House of the Dragon‘s second season ended on a frustrating note. The show put the pieces in place for a massive, Realm-changing battle. Then it didn’t deliver that conflict. The result was the series’ sophomore outing felt like a whole lot of setup without a payoff. Showrunner Ryan Condal acknowledged as much after the season two finale. But he also promised it would be worth the wait. And now we think he might deliver the “hell of a win” he teased, because House of the Dragon‘s new season three trailer is full of violence, dragons, and tragedy. Rhaenyra Targaryen getting exactly what she wanted might be the worst thing that ever happened to her cause.
Not everyone has exactly loved HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s Dance of the Dragons. That includes GRRM himself. But seven bloody hells if this show doesn’t know how to cut an absolutely amazing trailer. This sad, somber, bloody look at what awaits when the forces of Rhaenyra and her “usurper” brother Aegon clash in season three is just the latest standout promo for the show. It also gives people who don’t know what’s coming an idea of just how bad things will get.
The show’s third outing will see Rhaenyra claim King’s Landing and the Iron Throne. That is what her former friend-turned-enemy-turned-unlikely-ally, Queen Alicent, promised at the end of the series’ second season. It’s everything Rhaenyra wanted. It’s everything she thinks she deserved. But at what cost will she claim her rightful seat? And for how long will she hold it?
As this powerful promo teases, she might not like the answer to either. Because as HBO says in this trailer’s description, “The throne knows no mercy.” We’ll find out why soon enough. House of the Dragon returns to HBO and HBO Max next month. Season three will debut on June 21.