We pick up this week’s episode of House of the Dragon right where we left off, with dragons still burning down ships and Jace’s corpse floating in the water. Of course, the battle is drawing to an end, so the big question hanging over this whole event is “what happens next?”

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the second season of House of the Dragon, thanks to its pacing. So far, season three does not suffer these same problems, as we’ve hit the ground running in these first two episodes. There’s been a lot of payoff, conflict, drama, and tension as the civil war engulfing the realm continues to escalate. Rhaenyra is of course informed about the loss of her son, news she not only doesn’t take well, but seemingly doesn’t accept at first as she asks Jace what he has done and was expecting a reply. Grief, especially for a mother, can be a terrible burden, and one has to wonder if her grief will extend beyond the emotional. Emma D’Arcy gives a powerhouse performance this week, channeling so much rage, grief and ultimately, regret into her acting.

She is aware that part of the reason Jace died was due to a wild dragon named Sheepstealer who did have a rider upon its back. What no one knows yet, as far as I know, is that it was Daemon’s own daughter who was riding that dragon. So I’m sure there’ll be a very challenging conversation ahead once the news breaks that Daemon’s daughter killed Rhaenyra’s son. Where will Daemon’s loyalties lie if his daughter ends up in the crosshairs?

One area that I’ve not been a huge fan of the last two seasons was the whole Alicent plot, where she realizes she’s made an error and unleashed her children upon the throne when they were, in fact, the usurpers all along. Alicent is trying to atone for her sins, and the only way she knows how is to get the city to lay down its arms and surrender to Rhaenyra. It always felt too easy and a bit of a cop out for the character, who spent years in-universe resenting and plotting against her former best friend. It’s a little hard to believe that the guards would just all surrender their arms in advance, and at least one member of the High Council was able to sniff out some treachery on Alicent’s part. Weird that he had to get all rapey about it though.

I’m sure that sentiment of Alicent being a willing accomplice in Rhaenyra reclaiming the throne will now be undone and reverted back to a more accurate book sentiment, as Rhaenyra is the one to behead Otto Hightower as a traitor, something Alicent becomes very privy to as she walks into the throne room as a prisoner and sees her beloved father headless on the floor. The plan was for the realm to secure peace by surrendering the head of Aegon. Her father was never part of the deal. Rhaenyra, as well, feels the consequences of her actions, as this execution also marks her first kill in her life, and it’s one that comes with a lot of baggage and consequences. Not only that, but she struggled to do a clean kill, making Otto suffer prior, something that will surely haunt both her and leave an impression on the witnesses. She claims the throne, but leaves a trail of bloody footsteps in her wake.

Elsewhere in the episode, Alyn is successful in finding Corlys among the rubble of the battle, lamenting that “if this is victory, I hope I never see another”. But he does instill Alyn and his brother with his name, legitimizing his bastard children at long last. The Tyroshi pirates are laying waste to the mainland now, which gives Aegon and Larys a chance to escape their captors and hopefully reunite with Cole, who is now en route to Harrenhall, where Aemond was spotted flying towards (and thus leaving King’s Landing effectively dragonless against Rhaenyra’s four). Of course, this means Aemond crosses paths with Alys Rivers. Hopefully, we don’t get a whole season of Aemond tripping out like Daemon did last season.

So the ball is firmly in Rhaenyra’s court now, with Alicent and Helaena in custody. All things considered, this should be a slam dunk for Rhaenyra and the beginning of a peaceful period. But we’re only just starting season 3, with a four to go. What could happen next? Stay tuned!