It sounds like it could get better with House of the Dragon season 3, too, as it’s poised to raise the stakes of the Dance of the Dragons even further. After Rhaenyra’s agreement with Alicent at the end of season 2, things are likely to get heated once they realize that Aegon II is no longer in King’s Landing. And with Rhaenyra finding new dragon riders, both sides are more evenly matched. Between that setup and the major book events likely to be included in HOTD‘s third season, the show could even reach heights I’ve been hoping for since the beginning.
House Of The Dragon Boss Ryan Condal Says Season 3 Will Be “Bigger And Grimmer”
He Teased The Battle Of The Gullet & Other Big Events
House of the Dragon season 2’s ending sets the stage for an action-packed and brutal season 3, and according to Condal, that’s exactly what we’re getting. During an interview with Entertaintment Weekly, the HOTD showrunner teased what’s to come in the next chapter of the story. He suggested that it would be the “biggest season to date,” noting that the Battle of the Gullet and several other events outlined in George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood would happen. He promised it would outdo previous outings in terms of ambition, stating:
“We’re cresting that narrative parabola here and starting to come down into, if not the endgame, the midpoint and getting into the late Act 2 and moving onto the start of Act 3. Anybody that’s read that book knows that the narrative gets bigger and grimmer as it goes along, and the show has to match that ambition as best it possibly can.”
Condal’s words are promising, and they suggest that season 3 could make up for House of the Dragon season 2’s controversial finale. The showrunner also vowed that viewers waiting for “brutal, pitiless bloodshed” would be satisfied with the coming episodes. With an emphasis on big action sequences, expanding the story, and landing emotional blows, it sounds like season 3 could finally reach the heights of Game of Thrones — and that makes me more excited than anything else.
It Sounds Like House Of The Dragon Could Finally Reach The Heights Of Game Of Thrones
The Action & Scale Could Match The Best Seasons Of The Main Show
Although House of the Dragon is among the best ongoing fantasy shows, it has yet to reach the heights of its predecessor. However, I have a feeling season 3 will change that. While House of the Dragon seasons 1 and 2 boast a high production quality, their storytelling just isn’t on the same scale as Game of Thrones. In part, this is because the prequel focuses on a narrower conflict than the main show. The Targaryen civil war places a heavier focus on individual family dynamics, while the War of the Five Kings and other GOT conflicts involve more of Westeros.
Of course, the best episodes of Game of Thrones also benefit from the audience growing attached to the characters and then losing them. With Condal promising a “grimmer” narrative with lots of action, it’s likely that House of the Dragon will recapture the emotional highs of the original series as well. And this makes sense, as we’ve had plenty of time to get to know House of the Dragon‘s main characters. There’s a reason Game of Thrones seasons 3 and 4 are among its greatest hits; they both benefit from the series finding its footing in earlier outings, too.
If It Lives Up To Expectations, Season 3 Could Be A Turning Point For The GOT Prequel
The Back Half Of The HBO Prequel Could See Similar Acclaim To GOT
It certainly sounds like House of the Dragon season 3 has the potential to leave a greater impression than anything that’s come before.
Whether it achieves this feat will depend on whether it lives up to viewer expectations. Going off of Condal’s comments alone, it certainly sounds like House of the Dragon season 3 has the potential to leave a greater impression than anything that’s come before. But there was similar excitement around House of the Dragon season 2, so viewers will need to wait to see if the coming episodes live up to that potential.
