House of the Dragon season 3 ending explained: Every death, reveal, and twist broken down ...Middle East

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season 3.

This article includes discussion of suicide that some readers may find distressing.

As House of the Dragon season 3 comes to an end, fans will no doubt have divisive opens about how the season has bowed out. 

This season of the Game of Thrones spin-off has far surpassed the last instalment - although some may argue that the bar was rather low, considering season 2's controversial finale.

Now, the final episode of season 3 has given us showdowns, betrayal, death, and a fair few changes from George RR Martin’s book, Fire & Blood. 

Here’s everything you need to know about how House of the Dragon season 3 ended as we look ahead to season 4.

House of the Dragon season 3 ending explained: Who died?

By the end of the episode, we’ve lost a fair few key players. The major deaths in the episode included: 

Meanwhile, Prince Daeron Targaryen’s (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) fate is left up in the air. However, it did seem that his blue dragon Tessarion flew away from Tumbleton.

House of the Dragon season 3 ending explained: Why did Queen Helaena Targaryen kill herself?

In the tragic final scenes of House of the Dragon season 3, Queen Helaena Targaryen jumps out of the window from her chambers in the Red Keep after weeks of imprisonment, seemingly because it was the only way she could think of to escape. 

Earlier in the season, Helaena revealed she was pregnant and was later left alone in captivity when her mother, Dowager Queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), left to seek her fugitive brother Prince Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Following her mother’s departure, Helaena’s mental state appeared to worsen. 

In episode 7, she had dreams of various possible futures, including one in which she rode into battle on Dreamfyre and another that showed her long-held desire to own chickens and live a pastoral life. That peaceful dream, however, was shattered, with the sun being eclipsed - perhaps foreshadowing her devastating ending. 

In episode 8, things only get worse for Helaena when her half-sister Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) learns she isn’t eating, and orders for her to be force-fed. Finally, a disgruntled Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) gives Helaena a message upon her departure from the Red Keep, telling her that Rhaenyra will never release her. 

In Fire & Blood, the exact reason for Helaena’s suicide is never agreed upon. However, in all accounts, it’s clear that she suffered crippling trauma and grief following the assassination of her son Jaehaerys and amid her captivity. 

Why did Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen tell Ser Alyn of Hull to kill the High Septon?

Earlier in the season, the High Septon refused to anoint Rhaenyra as she could not prove that her half-brother and rival King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) was dead, making her rule precarious. 

In episode 8, after hearing that Aegon is still alive (or has been ‘resurrected’, as her subjects see it), she returns to the High Septon, trying to force his hand. The High Septon too has heard of Aegon’s resurrection, and refuses again. 

Unable to reason with him, Rhaenyra orders Ser Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) to kill the High Septon. Alyn hesitates, but Rhaenyra assures him that he is the blood of Old Valyria and answers to higher gods than the High Septon’s. 

That encourages Alyn to finally kill the High Septon - although he’s clearly conflicted about his own actions afterwards. 

Why did Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen fire Mysaria and send her away?

In a shock turnaround, Rhaenyra suddenly orders for Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno), her closest confidante left in King's Landing, to be taken away and sent to Pentos. It clearly comes as a shock to Mysaria, but it could be for a variety of reasons.

Perhaps it’s a heavy-handed way of ending their romantic affair - or maybe Rhaenyra has figured out that Mysaria has been manipulating her and wants to put an immediate end to it. 

Last episode saw Mysaria be more openly manipulative than we’ve ever seen her before, clearly trying to turn Rhaenyra against the latter's husband - and Mysaria's former lover - King Consort Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). Rhaenyra confronted Mysaria about this, but then seemed to abandon her misgivings as she and Mysaria kissed.

Whatever the reason, this makes Mysaria very dangerous - especially as she’s shown escaping from her carriage midway through being escorted out of King’s Landing. 

Will Mysaria now turn against Rhaenyra in more dangerous ways? One theory is that she’s going to be the one to turn the smallfolk against Rhaenyra and even be the one to incite the actions of a revolutionary figure of the book Fire and Blood - The Shepherd - but only time will tell on that.

What happened at the Battle of Tumbleton?

The Battle of Tumbleton finally saw Daemon lead his forces into battle against Lord Ormund Hightower’s. It was clear the Hightowers had a disadvantage, but Ormund had a secret piece on the board - the betrayer and dragonrider Ser Ulf the White (Tom Bennett). 

However, Daeron and Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) put together a hastily organised peace treaty to take to Daemon. They proposed splitting the realm into two, so that Rhaenyra could still be queen, but Daeron could rule from Oldtown. 

Rhaenyra's Hand, Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), whom Daeron and Gwayne returned to Daemon in a show of goodwill, somewhat agreed - although advised Daemon that Daeron should only be given a Warden title, and suggested that he should be wed to Lady Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell). 

