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House of the Dragon is moving at a rapid clip. In the premiere episode we saw the traumatic death of Queen Aemma and the naming of Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir to the throne. The second episode focused on King Viserys Targaryen’s duty to remarry. Episode 3 takes place years later, and the theme of the show is once again marriage, but this time it’s Rhaenyra in the matrimonial hot seat.
Much of House of the Dragon’s first episode was spent introducing us to the cast of new characters, and episode 2 saw tempers and tensions escalate. We also got a hint of the intrigue that made Game of Thrones famous — something that’s expanded on this week. Court politics can be tiring, especially if you’re a king. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all that.
Below is a full recap of House of the Dragon episode 3, The Second of His Name. But beware: Spoilers are ahead.
Fire and Blood, the book on which House of the Dragon is based, took place over 300 years. To cover much of that ground, the show needs to get a move on: Episode 3 is set three years after the events of episode 2. You’ll recall in that episode King Viserys Targaryen announced to the Small Council his intention to marry Alicent Hightower. Now King Viserys and Queen Hightower have a son, Aegon, and as episode 3 opens we see scenes from Aegon’s second birthday celebrations.
Hand of the King Otto Hightower is chatting with his brother, whose name we don’t get. (He’s the Lord of Hightower, I think.) It’s about time, Brother Hightower says, that the king names Aegon the new heir. Otto rebuffs him, saying King Viserys prefers Rhaenyra and doesn’t see Aegon as his successor. Brother Hightower tells him sternly: « Then it lies with you to make him see it, Lord Hand. »
King Viserys, clearly just hanging out for a good time, is then accosted by a servant, who informs him of happenings in the Stepstones, where Daemon Targaryen and Lord Corlys Valeryon are waging war against The Triarchy. Episode 2 ended with Daemon and Corlys striking up a partnership to deal with the Triarchy and its apparent leader, the Crabfeeder. This episode’s first scene shows Daemon attacking the Crabfeeder’s army on dragonback, but being repelled by archers shooting flaming arrows.
Viserys is informed of this development and is told that the Crabfeeder’s forces have retreated to Stepstone caves, neutralizing the dragon advantage. Viserys doesn’t want to hear it: « It’s been three years, it can wait another three days. »
The servant keeps badgering Viserys with war developments, but all the king cares about is finding Rhaenyra, who’s conspicuously absent from the celebrations. Queen Alicent Hightower finds Rhaenyra reading under the Godswood tree. The king and friends are about to go on a hunt to mark Aegon’s birthday, and Queen Alicent requests Rhaenyra’s presence. These two were close friends in the first two episodes, but Hightower’s marriage to Rhaenyra’s father has turned their warm friendship cold. Rhaenyra basically tells the queen to leave her alone, but begrudgingly comes along after Queen Alicent says the King has ordered Rhaenyra to join them.
« Well isn’t this splendid? » King Viserys pronounces as he, Alicent and Rhaenyra are seen traveling via carriage to the hunt. « The whole of our family off to celebration and adventure in the king’s wood. » The glances exchanged between the three of them betray the fact that it is not, in fact, splendid.
Rhaenyra asked Alicent if she should be out on the hunt given her condition — she’s pregnant with King Viserys’ second child. The king invites Rhaenyra to join in the hunt with him, but not before chiding: « You’ll be with your own child soon, and make me a proud grandsire. » A harbinger of things to come.
A royal hunt is an extravagant thing, with a town’s-worth of comforts transported to the hunt headquarters. A food hall is built up within a huge tent, and Rhaenyra finds herself invited to chitchat with the ladies of the court. There, Larys Strong introduces himself — he’s the son of Lyonel Strong, the Master of Laws who appeared in the previous episode.
In between sips of tea and bites of cake, the ladies ask Rhaenyra for insight on the war in the Stepstones — she must be in the know, one says, because it’s her uncle who started the war. Rhaenyra shoots back that she hasn’t spoken to her uncle in years. They try to throw shade on Rhaenyra, but Queen Alicent sticks up for her, saying Daemon made his own mistakes and that Rhaenyra is a more appropriate heir.
« He’s made a mess and the king must put an end to it, » says Lady Redwyne of Highgarden. « Send fleets and men and clear out the triarchy for good. »
« But the crown is not at war, » replies an alarmed Rhaenyra.
