenyra was aware of Helaena’s powers and, after her death, glanced at the embroidery.
One of the images Helaena had stitched showed her plummeting from a castle window. Another image showed Rhaenyra holding a sword on the Iron Throne, surrounded by flames.
The episode ended with the queen studying the prophetic image of herself.
“House of the Dragon” is set almost 200 years before “Game of Thrones,” and follows Targaryen siblings in a civil war over who is the rightful monarch.
The main conflict is between Rhaenyra and her half-brother, Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).
As Aegon was Helaena’s brother and husband — those Targaryens and their incest — that meant she was on his side of the feud by default, despite her not being active in the war.
To make things more complicated, Season 3 added a third contender for the throne: Aegon’s long-lost brother and Rhaenyra’s half-brother: Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth).
In the middle of Season 3, Daeron’s evil guardian, Ormund Hightower (James Norton), took over the market town, Tumbleton, and hatched a plan to put Daeron in power.
In the finale, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) — both uncle and husband to Queen Rhaenyra — and his army marched on the town, sparking a bloody battle with Ormund and his forces.
Ormund was fatally slain by Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan), also known as Roddy the Ruin, who fights on behalf of Rhaenyra and Daemon.
Roderick died in the process of killing Ormund — and got his arm cut off during the tussle (ouch).
Before Ormund died, however, he persuaded Ulf White (Tom Bennett) — a dragon rider on Rhaenyra and Daemon’s side — to turn traitor.
Daemon and his forces thought Ulf would fight with them but, instead, he flamed them with his dragon, leading to mass death and destruction.
Tumbleton was reduced to rubble and carnage by the end of the Season 3 finale, though Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) and Daeron seemingly both survived.
Season 3 ended with Rhaenyra still tentatively holding her grip on power, losing half-sister Helaena and one of her loyal dragon riders in Ulf — and her future ahead looks bumpy.
Her other dragon rider, Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), lost his wife in the battle at Tumbleton, so he likely won’t be too happy about continuing to fight for Rhaenyra.
Aegon, who had been MIA all season, also met up with his brother, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), and pitched him a plan to join forces and overthrow the queen.
The HBO series will end with the forthcoming Season 4, which will premiere at an unannounced date, most likely in 2028.
Before Season 3 premiered, showrunner Ryan Condal said he understood fans’ frustration with the two-year gaps between seasons.
During a pre-season Television Critics Association press conference that Page Six attended, he said, “It just takes a long time to make.”
He explained that “prep and shooting” take a year, followed by an additional “seven months [to] eight months” for the special effects team “to make dragons.”
Condal urged haters to “do the math.”
“It’s not possible to come out every year,” he said. “I’m very sorry, but you guys decided to be fans of the show called ‘House of the Dragon.’”