The first teaser for Season 3 of the popular HBO series House of the Dragon is out now—and if the content is any indication, the Dance of the Dragons is about to get bloody. The upcoming season is set to premiere in June 2026 and seems to be drawing from the most tragic events from George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Alicent Hightower’s diplomacy with Aemond and the Fractured Greens
The teaser opens with Alicent Hightower walking towards the Iron Throne in a similar scene to Rhaenyra Targaryen’s scene in the first episode of the series. This time, however, it is not Daemon Targaryen with whom Alicent is meeting, and tension is palpable in the scene. This could be the result of her clandestine meeting with Rhaenyra Targaryen on the island of Dragonstone in Season 2.
Furthermore, Aemond’s claim of Aegon’s abdication—which gives him de facto control—is ominous news indeed. Scenes with Aemond and Vhagar burning Harrenhal indicate the war is far from over.
Meanwhile, on the island of Dragonstone, Rhaenyra Targaryen is seen speaking with her team about Alicent’s promise to give up King’s Landing. The tension between Jace and Rhaenyra could indicate a rift within Team Black.
Furthermore, the teaser seems to indicate the upcoming Battle of the Gullet—one of the bloodiest battles of the war—with Corlys Velaryon at the helm of his fleet and Jace shouting “Dracarys!” in the middle of the battle.
The image of Rhaenyra beating on a locked door has also spawned a lot of theories. Is Rhaenyra perhaps prevented from joining the battle? Perhaps her fate is tied to the Gullet. This scene might be a turning point in Rhaenyra’s reign.
But the most surprising moment of the teaser has to be the clear glimpse of Tessarion, the Blue Dragon, the dragon of Prince Daeron Targaryen. Although we do not see Daeron himself in the teaser, the appearance of his dragon clearly points to the long-awaited appearance of the prince. In the book series by Martin, the appearance of Daeron is crucial to the Reach Campaign, especially during the battles of Honeywine and Tumbleton. It was there that the Greens got a major boost with the appearance of Daeron.
We also see Lord Ormund Hightower leading the army to the south. This could be the point where Daeron makes his battlefield debut. Daemon tries to encourage Rhaenyra to take control of her powers: “You are the queen of dragons.” This is in complete contrast to Alicent’s advice to Rhaenyra that her new dragons might mean the annihilation of King’s Landing.
The teaser ends with Rhaenyra in tears. Perhaps she has just received the news of the devastation. Daemon’s voiceover says, “This is the moment you become queen.”
With all the dragon action, political intrigue, and tragedy, Season 3 promises to be just as explosive as Season 2’s Rook’s Rest battle. Perhaps even more so. If the appearance of Tessarion points to the appearance of Daeron, the war has officially reached its most explosive point.
