House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3: The Summary the Explanations of the Third Episode?
From Sunday 30th June, streaming on Max, House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 is available, the HBO prequel TV series to Game of Thrones focused on the internal feud within the ruling house of Targaryen. And like every Monday, here we are with our recap-summary of the episode, complete with all the necessary explanations and references to the various characters mentioned. Obviously, with all the possible and imaginable spoilers. Another GOT Sunday has arrived, and with it, my weekly article where I break down the latest episode of “House of the Dragon”! Here I explain everything that was not understood, was not told, or that you did not pay attention to because you were looking at your phone. Although episode 3 of season 2 has been the least exciting so far, it has set the stage for what is to come in the next episodes. Even the most insignificant conversations could have big repercussions on the HBO Max series.
On June 30, the episode titled “The Burning Mill” premiered, which picks up the story of the Dance of Dragons after the heated argument between Daemon and Rhaenyra, the dismissal of Otto Hightower as Hand of the King and the tragic confrontation between the Cargyll twins. Even though there wasn’t much action this time around, the events presented have great potential to influence the future of the plot. Rhaenyra decides to send her youngest children, Aegon and Viserys, to Pentos to keep them away from the war, under the care of her niece/stepdaughter/cousin Rhaena. Criston Cole begins his war march to recruit more soldiers, Daemon arrives at Harrenhal riding his dragon, and Rhaenyra travels incognito as Silent Sister to King’s Landing to speak with Alicent and find a way to avoid war. These strategic moves and seemingly minor encounters could trigger significant changes in the fate of Westeros.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3: The Battle of the Burning Mill?
As happened in the first episode of this new season, the third episode also opens far from the halls of power of King’s Landing and Dragonstone, precisely in the Riverlands, on the border between the territories of the ever-warring Bracken and Blackwood families. At the beginning of this story, Amos Bracken and Samweel Blackwood had challenged each other to a duel to win the hand of Rhaenyra (who then chose Laenor), now instead the dispute between kids starts precisely from the stones that mark the border, and which the Blackwoods accuse rivals to have moved. A dispute arises between Aeron Bracken, Amos’ nephew, and the Blackwood youth, the leader of whom pushes Aeron and challenges him to use the sword he draws as a threat. The fact is that the Blackwoods support Rhaenyra’s Blacks, while the Bracken are on the side of Aegon’s Greens. In any case, Aeron really dares, so much so that in the following scene we witness the outcome of that brawl between kids: a massacre of young and old soldiers from both sides, in a scenario of war and destruction. It is the so-called Battle of the Burning Mill, which in fact can be seen in the background.
House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3 Explained: Why Does Simon Strong Give up Harrenhal So Easily?
When Daemon arrives at Harrenhal, he is ready to face dozens of soldiers and somewhat calm their anger in an intense battle. However, what he finds is complete submission on the part of Simon Strong, Larys Strong’s great-uncle and Acting Warden of the castle (since the Lord of Harrenhal lives in the Red Keep). The decision of Mr. Strong is not merely cowardice, but as he explains it, he has no loyalty to Larys or the Greens. It also doesn’t mean he’s particularly a fan of Rhaenyra, but if there’s one thing, he’s loyal to, it’s family. Therefore, for him, there is no worse betrayal than attacking your family and he suspects (with just reason and vision) that Larys was behind the death of her nephews Lyonel and Harwin. Therefore, he speaks of him with contempt, calling him “Patchlegs” and automatically surrendering to Daemon.
Why Does Rhaenyra Want to Talk to Alicent?
Despite the recommendations of her Council, Rhaenyra is not convinced that the best decision is to begin the war attacks and initiate bloodshed even greater than the deaths of Lucerys and Jaehaerys. Furthermore, with her aunt Rhaenys recommending her, she believes there is still a way out by talking to Alicent, who she thinks also doesn’t want a massacre.
“Rhaenyra sees what’s coming. She’s trying to finish it, and she’s looking to Alicent to help her complete it. She sees that it’s her job as ruler to put herself at risk before she puts the lives of possibly millions of people in the realm at risk”, explains Ryan Condal, one of the series’ creators, in the “Inside Episode”.
Why Doesn’t Alicent Accept Rhaenyra’s Peace Proposal?
