House of the Dragon season two put all the pieces in place for one of the most infamous sea conflicts in the history of Westeros. Then it ended without giving us the Battle of the Gullet. George R.R. Martin readers know why it’s one of the most infamous moments from the Dance of the Dragons. Showrunner Ryan Condal does, too. After season two ended he cited limited resources and apologized for making fans wait. But he also said the series wanted to give the Gullet “the time and the space that it deserves.” Now, House of the Dragon is finally ready to bring that legendary fight to life in season three.
What is the Gullet and why is it so important anyway? Who will meet there and what do they both want? And why are cast, crew, and book readers so excited to finally see the sea fill with blood on HBO? Before the shooting starts here’s everything you need to know—WITHOUT SPOILERS—about the Battle of the Gullet.
Where Is the Gullet?
The Gullet is a narrow and vital span of water to the east of King’s Landing. It connects Blackwater Bay to the Narrow Sea. You can see it in the image above. It’s marked in yellow to the east.
At the top of the Gullet sits two important islands. The first is Dragonstone, ancestral Westerosi seat of House Targaryen. Next to Dragonstone on its western shore sits Driftmark of House Velaryon. Driftmark is home to two castles. One is the older castle that gives the island its name. The other is High Tide. Ser Corlys Velaryon built High Tide, which we saw full of treasures in season one, after accumulating wealth that rivaled House Lannister.
On the southern side of the gullet is the peninsula known as Massey’s Hook. It’s home to Sharp Point of House Bar Emmon, whose lord swore fealty to Rhaenyra at the start of the Dance. In a fit of rage, Aemond and Vhagar burned Sharp Point during season two.
While there is a very small stretch of water above Dragonstone and Driftmark, those who hope to sail into Blackwater Bay and ultimately into King’s Landing must pass through the Gullet. It’s a vital point for all trade into the Realm’s capital, which is exactly why Ser Corlys advised Rhaenyra to close it off at the start of the Targaryen civil war.
Why Is the Gullet So Important to Winning the Dance of the Dragons?
Lord Corlys and his fleet already controlled the Narrow Sea before the Dance of the Dragons. He’d spent decades with Daemon Targaryen fighting the Triarchy of Essos for control of the Stepstones. Corlys almost died during his last battle in the archipelago, so to avoid having to fight over the Stepstones again, he had taken “care to fully garrison the territory this time.” With the Narrow Sea, and by extension all trade within it, secure, he suggested to Rhaenyra they block the Gullet as well when the Dance began. “We can cut off all seaborne travel and trade to King’s Landing,” he said.
His wife, Princess Rhaenys, said she would also patrol the stretch of water with her dragon, Meleys. She fulfilled this task until her death at Rook’s Rest. Even without Rhaenys, Rhaenyra’s forces controlled the Gullet thanks to Corlys’ fleet. The blockade resulted in a deadly food shortage, rising inflation, and even unpaid debts by the crown in King’s Landing. We saw future dragonriders Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer both suffer because of the blockade, especially Hugh. His sick daughter died.
Mysaria concocted a plan, augmented by word-of-mouth propaganda, to use that very same famine Rhaenyra created to the Queen’s advantage. The White Worm sent ships of food to the hungry people of King’s Landing to garner support for Rhaenyra. They believed the true queen remembered them when King Aegon and his family had forgotten them. That led to a riot that almost claimed the lives of Alicent and Helaena. The denizens of the capital were a prime target for the efforts, as they were already mad about inflation, perceived indifference from the crown, and seeing livestock fed to the Greens’ dragons.
The Prince Regent Aemond did not care about the lack of food and suffering in the capital. He even had the gates closed so no one could leave. He also didn’t understand why the people blamed his side, since it was Rhaenyra who’d blockaded trade by shutting off the Gullet.
Ultimately Aemond decided to do something about it, even though it meant reaching out to one of the Realm’s most frustrating enemies.
Why Did Tyland Lannister Reach Out to Sharako Lohar?
Aemond sent his Master of Ships, Tyland Lannister, to Essos to meet with the Triarchy. The Prince Regent wanted to break the blockade of the Gullet but believed the Hightower and Lannister navies would take too long to get there. Overtured to House Greyjoy and the Iron Fleet were also repeatedly ignored.
Tyland met with the commander of the Triarchy fleet, Admiral Sharako Lohar. Once the prim and proper Tyland proved his worth to the flashy Lohar, the Admiral agreed to the treaty. The Triarchy will fight its old nemesis, Ser Corlys Velaryon, in exchange for control of the Stepstones. Season two ended with Lohar leading 90 ships to the Gullet.
Who Are the Major Players During the Battle of the Gullet?
The Velaryon fleet led by Corlys and his new righthand man, his bastard son Alyn of Hull, command Rhaenyra’s forces. Sharako Lohar, with Tyland Lannister in tow, commands the massive Triarchy fleet. But those are just the sea forces that will fight in the shadow of Dragonstone, home to multiple dragons.
Even if Rhaenyra’s council continues to insist she cannot enter a battle atop , she now has six dragonriders on her side. There’s her son Jace (Vermax), her niece/stepdaughter Baela (Moondancer), Addam of Hull (Seasmoke), Ulf the White (Silverwing), Hugh Hammer (Vermithor), and her husband Daemon (Caraxes). If any of them are nearby when the Triarchy arrives they can take to the sky to supports Corlys and Alyn.
In nearby King’s Landing, only Aemond and the world’s biggest dragon, Vhagar, stand ready to fight. Queen Helaena refuses to burn anyone atop her dragon Dreamfyre. The Greens also rely on Aemond and the presence of Vhagar to protect the city, but Queen Alicent told Rhaenyra her son plans to leave for Harrenhal soon.
Why Didn’t House of the Dragon End Season 2 with the Battle of the Gullet?
When Ryan Condal talked about the show’s season two finale he addressed the decision to delay the Battle of the Gullet. He said no show has “infinite time and resources.” He then said the series also wanted to “rebalance the story in such a way” it guaranteed three additional “great seasons of television” after the first. (Condal has confirmed the show will end with season four.)
The showrunner also tried to assuage frustrated fans by saying the legendary battle would be “the biggest thing to date” House of the Dragon has pulled off. He also guarnateed it would be worth the wait. “We’re going to pull off a hell of a win with The Battle of the Gullet,” promised Condal.
Fans won’t have to wait long to see if the series makes good on that tease.
When Will the Battle of the Gullet Happen on House of the Dragon?
Condal confirmed the Battle of the Gullet will take place in season three’s first episode. He also said the sequence “is unlike anything that’s ever been done in television before.”
Will House of the Dragon Make Any Changes from the Books to the Battle of the Gullet?
Yes, and we’ll explain all of them after it airs. But both book readers and newcomers to the tory alike will have to wait for House of the Dragon‘s season three premiere to see exactly what changes the show has made. They’ll do that soon enough. The show returns to HBO on Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m. ET.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermikeOpens in a new tab. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.