Daemon, however, refuses. He has to believe that Rhaenyra’s sole rule is the only way forward, and forges ahead with the battle, telling Ser Gwayne that Aegon is alive. 

The battle caused complete devastation to the town of Tumbleton. Despite the Blacks seemingly having a big advantage, thanks to Ser Ulf’s betrayal, they ended up losing the town and retreating. 

However, the Greens also faced huge losses on their side - including the death of Lord Ormund Hightower at the hands of both Ser Roderick Dustin and then the dragonfire caused by Ser Ulf.

It’s possible that Daeron also died; however, this is unconfirmed, with his fate being left up in the air as a surviving Ser Gwayne searches for him in the aftermath of the battle.

Why did Ser Ulf the White betray Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen - and then betray Lord Ormund Hightower?

Ser Ulf was seen sharing a drink with Ormund in episode 7 as he felt mistreated by Rhaenyra.

Ormund suggests that he could become the new Lord of the Tides now Coryls is in captivity, so Ser Ulf and his dragon, Silverwing, become a key part of the Greens’ strategy going into the battle of Tumbleton.

However, Ser Ulf’s love of an “ale with the lads” proves to be his downfall, as he disappears at a crucial moment - and is found in a compromising position by a furious Ormund.

After Ormund rages at Ser Ulf, the dragonrider realises that neither side has treated him well - and he ends up raining fire down on both sides at the battle. 

How did Lord Ormund Hightower die?

Lord Ormund Hightower died at the hands of Ser Roderick Dustin AKA Roddy the Ruin, and Silverwing's dragonfire. In the midst of the battle, the pair get engaged in hand-to-hand combat, with Ormund cutting off Roddy’s arm. 

Roddy, however, has the last laugh, shoving his sword somewhere we shan’t mention on Radio Times and giving him an incredibly undignified death.

Following this, Ser Ulf - disgruntled with both sides of the war - turned his dragonfire on the battlements of Tumbleton and burned both Ormund and a delighted Roddy alive.

Why did King Aegon II Targaryen let treacherous Prince Aemond Targaryen live?

Away from the battle, after finally being reunited with his dragon, Sunfyre, Aegon flew straight to Harrenhal to confront his brother. 

Despite Aegon having intentions of killing his brother, he changed his mind after seeing Aemond’s remorseful state. 

Speaking at a press conference about that decision, Ryan Condal said: "He's learned a lot in season 3, Aegon, and even though he's still angry with his brother and has agendas, I think what he realised in his evolution is that he does deserve a lot of the things that happened to him, probably.

"He had to learn how to be a better king and perhaps that he needed to be away and walk amongst the people as a pauper. I mean, the irony of the season is that Aegon, now not in the proximity of the throne, goes on this incredible character evolution where he becomes a much more dimensionalised man who is more sympathetic and possibly more suited to rule.

"And then Rhaenyra, in the proximity of the throne, is turned and altered and somewhat corrupted by being in its orbit, so I think if Aegon had shown up and just killed Aemond, it really would not have marked a growth in the character.

"It's him seeing Aemond's change and then realising where he is standing with his dragon, and suddenly this incredible wind of legitimacy behind him. Now that the realm is calling him, he's basically experienced a messianic return. I think it would ruin and spoil that for him to kill the person that's potentially his greatest and strongest ally."

Instead, Aegon laid out his plan: with the support of his two brothers and the Hightower forces, he would march on King’s Landing and regain the throne

What could go wrong?

What did the final scene mean?

In the final scenes of the episode, Rhaenyra finds the tapestry Helaena had been stitching before her death.

On it, she sees a scene of a tearful woman falling through the air - clearly depicting Helaena's death. She also sees herself sat on the Iron Throne, surrounded by dragonfire and with what appears to be blood on her - perhaps foreshadowing a dark future ahead.

Considering Helaena's powers as a Dreamer, the tapestry may have held important insights for Rhaenyra, but she casts it aside.

Looking out of the window, she surveys King's Landing for a moment, before shutting the window - shutting out the world and plunging herself and the room into darkness.

Speaking about that moment at a press conference, D'Arcy said: "Helaena is the sort of moral heart of the show - maybe the only character who has a proximity to power, but remains kind of uncontaminated.

"So I think her death sort of condemns Rhaenyra to the path she's chosen. [There's] no way back after that. There's certainly no route back to a more moderate form of leadership.

"I don't know where we go from here, but I imagine it's likely to be impassable in her relationship with Alicent, which I think also means Helaena's death condemns Rhaenyra to be alone in her pursuit for power."

If you need help and support on issues raised within this article, please visit Samaritans, CALM, Rethink Mental Illness and Mind for guidance.

House of the Dragon season 3 airs on HBO Max, NOW, and Sky Atlantic in the UK. Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on HBO Max, Sky and NOW – find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV.

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