House of the Dragon season three is only two episodes in, but A LOT is going down. Rhaenyra is dealing with Jace’s death, Alicent is desperately trying to get TF out of King’s Landing, Rhaena is trying to NOT get murked, Aemond is unhinged, and Daemon continues to be an agent of chaos. In episode two, Daemon and Rhaenyra finally make their move on King’s Landing to take the Iron Throne. But, with that takeover, heads must roll to assert their authority. And that’s exactly what happens… but not with whom we’d expect. House of the Dragon showed the epic return of Otto Hightower and his swift demise at the hands of a tearful Rhaenyra.
In this episode, Rhaenyra and Daemon bring the dragons and confidently slice their way to the Iron Throne. After gaining the support/surrender of the City Watch, Daemon finds Grand Maester Orwyle, who says he’s no hero nor a fighter. He declares himself faithful to the true Queen Rhaenyra and offers up a prisoner in exchange for his own demise. Daemon discovers that it is Jasper Wylde, the same man who tried to sexually assault Alicent. Predictably, Wylde is talking lots of trash, so Daemon is more than willing to offer him as a sacrifice. But, he learns that Lord Larys Strong left him the greatest gift of all: an imprisoned Otto Hightower.
The return of Otto Hightower in House of the Dragon was inevitable considering that he played such a big role in setting all of this mess in motion. He was replaced as the King’s Hand when Aegon took the throne. After Ser Criston Cole took his place, he left to gather allies in the Reach but disappeared. Last season, we saw him in a dark jail but it wasn’t clear where he was. Well, it seems he was in King’s Landing the entire time. Look at that.
Otto and Wylde are brought to Rhaenyra. Daemon tells her that she must take their heads to assert her authority, but she is hesitant. Not everyone is a natural born killa, Daemon! Otto laments that her father wouldn’t want to see things go this way, to which she replies by telling him to shut up. She finally did what needed to be done and chopped both of their heads off.
Meanwhile, Alicent, Helaena, and Helaena’s child are captured and brought into the room. Alicent is shocked to see her father’s lifeless body on the floor as she looks at Rhaenyra sitting on the throne. RIP Otto, you got what you deserved, my guy.