The third season of House of the Dragon has not been holding back. We would expect nothing less from a series set within the Game of Thrones Universe, but season 3 has been upping the ante each and every week starting with some major character deaths and then pulling off some more where we didn't expect them. That - along with Rhaenyra's arrival at Kings Landing with Dameon - has made this one heck of a season for the Targaryens.
The return of the queen hasn't been without its stumbles; from the loss of her beloved son Jaecerys and the near-death of Lord Corlys Velaryon during the Battle of the Gullet to the fifth episode's haunting deaths of the Gold Cloaks, there have been trials and tribulations to attempt to overcome, but with Daemon's help, she's certainly trying her best.
*** This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS from House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6. Do NOT read on if you would prefer it wasn't spoiled for you. ***
Ser Criston Cole is the big death in House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6
It was pretty clear in the previous episode of House of the Dragon season 3 that Ser Criston Cole, the realm's greatest warrior, was planning on walking into his final battle. He also planned on leading the Greens' soldiers with him. Although Ser Gwayne Hightower parted ways with him respectfully, Criston opted to go into battle one more time.
He leads his men into what they believe to be an abandoned battlefield, only to find out too late that the corpses are actually Tully knights who were lying in waiting. Many of Criston's men survive the initial attack, thanks in no small part to Criston's own barbaric fighting skills, which helps win them the initial battle. But this is a war he can't win; as he is confonted by Lord Roderick Dustin and Lord Archie Tully - along with their vast army - who tell him it's time to die. Criston is ready for war, wanting one last epic battle with the two of them. The request is denied by an arrow to his stomach, another to his stomach and, finally, one through his cheek.
With that, he falls to the ground, clutching the favour he was gifted by Alicent Hightower. Although he had just won a battle momentarily, he didn't die in battle - which is kind of tragically ironic. Being blindsided by arrows is now how Ser Criston wanted to go out, but for a man who had wronged so many people over the course of the show's run - it's one that many in the realm felt he had coming to him.
Does Corlys Velaryon die?
This is a question we didn't expect to be asking twice in the space of one season - one half-season, let's be honest! - so the closing moments of House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 caught us all off-guard. Off the back of a conversation with his son, Alyn of Hull, Lord Corlys Velaryon was preparing to take his men back to King's Landing. With the Gold Cloaks depleted (and many of them now dead at the hands of Lord Ormund Hightower), it was time for the Sea Snake's army to help the Queen. And it genuinely seemed like Corlys was open to burying the hatchet with Rhaenyra - at least temporarily.
However, at the end of the evening before they headed back into town, he is confronted by Jon Roxton before two other men seemingly choke him. The question is: Is he dead? It would be a shocker if that's the case because the character doesn't die here in the books, but would the series really have a second fakeout death for Corlys just a few episodes after the first one? When the stakes are as high as they are in House of the Dragon, I guess the answer to that question is: Yes. At least that's what the creative team want us to believe based on the ambiguous ending.
We'll have to wait and see, but there is some evidence to suggest that this may not be the case. The episode intentionally suggests that Ormund will be seeking retribution against Rhaenyra for Daemon's near-death experience earlier in the episode, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it has come in the form of death. Perhaps capturing the Sea Snake will be used as a way of getting to Rhaenyra on Ormund's part. Or, given Corlys' recent issues with the queen, perhaps Ormund will attempt to get him to join the battle on his side instead.
It's going to be a long week for House of the Dragon fans as they await the next episode to find out Corlys' true fate. That's a sentence we've already said once this season before; so once again let's hope that the noble Lord Corlys Velaryon survives this newest treachery.
House of the Dragon season 3 airs and streams new episodes on HBO and HBO Max on Sundays.
* This is a LIVE recap post, meaning that it will be updated regularly as and when any major deaths in the episode develop. Refresh for updates.
Add us as a preferred source on Google