House of the Dragon season 3 premiere plunges Westeros back into chaos. Dragons soar, alliances begin to crack, and one of the war’s most crucial battles concludes with devastating results. The episode sets up a darker, bloodier chapter of the Dance of the Dragons, from Rhaena’s long-awaited bond with Sheepstealer to the tragic fate of Jacaerys Velaryon.Rhaena and Sheepstealer Finally Bond
Much of Rhaena’s journey is spent searching for a dragon of her own and she finally gets her chance with the wild dragon Sheepstealer. The process is anything but smooth. The dragon is still unpredictable and hard to control, almost ruining her efforts.
At one point, an exasperated Rhaena even tells the dragon to return to Dragonstone. But the bond between dragon and rider is already forged. Later Sheepstealer returns with sheep, which she burns for food, which she shares with her. It is clear that Rhaena is the dragon’s rider officially, despite a rough start.## The End of Aegon’s Flight
Elsewhere, Aegon and Larys try to sneak out of King’s Landing. However, their flight is cut short by soldiers loyal to Rhaenyra.
Even in the face of capture, Aegon refuses to bow to Rhaenyra’s authority. His resistance exposes who he really is and puts both men in immediate peril. Larys is quick to adapt to the situation, and convinces the soldiers that it would be much more valuable to bring back Aegon alive.
Back in the capital Aemond hears that his brother has left. He is wary of his company, and asks Alicent about her recent behavior. She avoids the truth, fabricating a story about where she was.# Alicent’s Secret Plan Starts to Unravel
But Rhaenyra hopes her private understanding with Alicent can prevent more bloodshed. But Jacaerys is strongly against trusting the former queen.
Alicent knows things are starting to slip through her fingers. Her original plan is nearly impossible to enact as Aemond tightens his grip on power. She attempts to stall, secretly ordering the military movements held for three days. The command only works because the people who get it think it comes direct from the acting king.# Alicent and Aemond Hit a Breaking Point
One of the episode’s most uncomfortable moments is a private confrontation between Alicent and Aemond.
Alicent tells her son to get out of the castle before Rhaenyra’s dragons arrive. She tries to convince him emotionally and with a sense of family loyalty, hoping he will turn from a path that is becoming more and more dangerous.
But the meeting takes a disturbing turn. Aemond won’t bend to her wishes, he asserts his own power. The conversation clearly unsettles Alicent, even though she hides her feelings at the time.
Meanwhile Ser Gwayne shows that amidst the madness of war there are still some men who value honor. When he sees a soldier mistreating a young village woman, he asserts that the army needs to be reminded that knights are supposed to uphold standards, not abandon them.#### Corlys pays the price for what he did
Alyn has a strange private talk with Coryls Velaryon at Driftmark.
The Sea Snake is frank about Alyn’s mother and says he tried to offer support over the years. Alyn doesn’t want excuses. He reminds Corlys that money cannot replace acknowledgement, legitimacy, or a family name.
An emotional conversation is interrupted by news that enemy forces are moving against the Velaryon ships, and that war is about to come to their doorstep.And the battle of the gullet begins.
The war everyone feared was coming.
Word of a great naval battle reaches Dragonstone and Rhaenyra insists she must take to the fray herself. Jace disagrees, and takes matters into his own hands. He commands the guards to keep his mother locked up, thinking her too important to risk, and he and Baela go into battle.
Rhaenyra is furious and heartbroken at the choice. Once again, she is fighting not only her enemies but also the doubts of those closest to her.# Turning the Tide For Dragons And then Causing Disaster
Jace and Baela land on Vermax and Moondancer and immediately unleash a barrage of dragonfire on the enemy fleet. When they arrive it seems to be the turning point for the Blacks.
That advantage is gone when Rhaena rides onto the field on Sheepstealer.
The dragon in the wild is not controllable. Sheepstealer starts to burn friendly ships, causing chaos across the battlefield instead of attacking enemy vessels. It gets worse, though, as the dragon turns hostile and makes a direct line for Baela and Moondancer.
What should be a winning advantage turns into a nightmare.
## Disaster Follows Corlys Lives
Corlys pulls a bold naval maneuver, steering his flagship through a narrow channel in an attempt to ensnare the fleet in pursuit.
The plan almost works.
Lohar, the enemy commander, manages to follow him through the passage and launch a direct assault. Corlys is cast into the water in the midst of the furious fighting. But Alyn rises to the occasion, proving his mettle, trading blows with Lohar in a brutal fight, finally slaying the commander.
Even with the victory the cost of the battle continues to mount up.# Jacaerys Velaryon’s Death
The most heart-wrenching moment of the episode comes in the closing stages of the battle.
Jace fights to protect his friends from the heights of Vermax as chaos rules the sea. Arrows are flying at the dragon, the rider and beast are going down into the water.
Jace survives the fall but the enemy archers continue firing at him. He’s stuck in the water, can’t get out . He’s beaten over and over again and killed .
His death is one of the most devastating losses Rhaenyra’s faction has suffered yet and guarantees the war will only get uglier from here.# Closing Thoughts
Season 3’s premiere focuses on two mothers who are trying to pull in their sons as the war spirals out of control.
Alicent tries to rein in Aemond before the power fully takes him over. Meanwhile Rhaenyra tries to gain the respect of the very son she hopes will be the champion of her claim.
Neither woman gets what she wants, and the fallout is catastrophic.
Jace is dead, the Gullet is a wasteland, dragons are harder and harder to command, and House of the Dragon opens its new season with one message, no one is safe and the war has only begun.