In the latest episode of House of the Dragon Season 3, fans are speculating that villainous Ormund Hightower (James Norton) may meet his end at the jaws of his nephew's dragon, Tessarion. The episode, which aired on July 13, 2026, also introduced the term 'gelding' as a punishment for sexual assault, leaving viewers curious about its meaning.
Ormund's Cruelty and Tessarion's Reaction
During the episode, Ormund warned Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) against showing affection to his dragon Tessarion, saying, “I have warned you against indulging in affection for that beast.” Tessarion, also known as the Blue Queen, appeared to understand the insult and approached Ormund as if about to attack him, though Daeron intervened. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) have since predicted that this moment foreshadows Ormund's death.
One user posted: “Ormund was literally one second away from becoming dragon food. Tessarion took that personally.” Another wrote: “Ormund: 'Don't love Tessarion too much.' Tessarion: 'Don't breathe too confidently.'” A third noted: “Tessarion said 'Mind your business, Ormund.' Dragons don't play about their riders!”
The Gelding Punishment Explained
Another major talking point was the term 'gelding.' After a Hightower soldier attempted to rape Kat (Ellora Torchia), wife of Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), her family intervened. The soldier was brought before Ormund, who publicly declared he would be gelded. However, Ormund privately punished Kat's brother Leo (Abhin Calaya) for stopping the assault, forcing Daeron to execute him.
Gelding refers to the castration of a male, typically applied to animals like horses to make them more docile. In the context of House of the Dragon, it is used as a punishment for sexual crimes, reflecting practices in ancient civilizations. George R. R. Martin used the term in his A Song of Ice and Fire novels for both horse gelding and human castration.
Fan Reactions and Predictions
Fans have expressed outrage at Ormund's hypocrisy and cruelty. One viewer commented: “Ormund is such an evil I wished Tessarion just dracarys him right then and there.” Another said: “Ormund telling Daeron not to love Tessarion too much, only for Tessarion to immediately want to Dracarys him, told me everything I needed to know about the kind of evil man Ormund really is. She sensed the evil in him.”
House of the Dragon Season 3 airs Mondays in the UK on Sky Atlantic, HBO Max UK & Ireland, and NOW.
