WARNING! This post contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3!The triumphant House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3 ending begins the battles of the heirs while concluding the battles in the Stepstones. As King Viserys’ choice of heir is questioned, he must ignore his own dragon dream about his son wearing Aegon the Conqueror’s crown while reaffirming that Rhaenyra is the true heir to the Iron Throne – she, however, must marry to further her succession. As House Targaryen continues to break apart from within, the king’s brother Daemon has finally found a victory of his own, even if that lies outside of King's Landing.
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3's time jump picks up approximately 3 years after episode 2, with the conflicts primarily surrounding the hunt on Prince Aegon Targaryen’s second nameday. Rhaenyra is revealed to have grown distant from her father and Alicent Hightower – who is already pregnant with another child – since their marriage, and interprets Viserys’ insistence that she marry as a way to replace her as heir. Viserys becomes increasingly drunk as the lords attempt to discuss politics, with the scheming Otto Hightower continuing to press Aegon’s claim to the throne. As the hunt comes to a close, Viserys kills a giant stag while the real royal prize, the fabled white hart, walks up to Rhaenyra and Criston Cole in the woods. Meanwhile, Alicent Hightower successfully convinces Viserys to send aid to Daemon in the Stepstones.
The House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3 ending depicts the final battle in the War for the Stepstones. Angry at his brother for finally sending help in the war that Daemon had been fighting unsuccessfully for three years, the character rushes to attack the Crab Feeder and his army all on his own, with the conflict being reminiscent of Game of Thrones’ Battle of the Bastards. Corlys Velaryon soon arrives with the army while Laenor Velaryon flies overhead on the dragon Seasmoke, leaving Daemon enough time to kill the Crab Feeder with his sword Dark Sister. With the action and stakes picking up, House of the Dragon episode 3’s ending leaves off with a major personal victory for Daemon, an impending marriage for Rhaenyra, and more plotting from Otto to place Aegon on the throne.
Why Viserys Refuses To Name Aegon His Heir Over Rhaenyra
Although many of the lords of the Great Houses – Jason Lannister included – assume Viserys will remove Rhaenyra as heir in favor of Aegon, the king steadfastly denies any such supplanting will occur. Proving his anger at the lords’ assumptions, Viserys suggests that Jason is hiding the seeds of rebellion from him. Despite his outward appearance in House of the Dragon episode 3, Viserys seems to question his own choice to make Rhaenyra the next queen – not that he worries she’s not up to the task, but because he had a dream his son would wear Aegon the Conqueror’s crown and sit on the throne.
Viserys may be upset at the indication that he’s not truly a dragon dreamer, but he refuses to go back on his word in naming Rhaenyra. House of the Dragon episode 3 confirms that Viserys naming Rhaenyra the Princess of Dragonstone wasn’t simply an act of desperation, a way to spurn Daemon, or a whim; he made his choice for heir, and he will stick to it. Aegon may be his eldest son, and tradition would suggest that he’s the true heir, but Viserys chose to place Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne. Making an oath on Aemma Arryn’s memory, Viserys will not replace Rhaenyra with Alicent Hightower's son in House of the Dragon.
Did The White Stag Choose The Rightful Heir? Why It Went To Rhaenyra
Underneath the discussions of politics about Viserys’ heir, and potential marriages, is the hunt, with the stakes being increased once a white hart is spotted. The white hart is meant to represent royalty, with House of the Dragon episode 3 mentioning that before the Targaryens and their dragons ruled Westeros, it was the white stag that stood for majesty. As always, Otto’s conniving uses the appearance of the white hart to support Prince Aegon’s claim, suggesting that the stag is a sign that the gods are showing their favor for the boy. However, when the hunt ends, the king’s men aren’t able to find the white hart, but still manage to capture a large stag.
In a twist that seems to indicate Rhaenyra is King Viserys' true successor, the mystical white stag walked up to the princess and Criston Cole while they sat on their horses in the woods. Rhaenyra wouldn’t let Criston kill the white stag either, instead letting it go free to rule the kingswood. If House of the Dragon episode 3’s white hart truly was a sign showing the gods’ favor, then the stag silently walking up to Rhaenyra as she smiled on and let it go supports the notion that she’s Viserys' rightful heir to the Iron Throne.
