The battle for the Iron Throne has entered its most dangerous chapter yet. House of the Dragon returned for its third season this Sunday (21 June), throwing viewers straight back into the brutal Targaryen civil war that has divided Westeros.
Following two seasons of betrayals, dragon battles and devastating losses, the conflict between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen's Team Black and King Aegon II's Team Green is now escalating to full-scale war.
The latest season is a crucial one for both sides as neither faction appears willing to back down. With Prince Aemond now firmly established as one of the realm's most feared figures and Rhaenyra determined to reclaim the thrown she believes is rightfully hers, season three is expected to adapt some of the bloodiest events from George R.R. Matin's Fire & Blood.
While viewers in the United States were able to watch the season premiere on HBO on Sunday evening, UK fans have been looking for ways to catch up with the latest instalment. The show is released globally at the same time, which means for British audiences, new episodes of House of the Dragon season three are available to watch from the early of hours of Monday mornings on HBO Max.
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The streaming service is also accessible through Sky, Now and Prime Video add-ons, giving viewers several different ways to watch the fantasy drama. The new season consists of eight episodes and begins with one of the most anticipated events from the source material: the Battle of the Gullet.
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This large-scale naval battle quickly reminded viewers that nobody is ever safe in Westeros. Despite securing a major victory, Team Black suffered a devastating casualty during the conflict when Jacaerys Velaryon met his end.
Rhaenyra's eldest son, played by Harry Collett, was killed after taking part in the battle aboard his dragon Vermax. The emotional scenes immediately became one of the biggest talking points following the premiere.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Collett admitted he was pleased with how the show handled Jace's final moments. "I’m so happy with how it turned out," he said. "It’s such a cool way to go. It’s not brushed under the carpet. It’s very impactful, in such a great and epic episode. What a heroic death he gets to have. It’s not just some boring death. I’m very happy with it."
However, while Jace's death left many viewers heartbroken, another aspect of the opener generated debate among long-time readers of Martin's novels. The discussion centred around the wild dragon Sheepstealer and the decision to alter part of the storyline from Fire & Blood.
In Martin's book, Sheepstealer is eventually claimed by Nettles, a young dragonseed from Driftmark who becomes one of the most intriguing figures in the Dance of the Dragons. The TV adaptation has chosen instead to focus on Rhaenyra Targaryen's personal journey, with Phoebe Campbell's character appearing to inherit the storyline.
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The creative decision has divided opinion among fans of the source material, with some viewers expressing disappointment at Nettles' absence from the adaptation. Showrunner Ryan Condal has defended the changes, explaining that every decision was carefully considered during development.
Speaking about the change on House of the Dragon’s official podcast, showrunner Ryan said: "I would say that we don't do anything on the show without long discussion and consideration. And I would just say we understand these stories that have kind of risen to the top. They get talked about a lot online. Even before I was involved, we understand how important they are to the audience."
He added: "I think it's our job to adapt and render them in a way that it might not be exactly what you expect but is satisfying and hopefully, in some cases, exciting and surprising. And I think this story is something that falls into a nice area where you can do something that is faithful to the history as written, but also do something very unexpected and different."
House of the Dragon continues Monday (29 June) on HBO Max.
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