The second episode of House of the Dragon took its time in setting up the players, which for some fans was slow and missing the shock quotient. Fear not, for the promo of Episode 3 hints at a massive battle to quench your thirst for violence and adds enough drama as it puts in place all the players who might play a role in the most brutal civil war the Targaryens have faced. Here’s what we have concluded from the promo so far.
Introducing Aegon II
The third episode, just like the second one, seems to have skipped forward a couple of years at least because not only does Viserys have a child with Alicent (remember he wanted to be married to her by spring?), the said child is already a toddler.
We hear Otto Hightower saying “the road ahead is uncertain but the end is clear. Aegon will be king”, acknowledging that there would be challenges.
The chips seem to stack up against Rhaenyra
Rhaenyra doesn’t seem happy with her father, especially when he (probably) brings up a marriage proposal for her, saying that she needs to do her duty even if she doesn’t want to get married. Things don’t seem to be hunky dory between Rhaenyra and former-best-friend-turned-stepmother Alicent, as the Queen can be seen saying plaintively that things don’t have to be the way they are. We assume she is speaking to Rhaenyra.
The royals seem to be at a hunting party and we see Rhaenyra galloping off on her own as she feels like there is no one for her. Except for the voice screaming out “Princess”. Ser Criston Cole? Probably. Then we see Rhaenyra in front of a campfire looking shocked as something or someone moves across the screen.
Crabs vs Dragons
The Crabfeeder’s control over the Stepstones that have been referred to in the last two episodes has become “urgent”, a voice warns. Daemon Targaryen seems to have bought into Corlys Velaryon’s pitch about joining forces to end the Crabfeeder, but the excursion against the terror to seafarers doesn’t seem to be going well if the worried look on Corlys’ face is anything to go by. Does that arrow fell Daemon or was some other white-haired human? There are crabs aplenty and the battlefield seems bloody. But did the Crabfeeder and his army forget about the dragons? Are we in for some crispy-fried crustaceans (the humans will of course be burning, this is the world of Game of Thrones after all)?
Who will win the battle? How estranged will Viserys and Rhaenyra become? What else does Otto have planned? We expect answers in Episode 3, which will air on Disney+ Hotstar at 6.30am on September 5.
