Three dragons soar through the sky as HBO’s House of the Dragon season three episode two begins. The dragons circle over the devastation left in the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, continuing to set things on fire. Baela (Bethany Antonia) retrieves Jace’s dead body and brings it home to Dragonstone, where she informs Ser Lorent that the battle is won.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode two, and there are spoilers.)
Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) takes in the body of Jace and demands to know what he’s done, asking as if he’s still breathing. She slowly approaches his obviously deceased body and is overcome with grief and anger. “How could you do this to me?” she asks as she hits his body, as though trying to urge it back to life. Ser Lorent (Max Wrottesley) pulls her away and she reacts by telling him not to dare touch her. He acknowledges that he’s failed her and hands his queen his sword to kill him. Rhaenyra knows it won’t do any good; nothing will change.
She blames the rest of them for also betraying their queen by standing by and allowing Jace to fly into battle while she was locked in her room.
High Tide burns as Alyn (Abubakar Salim) looks for Lord Corlys in the ocean. His men are slaughtering Lohar’s remaining men.
Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) returns to the Vale with her dragon, admitting she’s done a terrible thing. Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) demands that she leave; Queen Rhaenyra will be hunting her after causing Jace’s death. Rhaena insists that she’s offering protection with her dragon. She reminds Lady Jeyne that Vhagar is still a danger. Lady Jeyne doesn’t change her mind. She wants Rhaena out of the Vale.
Daemon’s men drink and sing, cheering on their victory, with the men of the Winter Wolves. Jason Lannister’s head and that of a lion are prominently displayed. Ser Simon Strong (Simon Russell Beale) joins them, and Daemon seems happy to see him and accepts his congratulations. He brought wine for the celebration along with a message from Queen Rhaenyra. Daemon learns Jace is dead and orders Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan) to march south to King’s Landing. He’ll meet him there and ensure they give Rhaenyra the Iron Throne.
He also commands Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) to return to the Riverlands to protect Harrenhal. Once Rhaenyra’s on the throne, he’ll send dragons to protect them.
Alys (Gayle Rankin) speaks to Daemon, telling him she put 40,000 River men at the queen’s call and wants Harrenhal in return. She cherishes it like no one else, and Daemon points out she’s not a noble and doesn’t have a title. He calls her a midwife but then assures her he’ll ask Rhaenyra for some other reward for her.
Lohar’s men are dead, scattered across the beach as Alyn continues to look for Lord Corlys. He’s joined by Baela, who believes they’ll find their father alive. Alyn asks about what he’s like, and she does a decent job of describing his personality.
Alyn watches as Addam (Clinton Liberty) also searches but from the sky, looking for any sign of Lord Corlys. Addam finally spots him and circles back.
Meanwhile, Larys (Matthew Needham) and Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) are still captives on the way to Rhaenyra. Aegon’s fuming that they will be killed by Rhaenyra. Suddenly the carriage stops and they open the door to discover a fight is underway outside. Aegon manages to attack the guard left behind and they escape. Aegon wants to head to Rook’s Rest.
Lord Corlys thinks if this is victory, he doesn’t want to see another. He’s got Addam, Alyn, and Baela by his side and knows that right now he’s got nothing left. High Tide has burned and his fleet is disseminated. All he has to give his sons now is his name, and Alyn confesses he believes that to be more valuable.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke) asks to speak with Commander of the City Watch Ser Luthor Largent (Tom Cullen) on an urgent matter. She informs him Rhaenyra is returning. Her daughter will allow Rhaenyra to enter the kingdom and take the throne, and she needs to know if he’ll allow his Gold Cloaks to let it happen.
Daemon is upset to learn from Ulf (Tom Bennett) and Hugh (Kieran Bew) that they left their position at Harrenhal because Aemond never showed up. Daemon points out that they only stayed there two days, and they left behind a garrison unprotected. Hugh claims a woman they believed was a maester or a witch told them about the Battle of the Gullet. They wonder if they should return to Harrenhal now and Daemon doesn’t respond.
Daemon is shocked to see Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) is free and has the queen’s trust. He thinks she’s playing a game and doesn’t believe Mysaria actually respects Rhaenyra. Mysaria points out not everything is about him.
No one seems to know where Aemond is. Mysaria insists the queen’s judgment is sound, but Daemon suspects Alicent’s lying. Word arrives that Vhagar is heading toward the Riverlands. Daemon will go; they don’t need to tell Rhaenyra.
Alicent commands her guards to secure the small council chamber. She’s going to call a meeting.
Daemon finds Rhaenyra in bed, deep in grief. She thinks Jace defied her while Daemon believes he was serving her. Rhaenyra informs her husband/uncle that Sheepstealer was responsible for Jace’s death, but they don’t know the rider. Some think it might have been claimed by a Hightower. Daemon tells her Vhagar has left King’s Landing, and Rhaenyra reacts by claiming she doesn’t care about the iron throne now that her boys are dead. Daemon insists they can’t let the boys die in vain. He confesses that at Harrenhal he saw a woman in the desert with dragons at her breast. (Daenerys!) He now believes the Song of Fire and Ice is real.
Lord Jasper Wylde (Paul Kennedy) confronts Alicent about her ability to weave herself into royalty. He knows she slept with Criston and demands to know why she secretly met with the City Watch. She struggles away from him and he’s about to rape her when Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) barges in. Jasper wants her arrested as a traitor, but instead the Grand Maester orders Jasper to be arrested for touching the Queen Mother.
