House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 8 wrapped up the third season with another massive battle, some big deaths, and enough emotional damage to keep us occupied until the show finally returns. I thought it was one of the best episodes House of the Dragon has ever done, and I’m absolutely not interested in hearing any kvetching from the fanboys about it.
The Battle at Tumbleton was fantastic. The season started strong with the Battle of the Gullet, but that sea battle didn’t hit quite the same way as Tumbleton.
It feels like we’ve been waiting for all these armies to finally converge and fight it out for several seasons now, and Tumbleton was the culmination of all that waiting. Thankfully, it was worth it.
The standout of the battle was definitely Ser Roderick Dustin—Roddy the Ruin—gleefully taking out Ormund Hightower before embracing death by dragonfire. The Winter Wolves showed up and showed OUT for Queen Rhaenyra.
And can we talk about Rhaenyra giving that speech at the sept? The armor. The dragon-eye makeup. The aura. Flawless.
Queen Rhaenyra the Cruel is finally in full command of the situation, and I remain loyal to the Dragon Queen.
50 Thoughts About House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 8
This was a very long episode, and I had a LOT of thoughts. Let’s go:
- The last time we’re going to hear this absolute banger of an opening theme for years. Pain.
- Miguel Sapochnik should be directing again. He’s still the GOAT when it comes to battles.
- Get it together, my Queen.
- Rhaenyra the Cruel rises.
- Baela’s not wrong, though.
- Take that title, Alyn! It’s yours!
- Tumbleton…. I can’t wait!
- Lyonel Baratheon did a better knighting.
- Ulf needs to be drowned in a vat of ale.
- Rhaenyra, baby, you don’t need that septon. Shank him.
- See ya, Mysaria! Rhaenyra finally sees right through your manipulation.
- Poor Helaena. The purest girl in this entire incestuous alien family.
- No one loves you, Aemond. Cry about it.
- I don’t want to feel bad for Alys, but I kind of do.
- TELL HER, HELAENA! READ HER! I love her, but she needs to hear it.
- “A dark path.” Oh, you have NO idea how dark this is about to get.
- Truth bombs are dropping faster than dragonfire this season.
- :::incoherent screaming about Queen Rhaenyra in her armor and dragon-eye makeup:::
- Of course Ormund would use children as shields while still claiming the moral high ground. I can’t wait to see him die. I hope it’s painful.
- Ulf. Of course. Fucking loser.
- Rhaenyra wants you out of her city, Mysaria. You really should have left.
- Little Joffrey looks so sweet. Harwin Strong would have been proud.
- FIRE AND BLOOD! He wants FIRE AND BLOOD!
- Black Aly looking fine AF. Also, protect Oscar Tully at all costs!
- Well. This is awkward.
- Oscar better survive this.
- ULF. Fuck that guy. Seriously.
- RODDY THE RUIN! LET’S FUCKING GO!!
- Rhaenyra is giving Joan of Arc and I am HERE FOR IT.
- I love Rhaenyra the Cruel. I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs.
- My Queen is the epitome of Fire and Blood.
- Rhaenyra has finally found her voice.
- Fire and Blood! Fire and Blood! FIRE AND BLOOD!
- SHE SAID IT. “The Prince Who Was Promised.” IN HIGH VALYRIAN. I’m going to need a minute.
- WINTER WOLVES! PULL UP!
- The Winter Wolves haka is perfection.
- Ormund, you absolute bastard, using those kids like that.
- Slice ’em up, Roddy! BRING THE RUIN!
- YASS, Black Aly! Fuck ’em up!
- Listen to Gwayne if you want to survive this, Daeron.
- ULF, YOU DISGUSTING TRAITOR.
- KILL HIM, RODDY! YASSSSS!!!!
- An honorable death for the GOAT, Ser Roderick Dustin. Roddy the Ruin went out like Roddy the fucking Ruin.
- Rogue dragons are definitely becoming a theme this season.
- This is going to be a PR disaster for Rhaenyra.
- Sorry. I was busy concentrating on breathing.
- Helaena. Oh, our poor, sweet Helaena.
- Helaena deserves to be at peace. With her children. And her chickens.
- I am emotionally compromised.
- Now THAT was a fucking finale.
It’s horrible that we have to wait years for the final season of House of the Dragon, but at least they gave us a Season 3 finale that will feed us for a good long while.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Didn’t Disappoint
I’ve seen so much complaining on social media from people who didn’t like Season 3, and honestly, it’s getting pretty annoying.
Do I think this was the best season of House of the Dragon? No. But I do think it gave us some spectacular moments.
The pacing across all three seasons has been uneven, largely because the show is trying to cram enormous events from Westerosi history into these tiny, truncated seasons. Sometimes that works. Sometimes you can practically feel the story fighting against the episode count.
But overall, I really enjoyed Season 3, especially this finale. Rhaenyra finally took the throne, only to immediately begin walking down the path that will eventually lead to her downfall. And I think that’s something people sometimes forget when talking about this show: we already know how this story ends.
This is a tragedy.
There is no version of the Dance of the Dragons where Rhaenyra gets everything she deserves, sits peacefully on the Iron Throne for the next 30 years, and lives happily ever after surrounded by her children and dragons.
We’re watching the tragedy happen. And Season 3 quietly put many of the pieces that will ultimately destroy Rhaenyra into place.
Rhaenyra has the throne. She has embraced Fire and Blood. She has finally stepped fully into her power. And that will be exactly what destroys her.
For now, though?
Long live Queen Rhaenyra the Cruel. First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men, Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm.
Now that House of the Dragon is on hiatus, and so is The Vampire Lestat, until more genre shows that I want to cover premiere this fall I’ll be writing a weekly newsletter with thoughts about TV, culture, and more on my substack Unfiltered, so sign up for that.