The interesting thing about the conversation between Rhaenyra and Alicent, at the end of episode 3, is that the Black Queen sees the sincerity in her former friend’s words and asks for her father’s final words, almost as an indication that she is willing to give up on his throne if he so decided and stop the war before it starts. However, upon hearing her say “Aegon is the prince who was promised”, She knows that she was not naming her half-brother. The first season concluded with Alicent thinking that Viserys had changed his mind and named Aegon his heir, beginning the usurpation of the Iron Throne and the declaration of war. However, we viewers know that the king was referring to the Promised Prince prophecy and the reason behind Aegon I’s conquest many decades ago.
At the end of the chapter, Alicent Hightower does not accept Rhaenyra’s peace proposal out of mere pride in knowing that she was wrong (although that is present), but, after realizing her mistake, she knows that there is no turning back and that everything to come would fall on his shoulders (as if Alicent didn’t flagellate himself enough).
“Rhaenyra doesn’t get what she wants. It’s not because Alicent doesn’t want to hear it. It’s simply because Alicent is saying, ‘I have no power anymore”, Even if she wanted to do something, her hands are tied”, Condal explains.
Rhaenys Talks Some Sense Into Rhaenyra At Erryk And Arryk’s Funeral?
Let us now return to Dragonstone, where Rhaenyra has arranged the joint funeral of poor Erryk and his brother Arryk, united in death as they had been for almost all their lives. Rhaenyra keeps the boiling spirit of her son Jaecerys, who would have wanted the funeral only for Erryk, at bay, while it is Rhaenys who makes Rhaenyra see reason, telling her that Otto would never have authorized Arryk’s crazy attempt. “Soon we won’t even remember why the war started,” says Rhaenys. “Easy, because they usurped my throne,” Rhaenyra replies. “That’s one of the reasons, like Jaehaerys being beheaded, or before that Luke being killed by Aemond, or before that Luke gouging out Aemond’s eye …” But Rhaenyra cuts short when the queen-who-never-was suggests more diplomatic ways of war, namely talking to Alicent Hightower. “She sent me a message with a raven but I don’t want to read it… What she did…” explains Rhaenyra. “It wasn’t her but the men around her” “She allowed it” “As you allowed Jaehaerys’ death” “Yes okay but in the meantime, they have usurped my throne, and now that’s enough” concludes the Black Queen.
Ser Cole is “A Helping Hand”, But Decides to Leave for Harrenhal?
At King’s Landing, Ser Cole prepares to attend his first small council since being appointed Hand of the King, or Outstretched Hand, in place of Otto by Aegon. The tension is justified, but it does not take long to arrive. Passing through the corridors we notice that the white hoods are no longer so impressed by seeing him: more disgusted and disappointed, judging by how they are sprawled on the stairs and how they reluctantly compose themselves, and we can see how he sent Arryk to die: but it’s no longer his business, since both he and the recently deceased guards have been replaced by Aegon: in short, it’s not a good moment for Criston, mocked by the other participants in the council.
Aegon, on the other hand, is happy to know that Samwell Blackwood, among many others, died in the Battle of the Burning Mill: he considers it a war victory, even if those two families have been slaughtering each other for centuries without reason. Master Orwyle tries to suggest that they write to Lord Grover Tully, who controls the Riverlands and therefore must control Bracken and Blackwood, but Lord Jasper points out that Tully is in no physical condition to control anything. Tyland Lannister also gets involved and the military discussion takes a bad turn until Criston has his say: to win the war you need to conquer the Riverlands, and to conquer the Riverlands you need to take Harrenhal. Ser Cole wants to make a quick raid with his men to conquer the area and gradually swell the ranks of his army, without resorting to dragons and once again refusing Aegon’s voluntary initiative, with the help of Aemond’s dialectical skills.
Rhaenyra and Mysaria Form an Alliance (and Seasmoke is still restless)
After having foiled the attempted assassination of Arryk, revealing the knight’s secret arrival to the twin who intervened to save Rhaenyra, Mysaria has definitively gained Rhaenyra’s trust, who agrees to take her as her new advisor (Mysaria wants revenge on Otto, but as we know it was Larys who burned her house and killed her collaborators). While the two women talk, the sky is once again crossed by Seasmoke / Fiery Sea, who “was once my husband Laenor’s dragon and has been strangely restless lately”, explains Rhaenyra. “Maybe he wants company” Mysaria alludes again, as Seasmoke’s flight last week alluded to.