Why Daemon Is So Angry At Viserys Sending Aid
Instead of being grateful that his brother finally sent help to win the War for the Stepstones, Daemon Targaryen looked at the letter and immediately departed for the Crabfeeder’s camp. His anger led him to charge through as one man against an entire army, with Daemon refusing to back town until he exited a cave with the villainous Crabfeeder’s head and upper body dragging behind him. There are a few reasons why Daemon Targaryen is so angry at the end of House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3; and they really call back to his relationship with Viserys. Daemon had been in the Stepstones for three years without any aid from Viserys, and when he finally wrote a letter to send assistance, Viserys’ wording made it seem like Daemon was incapable of winning and it could only be done with the king’s resources. Daemon had been made to feel incompetent for most of his life as one of House of the Dragon’s “second sons,” and he wouldn’t let his victory come from his brother’s help rather than his own valor.
Another reason for Daemon being angry at Viserys for sending aid is that all he did was send a letter. It had been three years since Viserys and Daemon had properly communicated, and Viserys couldn’t even manage to show up in person to help his brother. This is exactly why Daemon was so angry when Otto Hightower showed up at Dragonstone after sending a letter about his “marriage,” as Daemon had simply been trying to get his brother’s attention and convince him to actually appear to face him. With Viserys continuing to send envoys or letters, Matt Smith’s House of the Dragon character has to question whether he’s important enough to his brother to leave King’s Landing. Rhaenyra begins House of the Dragon episode 3 thinking she is no longer important to Viserys, so she likely fled the camp to see if he would come after her or just send knights – which is exactly what Daemon has been doing since he was banished.
How Laenor Velaryon Can Ride A Dragon
A last-minute twist occurs in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3’s ending when Laenor Velaryon saves the day on dragonback. As Daemon was surrounded by the Crabfeeder’s army, the Sea Snake’s son flew above the battlefield and had Seasmoke rain down fire to free Daemon. Considering Laenor is a Velaryon and technically not a Targaryen, the House of the Dragon character riding a dragon may seem surprising. Yes, House Targaryen is traditionally the only dragonriding family in Westeros, but certain Velaryons were able to tame and bond with the creatures during House of the Dragon’s timeline.
Laenor Velaryon can ride a dragon because his mother is the dragonriding Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, who would have insisted on gifting her infant son with a dragon egg in his cradle. Considering Rhaenys was one of the two last Targaryen heirs voted on for King Jaehaerys I Targaryen’s successor, she would have made sure that her half-Targaryen son would be a dragonrider if the day came that he also became an heir to the Iron Throne. As a Velaryon, Laenor had the pure blood of Old Valyria before the Doom on both his mother’s and father’s side, so his claim as a dragonrider would certainly not be contested. When Laenor was young, there were also more dragons than there were Targaryens, suggesting Rhaenys Targaryen put forth her Velaryon children to bond with the creatures. Laenor may be the first Velaryon seen riding a dragon, but many more of the Sea Snake and Rhaenys’ descends will become dragonriders in House of the Dragon.
Why House Of The Dragon Killed Off Crabfeeder So Quickly
Since the Crabfeeder was only formally introduced in House of the Dragon episode 2’s ending to kick off the War for the Stepstones, it’s shocking that he was killed off only an episode later. Game of Thrones’ big villains typically had multi-season arcs, but the Crabfeeder only appeared prominently in one episode while being passively mentioned in others. In truth, the Crabfeeder wasn't too important to House of the Dragon’s overarching story. He was a vehicle used for Daemon’s anger and a way to prove his worth as a leader and victor – he needed to be a formidable and ruthless foe, but his only purpose was as someone for Daemon to prove his skills against. Additionally, House of the Dragon episode 3’s time jump is three years, so Daemon and the Crab Feeder’s rivalry has been going on for far longer than depicted on-screen. House of the Dragon season 1 didn’t need to show the numerous battles Daemon lost; the important part is that the Crabfeeder is a vicious villain who Daemon ends up killing in one-on-one combat.
What Daemon's Stepstones Victory Really Means
Daemon winning the War for the Stepstones doesn’t simply mean House Velaryon maintains its wealth and power, but also that Daemon himself has a heightened level of self-assuredness and confidence. By being victorious in the Stepstones, House of the Dragon episode 3’s ending gives Daemon the crown and rule he had been seeking. He’s now proven himself to Viserys, but because Daemon is Daemon, this victory will not be enough. Daemon is apt to want more in terms of power, freedom, and capability in the eyes of Viserys, suggesting House of the Dragon episode 4 will finally see the brothers’ confrontation that he wanted all along.
Want more House of the Dragon articles? Check out our essential content below...
- Complete House Of The Dragon Guide: All Your Questions Answered
- Where Was House Of The Dragon Filmed? All Real Life Westeros Locations
- House Of The Dragon Timeline Confirmed & Explained
- House Of The Dragon: Every Major Family Missing From Game Of Thrones
New episodes of House of the Dragon release Sundays on HBO/HBO Max.