Well, House of the Dragon certainly returned with a bang. The Game of Thrones prequel series has continued to show us just how chaotic Westeros was years before the legendary GoT story even began, and there are once again Targaryens at the center of it. But the season 3 premeire featured a battle that the white-haired rules weren't reponsible for.
The Battle of the Gullet saw Sharako Lohar lead her Tricarchy to attack Lord Corlys Velaryon's fleet and, needless to say, all hell broke loose at the Gullet. It all resulted in some major deaths, including Lohar herself, but the biggest story was the demise of Prince Jaecerys Velaryon and his dragon Vermax - which is sure to send shockwaves through Westeros itself.
The second episode of the season is all about aftermath as Rhaenyra Targayen will undoubtedly have an explosive reaction to her son Jace's death. But who will be in her paths when she reacts? Let's find out as we recap the major deaths that transpire in the second episode of House of the Dragon season 3.
Ser Simon Strong and his sons
Aemond arrived at Harrenhal looking for Daemon and, as usual with him, he left death and destruction in his wake. Vhagar burned countless innocent people on his way into the castle until Aemond approached Ser Simon Strong and his sons, looking for Daemon. Simon made it clear that Daemon wasn’t there and made it clear he wasn’t going to fight him.
Poor Simon attempted to appeal to Aemond’s better nature but he didn’t realize that Aemond doesn’t have one of those. This resulted in the fake king stabbing Ser Simon with his sword, before quickly doing the same to his sons. And yet, he didn’t walk away entirely unscathed.
Does Aemond die in House of the Dragon season 3?
You might have noticed that one of Ser Simon Strong’s sons managed to stab Aemond in the back with his sword in the midst of all the melee. Aemond himself didn’t notice it at first and successfully defeated his opponents. But when he felt the blood, it was mere seconds before he began to lose consciousness.
Alys Rivers appeared before him and, as he seemingly lay dying, he pleaded for her to help him. The question that fans have been left asking is: Is Aemond really dead?
The truthful answer? We don’t know. House of the Dragon is notorious for diverging from George R.R. Martin’s source material, so the events of Fire and Blood may not play out exactly the same in Ryan Condal’s HBO show. And yet, it’s highly unlikely that this is the end of Aemond. He is, after all, the real villain of the story – at least at this point in time.
Aemond survives his time at Harrenhal in Fire and Blood but that’s partially because he defeats Ser Simon and his sons with more ease than he does in the show. He is never stabbed in the source material, meaning that the show has indeed adapted the events differently here. But, again, it’s highly unlikely that this is the last we’ll see of Aemond.
Ser Otto Hightower
The most shocking moment of House of the Dragon season 3 episode 2, once again, came in the closing moments. With Rhaenyra having successfully claimed the Iron Thrones (with the help of Daemon), she was surrounded by a kingdom that was about to become her’s. Just then, Daemon brought her Otto Hightower, who was imprisoned in the dungeon. It turns out that he never left King’s Landing.
Otto told her to “get it over with”, aware of the fact that all of this started because of him. Rhaenyra didn’t want to do it because Alicent had helped her get back in, but she ultimately relented because people – people who seemingly needed to see their new queen show strength - were watching. And, with that, she used Daemon’s sword to decapitate him. Just then, the guards bring Alicent and Haleana to Rhaenyra, who is shocked to see her former friend. Alicent looks at her with disgust over the realization that her father had been killed by the women she helped claim the throne.
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