House of the Dragonseason 2 has a fairly divisive ending, but thankfully, it looks like season 3 will be worthwhile — even with a lengthy wait for the next chapter of the series.House of the Dragonis the firstGame of Thronesspinoffto make its debut, and while it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the original series, it proves an impressive addition to HBO’s fantasy franchise. The prequel gets off to a strong start, butHouse of the Dragonseason 2 falters a bit, especially as it nears its conclusion.
Even the early episodes of season 2 are somewhat divisive, as the show’s adaptation ofFire & Blood’s Blood and Cheesesparked backlash, evenfrom author George R.R. Martin himself. But while things pick up with the Battle at Rook’s Rest and the Dragonseeds,House of the Dragonseason 2’s endingisn’t what many fans hoped for. And as filming forHouse of the Dragonseason 3 is starting in 2025, there will be a long wait for a better payoff. Thankfully,it sounds like the next outing will be worth waiting for.
House Of The Dragon Season 2’s Ending & Episode Count Sparked A Backlash
The Finale Felt Disappointing And Lacked Payoff
House of the Dragonseason 2’s book changes are pretty divisive, but the latest outing’s episode count and ending are even more disappointing. Both sparked complaints, withHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s finale going down as one of the most heavily criticizedfinales inGame of Throneshistory. The episode, titled"The Queen Who Ever Was," sparked backlash due to how anticlimactic it was. While the episode itself wasn’t bad, it didn’t work as an ending point — even withGame of Thrones’reputation for slower finales after explosive ninth episodes.
5 Major Character Deaths To Expect In House Of The Dragon Season 3
House of the Dragon season 3 will continue in Game of Thrones tradition and be packed with deaths. Here are five that are almost guaranteed.
House of the Dragon’s episode count being cutfrom 10 installments to eight is partly to blame, though it was probably inevitable with production happening amid 2023’s Hollywood strikes. But with viewers waiting two years for new content,House of the Dragon’s eight-episode second season didn’t feel like enough. And while there are high points throughout season 2, very little of significance happens in the final installment. In fact,House of the Dragonseason 2, episode 7 feels more like a finale than the actual ending. There’s not enough payoff, though it sounds like season 3 will deliver on it.
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Will Begin With A Big Battle That HBO’s Really Hyping In
The Battle Of The Gullet Will Be A Strong Start To The Season
There will likely be another two-year wait forHouse of the Dragonseason 3, but HBO is givingGame of Thronesfans something to look forward to when the series returns. Francesca Orsi, the head of drama series and films at HBO, toldDeadlinethat the third season will open “with an exciting battle.“She’s, of course, referring to the Battle of the Gullet, which could have served as season 2’s climax. Instead, it will open season 3, and Orsi already has great things to say about it:
“You know what, it was worth the wait. I was just on set and saw all the elements and what was behind it. I’m so glad we waited because it’s going to be better than ever, and I don’t think we had the time at that point to do what it is that we’ve achieved now this season.”
Orsi also noted that Kevin de la Noy, one of the producers leading the charge on the Battle of the Gullet, worked on theTitanic— and that he brought that expertise to season 3’s big action piece.Hyping up the beginning ofHouse of the Dragonseason 3 is probably a good strategyafter the complaints about season 2’s ending being somewhat dissatisfying. And if Orsi is to be believed, it sounds like the Battle of the Gullet alone will make the wait forHouse of the Dragonseason 3 worthwhile.
The Battle Of The Gullet Should Be One Of House Of The Dragon’s Greatest Events
This Conflict Should Rival Game Of Thrones' Biggest Battles & Tragedies
HBO is hyping upHouse of the Dragonseason 3 by praising the Battle of the Gullet, and that’s to be expected. However,thisHouse of the Dragonconflict really should be one of the biggest events of the entire spinoff. If that means taking more time to get it right, then it’s a good thing the network is choosing to do so. The Battle of the Gullet is a huge action piece, and it’s one of the biggest battles to occur during the Dance of the Dragons.
The Battle of the Gullet should rivalGame of Thrones’best battles when it comes to the action and scope.
Needless to say, the Battle of the Gullet should rivalGame of Thrones’best battles when it comes to the action and scope. It should also boast a similar emotional impact, as there’s a major death that takes place during it — and it’s one that’s certain to push Rhaenyra Targaryen even further over the edge. Given how long viewers have had to get to know these characters,House of the Dragonseason 3’s opening could pack a powerful punch. And if it manages to deliver a better ending than season 2, it could be the best outing of the spinoff yet.