Rhaenyra Hands the Boys over to Rhaena, who is Not Exactly Thrilled
At the castle, Rhaenyra explains to her niece-stepdaughter Rhaena that she will have to stay with Joffrey and the other children (Aegon and Viserys, children she had with Daemon) safe with Lady Jeyne Arryn, who will also be given a dragon as promised, and Rhaena will stay with them instead of fighting like her sister Baela (who has a dragon…). Subsequently, they will have to move beyond the Narrow Sea, to Pentos, where Laena died and was burned by her then Vaghar: Rhaenyra advises them to write to Prince Reggio Haratis, who we know as an ally of Daemon and Laena, to be hosted by him. “You have to be the mother to the boys that I can’t be now. Teach them, train them, watch over them like a dragon watches over its eggs,” he tells her. “And my sister?” “No, she goes to battle.” “Sure, she has a dragon.” “My dear, what can I say, accept it,” is the exchange that follows.
Daemon Conquers Harrenhal solo with Caraxes?
The one who has a big dragon is Daemon, who we finally see again as he arrives in a dark, damp, and desolate Harrenhal, and claims it for the Blacks. Through the deserted corridors, he reaches a room where Ser Simon Strong gets confused and even though he declares himself on Rhaenyra’s side he calls him “my prince” instead of “your grace” as befits the king consort, but at least the castellan gives us the satisfaction of saying that he does not recognize the authority of the evil Larys, lord of the Strongs after “his father Lyonel and his brother Harvey strangely died in a fire in this damp marsh”. Simon then offers Daemon a seat at the table, even though the food doesn’t look very appetizing, and Daemon refuses it fearing he’ll be poisoned. Maybe not fatally poisoned, but there’s something in that food given the visions Daemon will have at night (we’ll get back to that later).
However, Daemon wants to claim Harrenhal for its strategic position in the Riverlands (where poor Robb Stark will one day die), but he would need at least a super facade bonus to fix up the area, says Ser Simon. Daemon also wants to understand why the Brackens and the Blackwoods massacred each other, but Simon Strong also says that the reasons for their hatred are lost in time. And then Daemon asks to speak with Grover Tully, who as we know is in terrible physical shape “but still must be respected by his subjects even if he cannot speak” says Daemon. “And all this for what?” asks Simon. “To go to King’s Landing and take back the throne.” “The throne?” “That chair with the swords, you know?” is the funny final exchange of this scene.
Alicent Entrusts Her Brother Gwayne to Criston Cole as he leaves for Harrenhal?
And so Ser Cole is preparing to leave on his mission, with a surprise from his beloved Alicent, who forces him to bring along her brother Gwayne Hightower. Who immediately makes fun of the fact that the modest Criston stole the role of First Knight from his father Otto. And then he asks for a little courage from her beloved, who grants him the handkerchief to put on her heart. And off we go, with Formaggio still hanged and pecked by crows. Rhaenyra holds her warlike men in check At her small council Rhaenyra must always struggle to keep the men around her in check, always ready to go into battle or let the dragons go.
The Queen knows that they are like nuclear warheads during the Cold War: a deterrent not to be used because the enemy also has it. But they are impatient, eager to put Baby in a corner, sorry Rhaenyra in a safe place and play the game of war between boys. Rhaenyra immediately responds by saying that that would be high treason and therefore not to say anything else. And when the queen leaves the room, the other woman, Rhaenys, takes the lead in reminding the competitors of this sad contest of celolongism that Rhaenyra wears the crown that belonged to Viserys and before him to Jaehaerys I, who with his diplomacy governed peacefully more than all the other warlike Targaryens.
Rhaenys and Corlys Discuss Their Heritage… Again?
Shortly afterward Rhaenys briefs her husband Corlys, who is busy at the port, on the latest news from the palace. Corlys is back in shape, but once again the two spouses find themselves talking about who will take up his legacy. Corlys doubts Joffrey’s abilities, Rhaenys suggests Rhaena but her husband is perhaps even more skeptical. “Well, we’ll see in time” “But what time Corlys, when we’re old and at war?” “I’m still doing well, don’t worry”. And we still don’t want to spoil how this story will end.
Rhaena’s Departure and Her Dialogue with Baela?
And so Rhaena prepares to reach the Vale with the baby dragons and her cousins, to also be the bearer of the message requesting the army promised to the Blacks. She also speaks with her sister Baela, who tries to console her about the fact that she has to play the role of babysitter, but Rhaena doesn’t seem entirely convinced.
Helaena Feels Sorry for the People (more than for her son), But Also for Her Mother.
