The Game of Thrones TV show as a whole has become synonymous with death. Tragedy strikes when audiences least expect it, and fan favorites bite the dust in the most gruesome ways possible. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as House of the Dragon has kept the streak going by claiming the lives of characters like Lucerys Velaryon, Jacaerys Velaryon, Rhaenys Targaryen, Otto Hightower, Criston Cole, and more. However, heading into the season 3 finale, we knew that the bloodshed would only get worse, and that was exactly the case.
The fight for the Iron Throne continues. Rhaenyra Targaryen has been crowned Queen of the Seven Kingdoms but has struggled to keep the smallfolk happy. On the other side of the coin, Ormund Hightower has raised an entire army against the current queen with the hope of seizing the throne and making his ward, Daeron Targaryen, the one and only ruler. It was only a matter of time before the Greens and the Blacks came to odds once more, and such a moment finally came during House of the Dragon season 3, episode 8.
But before we do a LIVE breakdown of every major character who bites the dust in the First Battle of Tumbleton, be warned: There will be spoilers ahead. If you don't want to know how the finale plays out, it's best to turn away now.
The High Septon
If you rise against the crown, you're bound to pay with your head.
After the Fall of King's Landing back in House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2, Rhaenyra Targaryen finally got hold of the Iron Throne and asked the High Septon to anoint her as the one and true Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Unfortunately, this petition wasn't as simple as Rhaenyra envisioned.
The High Septon argued that he had recently anointed King Aegon II Targaryen and that his reported death hadn't been verified since Aegon's body was nowhere to be found. Rhaenyra argued that the usurper was truly dead and that the gods sent an omen of good faith when a dragon suddenly joined her cause in her moment of greatest need. However, the High Septon claimed that his gods do not believe in dragons and refused to fulfill Rhaenyra's petition. Unfortunately, this act sealed his fate.
During the finale of House of the Dragon season 3, rumors began to spread across the Seven Kingdoms, claiming that Aegon II was alive. With the masses claiming that the true king had returned, Rhaenyra once again asked the High Septon to anoint her, removing any doubt as to who the true ruler was. Unfortunately, these petitions were once again ignored, and Rhaenyra ordered Alyn Velaryon to... well, do the dirty work.
Alyn uses his sword to stab the High Septon, effectively bringing his story to an end. But before his passing, the Septon made sure to let Rhaenyra know that the deepest of the Seven Hells will be waiting for her.
Roddy the Ruin
The Blacks and the Greens both have dragons on their side capable of burning entire civilizations in a heartbeat. However, the ongoing war for the Iron Throne involves many moving pieces, including land armies that often pale in comparison to the destructive force of dragons but are needed nonetheless.
Roderick Dustin and Ser Oscar Tully were leading Rhaenyra's army across the Riverlands, killing any member of the Greens who crossed their path, including Ser Criston Cole. However, Roddy always made his intentions clear: He wanted to die fighting for his queen, Rhaenyra Targaryen.
During the First Battle of Tumbleton, Daemon Targaryen asked Roddy and his men to infiltrate the city and open the gates so that the rest of Rhaenyra's army could use this passage to kill Ormund Hightower. Roddy made it his personal mission to fulfill this duty and then die fighting against the Greens. However, things took an unexpected turn when Daemon Targaryen himself was forced to ride Caraxes and burn the city's entrance.
When Roddy realized someone else had accomplished his mission, he came up with a new objective: to kill Ormund Hightower. A fierce battle between the two then ensued, and Ormund quickly gained the high ground by cutting Roddy's arm and stabbing him in the chest. But using the last strength he had left, Roddy wielded a dagger and used it to stab his enemy back. To add insult to injury, these two men fighting for their lives were then burned to death by Ulf's dragon.
Roddy's death served to further strengthen the idea that men are nothing when the dragons start to dance.
Ormund Hightower
The man who was eager to start a war to ensure the Greens could take over the Iron Throne won't live to see the day when the Greens actually take over the Iron Throne.
For the longest time, Ormund believed Rhaenyra's compassion was his greatest advantage. He took over Tumbleton because he believed the queen was incapable of burning it whole, along with countless innocent lives. When Oscar Tully and Roddy the Ruin's army arrived at his gates, he reinforced the walls with... children. Surely, Rhaenyra wouldn't be capable of killing innocent kids just to get to him, right? Unfortunately, there's a reason why the queen is starting to be called "Rhaenyra the Cruel."
The Blacks stopped at nothing to infiltrate Tumbleton, and it was at that moment that Roddy started to fight Ormund. The two senselessly stabbed each other, but before they could die from their wounds, Ulf flew above them with his dragon and burned them in a heartbeat. As simple as that, Ormund's story came to an end, but on the bright side, he won't torment his ward Daeron Targaryen any longer.
Kat
Whenever a big war unfolds, innocent people are bound to pay with their lives, and that's exactly what happened to Kat.
Kat was living in Tumbleton when Ormund first took over the city, and she was trapped there ever since. Unfortunately, when the Blacks managed to infiltrate Tumbleton, they started to kill everyone inside—not just Hightower soldiers. While audiences never see exactly how Kat met her end, we do see Rhaenyra's soldiers enter her house. Not too long after, her husband, Hugh, finds her corpse lying on the ground.
In George R. R. Martin's novel Fire & Blood, Hugh ends up turning against Rhaenyra Targaryen, and it seems he finally has a reason to do so in the live-action show as well.
Helaena Targaryen
Trigger warning: This section of the article mentions suicide.
Now, this is where tears were certainly being shed.
No one across the entire history of Westeros has been truly good or bad. Most characters in House of the Dragon are morally ambiguous, often displaying little glimpses of compassion but ultimately committing no shortage of repulsive acts. However, there was only one exception to this rule, and that was Helaena Targaryen. She was the kindest soul across the Seven Kingdoms and someone who didn't wish harm to befall any creature. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make her immune to the tragedies surrounding her family.
Throughout the events of House of the Dragon season 3, we saw Helaena sink deeper and deeper into depression. Her mental state began to deteriorate the moment her son Jaehaerys Targaryen was killed back in season 2. After that, she was taken prisoner by Rhaenyra Targaryen, locked in her chambers at the Red Keep with no way to leave and, to make matters worse, she was also pregnant.
Helaena's own mother, Alicent Hightower, tried to convince her to have an abortion. On the other side of the coin, Rhaenyra wanted to use the baby as leverage against the Greens. Helaena was in the middle of a larger war in which she wanted no part. Unfortunately, it all proved to be too much for her, and she eventually jumped from the window in her room to the ground far below.
This is perhaps one of the most heartbreaking deaths in House of the Dragon, and it will be interesting to see how Alicent reacts to the news (even if she sort of figured it out during the final moments of episode 8).
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.
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