Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2.
Summary
House of the Dragonseason 3 will feature a bloody Velaryon naval conflict with season 2 laying the groundwork for this. For the most part,House of the Dragonseason 2’s endingworked as the set-up for what is expected to be an explosive season 3. Several wheels were set in motion that will lead directly into the next installment of the show, from Daemon’s renewed loyalty to Rhaenyra and his army of Riverlords to the introduction ofHouse of the Dragon’s Sheepstealer.
Although many are disappointed with the lack of spectacle and forward plot progression inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s finale, none can deny the sense of anticipation it creates forHouse of the Dragonseason 3’s story. Perhaps the most exciting tease comes in the form of a brewing conflict in the Dance of Dragons. By introducing new members ofHouse of the Dragon’s castand moving chess pieces across the board, a key event has been teased involving House Velaryon, as the deadly future ofHouse of the Dragonseason 3 comes into focus.
10 Ways House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Finale Sets Up Season 3
House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale sets up several key events and battles for season 3. Here’s what’s next in the Dance of the Dragons.
House Of The Dragon Sets Up The Battle Of The Gullet For Season 3
The Deadly Naval Battle Will Take Place Early In House Of The Dragon Season 3
The conflict in question is known as the Battle of the Gullet and is one of the defining moments in the Dance of Dragons that escalates the war. InHouse of the Dragonseason 2, the Battle of the Gullet was teased extensively. The first hint of the conflict came early inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 when Corlys Velaryon told Rhaenyra Targaryen that his fleet would form a blockade across the Gullet.The Gullet is a stretch of sea that leads into Blackwater Bay and is a key location for naval tradereaching King’s Landing.
As such, the blockade of the Gullet saw the people of King’s Landing go with less food and supplies in the midst of war. With the people of King’s Landing unsettled, Aemond Targaryen - acting as Prince Regent - formulated a plan to break the blockade by allying with the Triarchy. The Triarchy is an alliance of the Free Cities of Myr, Lys, and Tyrosh which had clashed with House Velaryon duringHouse of the Dragonseason 1’s War for the Stepstones.
These scenes tease the conflict that is to come in the Battle of the Gullet, likely to take place very early inHouse of the Dragonseason 3’s story…
InHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, Tyland Lannister confirmed this alliance and a fleet of Triarchy ships set out for the Gullet.House of the Dragonseason 2’s finale also showcased Corlys Velaryon and Alyn of Hull rejoining the bloackade, while introducingAbigail Thorn’s Sharako Lohar, a Triarchy admiral. These scenes tease the conflict that is to come in the Battle of the Gullet, likely to take place very early inHouse of the Dragonseason 3’s story.
The following sections contain spoilers for Fire and Blood, and likely House of the Dragon season 3.
What Happens At The Battle Of The Gullet
The Conflict Is One Of The Bloodiest Naval Battles In Westerosi History
The prelude to the Battle of the Gullet interestingly surrounds Rhaenyra and Daemon’s children, Aegon and Viserys. InHouse of the Dragonseason 2, Aegon and Viserys were sent on a ship called the Gay Abandon to Pentos where they could be kept safe from war. As the Gay Abandon travels to Pentos, it encounters the Triarchy fleet. Aegon manages to escape on his small dragon, Stormcloud, yet Viserys is taken as a prisoner of war. Shortly after this, the Triarchy fleet engages the Velaryon blockade on two fronts: north and south of Dragonstone.
The battle begins to rage before Jacaerys Velaryon flies out on his dragon, Vermax. Vermax begins burning several ships, but the Triarchy sailors have experience battling dragons due to the War in the Stepstones where they faced Caraxes. However, Jace is joined byHouse of the Dragon’s new dragonriders, Ulf White, Hugh Hammer, Addam of Hull, and Nettles. The five riders and their dragons shatter sections of the Triarchy fleet, but not beforeVermax is injured and Jacaerys is killed by crossbowmen.
In House of the Dragon, the character of Nettles is being merged with Daemon’s daughter, Rhaena Targaryen.
After Jace’s death, the battle continues raging well into the night. A section of the Triarchy fleet attacks Driftmark, burning the harbor of Spicetown and sacking the Velaryon stronghold of High Tide. Eventually, the Velaryon fleet and thedragons of Team Blackpush back the Triarchy fleet. Of the 90 ships that departed from Essos, only 28 remain, while the Velaryon fleet loses a third of its ships.The battle is seen as a failure on both sidesas the blockade remains intact, yet Prince Jacaerys is killed and thousands were lost in the battle and sacking of Driftmark.
How The Battle Of The Gullet Is Different From The Book
House Of The Dragon Has Made Some Changes To Fire & Blood
Regarding how the Battle of the Gullet is different fromFire and Blood, the prequel to theA Song of Ice and Firebook series,House of the Dragonhas changed some elements. For example, in the show, it is Aemond’s idea to seek out an alliance with the Triarchy, whereasFire and Blooddepicts this as a scheme of Otto Hightower before he is removed as Hand of the King. Concerning the Triarchy themselves, Sharako Lohar is a male admiral inFire and Blood, yet is depicted as a female inHouse of the Dragonseason 2.
Where Is Otto Hightower & What Happened To Him?
House of the Dragon season 2 sees Otto Hightower briefly return, though the shot is quite confusing. What’s happened to him, and where has he been?
Another difference that will likely be shown inHouse of the Dragon’s Battle of the Gullet involves Rhaena Targaryen. InHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, Rhaena found the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the Vale. At this point inFire and Blood, Sheepstealer was already claimed by another dragonseed named Nettles.House of the Dragonhas merged Nettles and Rhaena’s characters, meaning the latter will likely fight in the Battle of the Gullet come season 3.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