Children are also mentioned in King’s Landing, where Helaena chats with her mother and says she realized during the funeral that people seem to think she suffers more than they do when it is known that it is mostly the poor who lose their children for various reasons. “Sadness is part of motherhood,” Alicent replies. But it’s also a good opportunity for Helena to tell her mother that she forgives her for what she did. What is she referring to? Obviously, to the fact that while Blood and Cheese were killing the little prince, Alicent was having fun with the head of the guards.
Larys Must Convince Aegon Not to go into Battle, Again…
And once again Aegon wants to go to battle he is preparing and dressing with his ruffian friends, when Larys arrives and, once again, has to convince the king not to do this foolish thing. Aegon is convinced and, after appointing him master of court sighs, falls back on a visit to the brothel, but he orders his friends, whom he has appointed as white cloaks, to be pure.
Who is Ulf, the “Bastard of Baelon” Rhaenyra’s Uncle?
Remember Ulf, that guy we saw walking past the hanged ratslayers? Here he is again in this episode, going to the tavern and asking for a drink to tell an interesting story, according to which he is none other than the grandson of Jaehaerys I and bastard son of Baelon Targaryen, the father of Viserys and Daemon, of whom he, Ulf White, therefore claims to be the half-brother. His companions make fun of him because he doesn’t have silver-white hair, but the bar discussion is interrupted by Aegon who arrives in the tavern and offers a drink to everyone, including the virgin squire his friends were telling him about earlier.
Aegon Goes to the Brothel, Where He finds Aemond?
Also in this episode, we return to the brothel of Fondo delle Pulci, where Aegon searches for and finds the mature prostitute “named Sylvi, or Selvyse” who his brother liked so much that he chose her as his first woman, to make her stay with the squire inexperienced. But right there he finds Aemond, who feigns indifference and goes off to look for another to whom he can confess his fears and regrets.
Rhaenyra Opens Alicent’s Letter, Criston Escapes Baela?
In a quiet moment at night in Dragon Stone, Rhaenyra decides it’s time to read the message delivered to her by her one-time friend Alicent. Meanwhile, Criston, Gwayne, and the other marching soldiers have to decide where to spend the night, but Hightower’s plan to go to some inn goes up in smoke when they are attacked by the courageous Baela, who barely manages to burn enemies taking refuge in the woods. Baela then reports to Rhaenyra, who immediately understands the intentions of Aegon’s soldiers. But once again Rhaenyra holds back his men who want to go into battle; the queen has another idea in mind, and that note from earlier has something to do with it.
Daemon, Hallucinatory dream in Harrenhal?
As we were saying, Daemon was probably really poisoned or at least intoxicated, since that night he has a seemingly lucid dream in which he sees Rhaenyra as a young girl (so we see Milly Alcock again) sewing Jaehaerys’ head and telling him that he always has to clean up his mess. Immediately after, he finds himself outside the castle, with a woman who we believe to be Alys Rivers (and we won’t say anything else, except that as always online there are character bios, including Alys’).
Rhaenyra Disguises Herself to Speak with Alicent?
And so Rhaenyra has read the note and goes to talk to Mysaria who asks for help in sneaking into King’s Landing and talking to Alicent. The journey is easy, just dress up as a “sister of silence” and embark as Daemon did to hire Blood and Cheese. Rhaenyra therefore manages to enter the temple of the 7 frequented by Alicent, and between a votive candle and a pointed knife, she finds her friend and convinces her to have a nice chat.
Episode Finale: Alicent’s Misunderstanding Revealed, But It’s Too Late Now
And so the episode ends with this nice reunion between friends. After the usual apologies – “I have nothing to do with Luke” “and I have nothing to do with Jaehaerys” – Rhaenyra wants to understand why Alicent made up the story of Viserys wanting Aegon when until a minute earlier he said he was seeing her well as a queen. Alicent says she didn’t lie and was in total good faith because she didn’t understand her dying husband’s last words. But when he mentions that he said that “Aegon reunites the Seven Kingdoms”, Rhaenyra understands that her friend did not lie, but misinterpreted the history of Aegon the Conqueror and the Prophecy of the Song of Blood and Fire, according to which a Targaryen in the future will reunite the whole realm (and we are ready to bet that a future series with Jon Snow as the protagonist again will have something to do with it).
In short, after a long time, the misunderstanding that started Aegon’s coronation and therefore the war has finally been revealed. But now, unfortunately, it is too late, because “the boys” have taken matters into their own hands by kicking Otto out and setting off. In short, even if the reason for the war has been clarified, there is no going back. And with this bitter observation of Alicent moving away from Rhaenyra, the third episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 ends.
