House of the Dragon

Credit: HBO

The third season of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, landed on HBO and HBO Max last Sunday, debuting with 21.5 million viewers – a massive amount, though nearly 2 million short of the 23.4 million viewers who watched the Season 2 premiere.

Still, these are huge numbers for the dark fantasy drama, proving that Westeros still has plenty of devotees eager to watch knights and queens conspiring and battling against one another with steel and dragon flame. Here’s everything you need to know about House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 2.

What Happened In 'House Of The Dragon’ Season 3, Episode 1

For a full recap and review of the Season 3 premiere, be sure to check out my review. I had pretty mixed feelings about the episode, which had some great moments but a lot of frustrating changes from the source material.

Forbes‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3, Episode 1 Recap And Review: The Battle Of The Gullet

The Season 3 premiere largely focused on the infamous Battle of the Gullet, when Triarchy forces attacked Lord Corlys Velaryon’s blockade of King’s Landing. Outnumbered, Team Black risked losing their naval dominance. Just in time Prince Jacaerys and Princess Baela arrived on dragon-back.

The tide turned, the battle all but won, Triarchy archers managed to hit Jace’s dragon, Vermax, and both dragon and rider crashed into the waves. While the crown prince managed to free himself from the dragon before sinking, Triarchy crossbowmen peppered him from a nearby ship, and both dragon and rider perished.

Elsewhere, Daemon and his forces celebrated victory and joined with the men of the North. Gwayne Hightower and Criston Cole continue their march across the Riverlands, fearful of Team Black’s dragons with no support from Team Green’s own winged beasts. Plots and machinations have been set in motion in King’s Landing as well, where Alicent conspires against her own sons, sending Aemond out of the city and paving the way for Rhaenyra to take the city.

What Time Does ‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3, Episode 1 Premiere?

House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 2 drops at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Sunday, June 28 and will run for a total of 68 minutes. An updated opening credits sequence and theme music accompanies 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 (Recap)
• 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, Episode 2 Teaser

Here’s the Episode 2 teaser:

‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Recap

Season 1’s time-jumping plot ended with the death of King Viserys I and the fractious road to succession, with both Team Black, led by his daughter Rhaenyra and her husband and uncle, Daemon, and Team Green, led by the Hightowers and Visery’s sons with Alicent, Aegon and Aemond, vying for power.

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.

‘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.