After he’s taken away, Alicent thanks the grand maester. He knows she’s up to something and believes it’s something desperate.
Queen Rhaenyra returns to her council chambers with Daemon and announces she’s going to King’s Landing with Daemon and her new riders. Aemond is on his way to Harrenhal and when he returns, their window is shut.
Mysaria hands Queen Rhaenyra her crown and asks that she remember who’s been faithful and will send for her. Daemon orders Ulf and Hugh to stay behind them and watch the skies. They are to stay on guard and not disobey his orders. Once King Landing’s taken, they must turn their attention to Vhagar. He warns them not to let him down.
Alicent finds Helaena (Phia Saban) and tells her Rhaenyra’s coming. Helaena asks if there will be a battle and realizes her mother must have met with Rhaenyra. Alicent admits she made a mistake and that Aegon shouldn’t have been king. She reminds Helaena that she was happy before she was queen, and Helaena believes she’d like to keep chickens.
Alicent walks through the King’s Guard and asks to speak with Ser Freddryk. She orders him to have the guards stand down from their stations at Helaena’s order. Freddryk disagrees. Aemond told him to kill all dragons. Alicent points out Aegon is gone, Aemond fled the city with Vhagar, and Rhaenyra is on her way with Daemon. They will take the throne, and the guard needs to let them or else be burned to death. Helaena backs her mom up and claims this is her order.
Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) and Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) watch Vhagar fly above and commence their march to Harrenhal.
Vhagar kills the men stationed outside the castle, working his way around it and lighting anyone he sees on fire. Parts of the castle crumble as he lands and kills the men inside.
It’s impossible for them to flee the flames and they’re consumed by fire. Those who avoided the fire attack Aemond, but his skills are too great and he slaughters them.
Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) enters the dining hall and approaches Ser Simon with his sword drawn. Finally, he removes his helmet and asks for Daemon. Aemond orders Simon to draw his sword, but Simon doesn’t have a sword and won’t retrieve one. Simon says the army is gone and there’s nothing to stop Aemond now. Aemond doesn’t reply and instead kills Simon and his sons.
The witch steps into the dining hall and Aemond drops his sword. He’s bleeding profusely from the back after one of the sons stabbed him. He slowly makes his way, crawling toward Alys, and asks for help before passing out.
Alicent’s order worked and the guards stand down, allowing Queen Rhaenyra and Daemon to enter King’s Landing. Alicent, Heleana, and her child quickly leave the city as the small folk stare in wonder and awe at the four dragons overhead.
Daemon has Caraxes descend and Queen Rhaenyra also lands on Syrax. The guards lay down their swords and drop to their knees, and Rhaenyra realizes Alicent did as she promised. Rhaenyra tells the guards not to be afraid. “I’ve come to make things right.”
A few guards inside the Red Keep attack as they enter but Daemon quickly dispatches them. Daemon shouts, asking who else will stand against them in their house. No one replies.
Queen Rhaenyra and Daemon walk down the hall toward the throne room, and Daemon kills anyone who attempts to stand in their way. He throws open the doors and Queen Rhaenyra stands before the Iron Throne. She briefly pauses and then as she’s ascending to the throne, the King’s Guard attempt to stop her. Queen Rhaenyra draws her sword as more men pour into the throne room.
The King’s Guard are soon surrounded by the Gold Cloaks. The City Watch remembers their commander and that Queen Rhaenyra is the one true queen. He orders the King’s Guard to put down their swords or perish. The Gold Cloaks seize the King’s Guard, and Queen Rhaenyra thanks Ser Luthor Largent. He reminds them that Prince Daemon gave him his gold cloak 20 years ago and is happy to see them.
Before she sits on the throne, she demands they bring Aegon to her.
The gold cloaks and Daemon head to Aegon’s room, only to discover it’s empty. Grand Maester Orwyle says Aegon and Larys fled, as did Alicent. Orwyle pledges himself to the rightful heir, Queen Rhaenyra. He says Daemon can kill him, but he can offer another who can give Daemon “better satisfaction.”
Helaena and Alicent hurry through the smallfolk and realize they can’t escape.
Daemon has prisoners released but then stands before Jasper’s cell. A man says he’s got a gift for Daemon from Lord Larys Strong and Daemon walks through the chamber into the darkness. He finally stands in front of a cell and laughs at whoever’s inside.
Queen Rhaenyra meets with those who’ve been imprisoned for failing to kneel to Aegon. Jasper’s brought before Queen Rhaenyra, and she demands to know who is left from Aegon’s small council.
The prisoner who made Daemon laugh is Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). He’s brought before Rhaenyra, and Daemon suggests that, since Aegon has fled, she should behead this Hightower in his place. Daemon whispers that the crowd is watching, and she confesses she doesn’t know if she can. Otto Hightower requests that Daemon do it; he doesn’t want to be hacked at.
Queen Rhaenyra takes his sword, and she orders Hightower to stop talking when he mentions her father. Daemon whispers, “In this moment, you will become Queen.”
Queen Rhaenyra circles Hightower and finally stands behind him. He bends his head forward and she takes a swing. He’s injured but not dead. Her second swing takes his head clean off. Daemon takes the sword and follows by beheading Jasper.
Queen Rhaenyra struggles to pull herself together and then, leaving a trail of bloody footprints, ascends to the Iron Throne.
Alicent and Helaena were found and Alicent stands behind her father’s dead body and stares at Queen Rhaenyra. The Queen has tears in her eyes but then transforms into steel in seconds.
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