The House of the Dragon season three finale aired on Sunday night, bringing the season to an epic end with a dramatic battle and a grand bloodbath. One fan on X claimed the episode contained 'the greatest scene in the history of House of the Dragon'.
Fan Reactions to the Finale
The final episode drew comparisons to the original Game of Thrones series, with @ASOIAFQuotesGOT saying it 'successfully captures that Game of Thrones magic of old'. Tarun Raju noted it had 'a lot of expectation-subversion for book-readers', similar to the iconic show.
However, not all reactions were positive. Mdrgm on Reddit called it 'a terrible finale for an already weak season', adding: 'This was a disastrous season finale that did absolutely nothing to compensate for an already weak season. There was nothing unexpected, nothing shocking, and not even a genuine surprise.'
Key Deaths in the Finale
The season close saw the loss of important characters. The second Battle of Tumbleton took place after Daemon met with Riverlanders and Northmen to attack the market town. During the fight, James Norton's Lord Ormund Hightower was killed.
Another major loss was the death of Helaena Targaryen, played by Phia Saban. She took her own life after falling into a deep depression over being separated from her remaining child, Jaehaera, in King's Landing. The scene where Rhaenyra and Alicent realize she is dead was hailed by Zaid on X as 'the greatest' in the show's history.
George Holdcroft disagreed, claiming: 'The scene right before this with Roderick Dustin and Ormund Hightower in battle was even better.'
Critic's Verdict
Sabrina Barr, Metro's TV editor, who had early access to the finale, gave it three stars. She said: 'As I watched the House of the Dragon season three finale, being one of few journalists granted early access, it made me realise something about the show that I didn't want to admit, but couldn't deny: I don't have anyone to root for anymore.'
She added: 'I need characters to champion, to see the good in them and feel they deserve the power they're fighting for. The events of the season three finale cemented the fact that to me, none of them feel worthy to sit on the Iron Throne. It's an exasperating and sad thought.'
Barr also commented: 'As an episode in the middle of the season, this could have worked. As a season finale, especially after everything we've been given this season, it was terrible.'
In response, SpittinMenace said: 'I didn't like what they did with a few storylines and characters but it definitely had a stronger ending than season two.'
Looking Ahead
The second season of the prequel was criticized for its pacing and character development, with some calling it 'boring'. House of the Dragon is expected to return in 2028 for its fourth and final season.
House of the Dragon season three is available to watch on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW.
