HBO Can’t Ignore House of the Dragon’s Big Season 3 Problem

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It would have been easy for viewers to grow tired of another *Game of Thrones* series, especially after the original’s ending. However, the prequel avoids repeating those mistakes. The show is set 100 years before Daenerys Targaryen’s story and focuses on her ancestor, Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first woman in line to inherit the Iron Throne. As a young princess, Rhaenyra received the loyalty of all seven kingdoms when her father, King Viserys, named her his heir.

The first season of the show brilliantly depicted how past trauma can destroy a powerful family. As Rhaenyra matured, her close friend, Alicent Hightower, turned against her, having been raised with the expectation of marrying the king. When Alicent had sons, a conflict arose over who should inherit the throne, setting the stage for a devastating civil war. The first season concluded with a power grab by the Green Council, stripping Rhaenyra of her rightful claim. While fans eagerly anticipated the second season, it unfortunately marked a downturn in quality.

Season 2 Didn’t Make Good on the Early Promise of House of the Dragon

Unlike *Game of Thrones*, which had a well-established book series to draw from, *House of the Dragon* is based on a less traditional source. It comes from *Fire & Blood*, a book presented as a historical account of the Targaryen family. However, *Fire & Blood* isn’t a typical novel with a flowing story; it’s written like a genuine historical text, told through the accounts of multiple sources.

Let’s talk about Rhaenyra and the Dance of the Dragons – it’s a part of the story that’s always been a little murky, and honestly, some of the details feel questionable. When HBO brought it to the screen, they made a big shift. In the original telling, Rhaenyra and Alicent were actually close as kids, but the showrunners decided to make them rivals from the start. I think that change initially gave both characters more depth, though, unfortunately, that complexity didn’t always stick around as the story progressed.

The second season of the show took some risks that didn’t quite pay off. Both Alicent and Rhaenyra, two key characters, felt less developed and nuanced than before. It appeared the showrunners were hesitant to portray female characters with significant flaws. Additionally, Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s uncle and husband, was underutilized, essentially sidelined with little to do during his time at Harrenhal.

As a big fan of fantasy epics, I started to feel a real problem with *House of the Dragon* in its second season: it just felt… stretched. Honestly, a lot of the time it felt like not much was actually *happening*. They hinted at a major turning point at the end of the first season, but by the end of season two, it still hadn’t really paid off. It was frustrating because I was so invested, but the pacing felt really slow.

As a fan, I always felt Princess Rhaenys, the Queen Who Never Was, was the only character who really lived up to her potential – it was heartbreaking to see her die defending Rhaenyra. I was a little worried when HBO announced *House of the Dragon* would be four seasons long, especially since the source material wasn’t *that* huge. It felt like they were stretching things out. Now, pushing major events like the Battle of the Gullet to Season 3 feels like a mistake – it’s slowing everything down. And honestly, the long waits between seasons aren’t helping! The show is losing some of its excitement, and I’m worried they need to release the next season soon or they might lose viewers like me.

House of the Dragon Should Have Been Three Seasons

A common problem with successful franchises is that networks tend to overextend them, even when fans might prefer a more conclusive ending. The show *Dexter* on Showtime is a well-known example, lasting eight seasons and making some controversial creative choices. The source material, *Fire & Blood*, was relatively focused, and the show *House of the Dragon* might have benefited from a similar approach. It had the potential to be truly great, especially considering it intentionally went in a different direction.

As a fan, I was really excited for *House of the Dragon*, but I think the show stumbled a bit. *Fire & Blood*, the book it’s based on, already has a finished story, unlike George R.R. Martin’s ongoing series. Because of that, the first few episodes felt a little slow as they built up Rhaenyra and Alicent’s characters and the tension between them – which was important, I get that. But once Season 1 reached that huge, dramatic turning point, I really think the show should have just *gone*. It should have sped up and kept going full throttle to the finish instead of slowing down again.

The moment Aemond seized Lucerys with his dragon was the real start of the war, even if it wasn’t planned. It was a clear act of aggression, which made Rhaenyra’s attempts at peace so frustrating. Daemon should have used his trip to Harrenhal to immediately gather Rhaenyra’s army for battle, which would have likely led to the Battle of the Gullet – a fight readers of the book have been anticipating.

Although *House of the Dragon* spent a lot of its budget on dragons, a large sea battle would have been a fitting way to end Season 2. The groundwork for this had already been laid in the story: the Greens had secretly contacted Daemon’s rivals in Tyrosh, convincing them to attack Corlys Velaryon’s ships.

This happened around the time Rhaenyra sent her sons to Pentos to protect them while she tried to establish her rule. While traveling on the ship Gay Abandon, they encountered Tyroshi forces, leading to a fight. Prince Jacerys, riding his dragon Vermax, fought bravely but was killed along with his dragon. In the same battle, Jacerys’s younger brother, Viserys, was captured, though Aegon managed to escape on his dragon. This tragic news would have been a major setback for Rhaenyra’s supporters and felt like a natural ending to the season.

Instead, audiences are left waiting for something to happen. This also marked the start of problems with Rhaenyra’s leadership. Losing so many soldiers in battle caused her supporters to lose faith, ultimately leading to her defeat. With so many battles happening in the Dance of the Dragons, it’s confusing why the show is showing less action. However, the biggest issue wasn’t the lack of battles, but the way the characters suffered and died.

The Show’s Characters Have Suffered Extensively

While the lack of spectacular effects like dragons breathing fire or large naval battles was noticeable, the biggest problem with *House of the Dragon* after just two seasons was how the characters were affected by the extended storyline. Rhaenyra’s consistent focus on strategy, even when others around her favored aggression, was a bright spot and one of the most rewarding character developments of the season.

It felt like other characters were caught in a needlessly sad storyline. Daemon, sent to Harrenhal, had little to occupy him besides conversations with a sorceress and disturbing dreams about his mother. This appeared to stem from the writers not knowing how to properly develop him, despite his popularity within the series.

Despite the books never suggesting any doubt in his loyalty, Daemon was portrayed as vulnerable and needy, like a wounded animal. The show’s storyline felt very familiar, mirroring a role Matt Smith had previously played. His character’s envy of Rhaenyra’s power strongly resembled his previous work as…

Daemon Targaryen in *House of the Dragon* felt frustrated by being passed over for leadership, and he often took his anger out on his wife. While understandable, this storyline felt familiar to many viewers. It took a whole season for Daemon to understand his true purpose: to support Rhaenyra and repair their relationship. If the show had followed the book more closely, Daemon would have been a steadfast ally to Rhaenyra, solidifying her claim to the throne – a role ultimately filled by her rivals, the Greens.

Alicent frequently wondered if her actions were justified, which seems odd considering how often she schemed to get her son on the throne. One memorable scene showed her floating in water for an entire episode, as if seeking forgiveness. While the character is portrayed as a relentlessly cruel stepmother in the book, the live-action series softens this depiction.

One reason for this might be that we’ve encountered characters like Cersei before, though Alicent is clearly more intelligent. Unlike Cersei, Alicent’s schemes succeed, and her belief that she’s doing the right thing makes her a more compelling character to watch. *House of the Dragon* initially focused on the brutality of war, but Season 2 unfortunately moved away from that central idea. Hopefully, the show will return to its violent roots when new episodes arrive in 2026, bringing more conflict and bloodshed.

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2025-10-20 22:10