In January, the premiere of HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms teased viewers by playing a bit of the iconic Game of Thrones theme — only to interrupt the stirring music with footage of the show’s unlikely hero pooping. It was showrunner Ira Parker’s way of demonstrating that his series might be based on George R.R. Martin’s books, but it would be very different from the epic fantasy fans expect from the franchise. But if you come to Westeros for dragonfire and kingdom-spanning wars, you won’t have to wait much longer.
House of the Dragon premiered in 2022 as a replacement for Game of Thrones after the series that revolutionized fantasy television concluded in 2019. House of the Dragon season 2 ended in August 2024, and the Targaryen war of succession known as the Dance of the Dragons continues on June 21, when season 3 premieres on HBO Max.
HBO released the final trailer for the new season on May 29, and it shows all the intrigue and carnage you could want from a Game of Thrones show. But if you’ve forgotten what’s going on in the Seven Kingdoms, we’ll give you a refresher.
What happened in House of the Dragon season 2?
The rift in House Targaryen began in season 1 with the death of King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine), who intended to leave the kingdom to his eldest child Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy). But Viserys’ second wife Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Hand of the King Ser Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) instead elevated Alicent’s son Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) to the Iron Throne. Rhaenyra made a rival claim, with Dragonstone serving as her base of power. The Hightower faction is called the Greens while the forces loyal to Rhaenyra are known as the Blacks.
Both sides have suffered devastating losses. Alicent’s younger son Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) killed Rhaenyra’s son and his dragon. Rhaenyra’s husband Daemon (Matt Smith) retaliated by hiring assassins to kill Aemond, though they instead killed the prince’s young son. Unable to trust Daemon, Rhaenyra sent him to try to gather support for her in Harrenhal. He considered betraying her and making his own claim for the Iron Throne, but renewed his loyalty to her after learning about the Song of Ice and Fire, a Targaryen prophecy tied to the apocalyptic conflict in Game of Thrones.
Rhaenyra found a new edge in the conflict by recruiting people with Targaryen or Velaryon blood to become dragon riders. Her Velaryon allies also used their naval superiority to hold the Gullet, a crucial trade passage for bringing supplies to King’s Landing. However, the Greens have recruited a pirate fleet led by Admiral Sharako Lothar (Abigail Thorn) to challenge the Blacks on the seas.
Aegon II turned out to be a poor ruler, and the ambitious Aemond tried to kill his older brother by attacking him on dragonback during a fight with Daemon’s cousin Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best). Aegon survived, but fled King’s Landing with his Master of Whisperers, Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), to keep Aemond from finishing the job. Season 2 ended with Alicent offering to give Rhaenyra control of King’s Landing if she keeps her family safe.
How to watch House of the Dragon season 3
Game of Thrones is one of HBO’s flagship franchises, so you’re only going to be able to see it through HBO Max. A basic version with ads is available for $10.99 a month, with the standard subscription costing $18.49 per month. You can also bundle the service together with Disney Plus and Hulu for $19.99 a month with ads or $32.99 without ads. House of the Dragon season 3 premieres at 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 21, with new episodes releasing weekly through Aug. 9.
HBO is promising subscribers plenty more Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon will end with a fourth season, which is scheduled for 2028. Filming is already underway for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2, which is expected to release in 2027.
