Bloody Mirror Images in House of the Dragon Episode 3

In House of the Dragon episode 3 “Second Of His Name” three years have passed since episode 2… spoilers ahead!

We open with the Crabfeeder, Prince Drahar, torturing a soldier when Daemon and his dragon attacks! They retreat into the safety of the nearby caves, and archers strike Daemon in the shoulder causing him to retreat.

Preparations are being made to celebrate the second name day of Prince Aegon, the brainy ghostbuster, son of King Viserys and Queen Alicent. Rhaenyra wants nothing to do with it and instead reads a book while listening to the bard sing one song on repeat. Meanwhile Daemon and Corlys continue their war in the Stepstones without any support from the king.

The celebration is set around a hunting party, where they seek a white stag. Rhaenyra rejects a suitor who was brought along, Jason Lannister. She rides away on her own, Cole follows and tries to get her to go back with him, but she insist they make a nice evening away. Later that night their camp is attacked by a boar and together they kill it.

The hunting party isn’t able to find a white stag for the king to kill, instead they have captured a plain old brown one. Viserys has some trouble striking the fatal blow, but takes the stag down with a second thrust of his ceremonial spear.

Before returning to camp Rhaenyra encounters the white stag. Perhaps an omen that she is the one meant to succeed her father? She and Cole return to camp, covered in blood looking badass, boar carcass in tow.

Back home, Viserys assures Rhaenyra that despite having second thoughts briefly, he has no intention of replacing her has his heir. He also decides to send support to his brother, wondering to Rhaenyras if he made the right choice. He apologizes for the endless suitors, saying she should get married but to someone who she chooses. My money is on Cole!

Back on the Stepstones the battle is still at standstill that is slowly wearing down what is left of Daemon’s army. A messenger arrives with word that help is on its way which sends Daemon into a rage; he must prove himself before help arrives signaling his failure.

Here’s the plan: 1) Daemon approaches the enemy alone signaling surrender to draw them out of the caves. 2) Take them all out!

It’s off to a great start but eventually Daemon is surrounded after having been hit in the shoulder by an arrow again. I’m thinking his right shoulder will soon be completely impervious to arrows. The enemy closes in on him but flames from a dragon engulf them; begin part 2 of the plan!

Daemon sees the Crabfeeder retreat into the caves and goes after him. The battle outside rages on as the battlefield fills with smoke. Daemon finally exits the cave, covered in blood looking badass, Prince Drahar’s carcass in tow.

I loved these mirrored images of Rhaenyra and Daemon covered in blood. They’re both more than worthy of being heir but the path is still very questionable, especially with this two year old parapsychologist who eats with his hands, pfft! He doesn’t even have his glasses yet.

This is definitely my favorite episode so far, the battles bookending the episode were awesome. There were some aspects of the time progression that made me feel like many characters hadn’t talked to each other at all for the last three years. But I think it’s more beneficial to move things along to get Aegon into play than to fill out time where otherwise not much noteworthy has happened.

I waited too long to write this post, time to go watch episode 4 right away!