The highly anticipated third season of HBO's 'House of the Dragon' premiered on Sunday, June 21, delivering an immediate and shocking casualty that has left fans talking. The 'Game of Thrones' spin-off, known for its dramatic deaths, wasted no time in spilling blood, with a major character meeting their demise in the opening episode.
The premiere depicted the brutal Battle of the Gullet, a pivotal conflict in the ongoing civil war between the 'Blacks', supporting Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith), and the 'Greens', led by Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Amidst the chaos and dragon-fire, Rhaenyra's eldest son, Jacaerys Velaryon, portrayed by Harry Collett, was killed. His dragon, Vermax, was brought down into the water, and Jace subsequently succumbed to arrows while struggling to survive.
Speaking to Variety, Collett offered insight into the demanding nature of filming his character's final moments. He described the experience of acting dead in the water as one of the most challenging roles he has ever undertaken. "It was really hard to act dead – it’s actually one of the hardest acting I’ve ever done in my life," he stated, detailing the difficulty of keeping his eyes open and staying afloat without coughing, which would have ruined the illusion of death. He also revealed that he specifically requested to utter the iconic High Valyrian command 'Dracarys' during his final scenes, a detail not originally in the script.
Collett confirmed that he was aware of Jacaerys's fate from the outset of his involvement with the series. Showrunner Ryan Condal had initially planned for the Battle of the Gullet to feature in season two, but budgetary constraints led to the spectacular warfare sequence being moved to the first episode of the current season. Collett expressed gratitude for the delay, noting that it allowed his character's exit to be a significant moment for the season's opening. This revelation offers a glimpse into the intricate planning and production challenges faced by such a high-budget fantasy series.
House of the Dragon, which debuted in 2022, was the first spin-off from the hugely successful 'Game of Thrones' universe, which concluded its main run in 2019. Its critical and commercial success paved the way for further expansions of the Westeros saga, including the recently premiered 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms'. The series has garnered significant attention and accolades, with its cast and crew often recognised for their contributions to British television and streaming, though specific BAFTA or other UK industry awards for season three are yet to be announced.
For UK viewers, 'House of the Dragon' season three is available to stream on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with new episodes released weekly. The series continues to draw a large audience, contributing significantly to the cultural conversation around fantasy drama in the UK and internationally.