House of the Dragon fans who vowed to boycott the series after the season 2 finale may be missing out on a spectacular return to form, according to early reactions and reviews. Season 3 premieres on Monday, June 22, on HBO Max, Sky, and NOW, and promises to deliver the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet.
Season 2 Finale Disappointment
Two years ago, the season 2 finale left many viewers frustrated. The episode ended on a cliffhanger, with House Stark marching from Winterfell and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) striking a secret bargain. Fans had hoped for the explosive Battle of the Gullet, a pivotal clash from George RR Martin's book Fire & Blood, but it was pushed to season 3.
Showrunner Ryan Condal explained the decision to The Hollywood Reporter: 'One of the things that came into play in season two is: What is the final destination of the series and where are we going? It was a combination of factors that led us to rebalance the season knowing now where we’re going.' He added that the goal was to give The Gullet 'the time and the space that it deserves.'
Early Reactions to Season 3
Despite the backlash, early screenings of season 3's first episode have generated excitement. @watchwithdiya wrote on X: 'Just watched the first episode of House of the Dragon s3 at the world premiere…. I’m speechless. No one is ready…' @gameofthroneshistorian shared on Instagram: 'HOTD S03E01 is nothing like we’ve EVER seen, not just in Westeros but in television in general.'
Metro's TV Editor Sabrina Barr gave season 3 a four-star review, calling it a 'thrilling return to form.' She noted that fans who boycotted after season 2 'will be relieved' and welcomed them back, saying 'there’s no shame in changing your mind.'
Fan Reactions and Poll
Some fans remained critical. On Reddit, nosayso wrote: 'Coming from someone who liked the season and definitely enjoys the show: it’s still absolutely bananas that they ended on a cliffhanger. They’ve built up a lot, had some good arcs going into this place, and the next season is going to be incredibly stacked, but this wait is just an objectively bad decision for maintaining your audience.' Galahad_the_Ranger commented: 'This season could’ve been an email.' GregorianShant added: 'Classic “Fool me once”. After I got burned by GOT, I refuse to watch any Thrones media.'
A Metro poll asked viewers if they will watch season 3, with options including 'Yes, I can't wait!', 'No, I was a fan but I've given up', 'I'm undecided', and 'I've never watched it'. The results were not disclosed.
Why Boycotters May Regret It
House of the Dragon is set to end after four seasons, meaning those who gave up at the halfway point will miss the final two seasons. Barr argued that despite its dip, the show remains 'one of the most spectacular shows on television' and that the final seasons will remind viewers why they fell in love with Westeros. She also pointed to the success of another spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which exceeded expectations, as proof that fans should not judge shows harshly before giving them a chance.
Season 2 had gripping moments, including Princess Rhaenys Targaryen's heroic death, three bastards claiming dragons, and tension between Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). But the truncated eight-episode run (originally planned as 10) left viewers unsatisfied. Season 3 aims to rectify that with the Battle of the Gullet, described as 'arguably the second most anticipated action event of Fire & Blood.'
For fans who decided to boycott, Barr concluded: 'We’ll happily welcome you back.'
