House of the Dragon: Season 3 Episode 2 ‘Queen's Landing’ explained

What happens in House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 1 ‘The House that Dragons Built?

Warning: Major spoilers ahead

As the Battle of the Gullet ebbs away, and the few remaining Triarchy forces head to shore to continue their assault, Baela returns to Dragonstone on Moondancer, bringing the body of Jace home.

The castellans bring the body to Rhaenyra, who has now been released from her chambers. Overcome by grief, she initially refuses to believe her son is dead and scolds him for his reckless actions. As the reality dawns on her, she throws herself on his body. The Queensguard responsible for imprisoning her in her chambers, Ser Lorent Marbrand, attempts to remove her from the body, but she furiously lashes out at him – blaming him for her son’s death.

Guilt ridden, Marbrand offers up his sword, telling his Queen that his life must be forfeit for his failure. Rhaenyra is not quelled by this, telling him his life, nor the lives of everyone else in the vicinity, would be equal to losing Jace. She withdraws to her chambers as news of the Prince’s death is sent out to Daemon’s army.

The Rogue Prince

Outside of Harrenhal, Daemon and his army celebrate their victory with songs and libations. Ser Simon Strong interrupts the party to top up the wine supplies, but also to deliver news of Jace’s death to Daemon. Learning this, Daemon prepares to fly back to Dragonstone. Before he does, he meets with Alys Rivers one more time. She makes a request – once he has taken King’s Landing, could he gift her Harrenhal? She has lived there all her life and none of the occupiers have loved it as she has. However, her appeal lands on deaf ears. Daemon coldly remarks that the crown does not give away castles to midwives. He offhandedly says they will find a more appropriate compensation for her before departing on Caraxes, leaving Alys furious.

On his return to Dragonstone, Daemon is greeted by Ulf and Hugh, whom he is less than pleased to see. He berates them for not adhering to the plan of finding and destroying Vhagar. Ulf attempts to explain that Aedmond never appeared but is slapped across the face for his troubles. On his way to see his wife, he bumps into Mysaria – Rhaenyra’s private counsel, spymaster and Daemon’s one-time paramour. The two express their distrust of one another before he enters the chambers.

Finding Rhaenyra deeply depressed in her bed, Daemon attempts to rally her spirits, but she is lost in grief, saying “The boys who clung to me, who hid their little faces in my skirts, dead, so that I may sit upon a throne of swords?” However, Daemon shares that he has received intel that Aemond and Vhagar have departed the capital and are heading toward Harrenhal. If they are to enact Alicent’s plan, the time is now, and doing so would mean her son’s deaths were not in vain. He also tells her of his visions in Harrenhal, a silver haired girl in a desert far away with dragons at her breast… if she will not act for her fallen sons, will she do it for her future bloodline?

The Sea Snake Lives

As Daemon and Rhaenyra plan their next move, Baela, Addam and Alyn search for Lord Corlyn after he was knocked overboard in the Battle of the Gullet.

The Sea Snake is found washed ashore. Injured, exhausted, but alive. Observing the wreckage, bodies, and the burnt remains of Driftmark, Corlys remarks that if this is victory, he hopes to never see another one.

To show his gratitude to Alyn for turning the tide in the battle and defeating Sharako Lohar, he remarks he has nothing to give him but his name – he wishes to legitimise his bastard sons. Touched by this, Alyn tells his father that it means more to him than a mountain of gold.

The Ghosts of Harrenhal

Aemond and Vhagar fly to take Harrenhal, with the sight of the mighty dragon in the sky spurring Ser Criston’s army to march on the castle.

Vhagar launches a brutal attack on the keep, and Aedmond disembarks, cutting down anyone in his way. However, the resistance is minimal.

Reaching the inner sanctum, he finds Ser Simon Strong and his sons at the table. He demands that they draw their arms, but Strong peacefully surrenders and tells him the doors are open for him. Nonetheless, Aemond slays him and both of his sons, but receives a knife in the back while doing so. Alys Rivers appears at the doorway, and Aemond looks to turn his wrath on her, but before he can he collapses from his injury. He begs for her help as she stands over him.

The Usurper

Now captured by the Black Army, Larys Strong and Aegon continue to bicker as they are taken to Dragonstone. However, their carriage is halted by a battle between the Triarchy forces and the guards. In a stroke of luck, they escape amongst the chaos and continue their search for asylum.

Larys beseeches Aegon to continue toward Dragonstone, but he overrules him. Instead, they head to Rook’s Rest – the site where his dragon Sunfyre fell. He knows Ser Criston has a garrison there who will still be loyal to his mother, and he wishes to confirm if his dragon is still alive. Reluctantly, Larys follows his charge.

The Eyrie

After their disastrous appearance at the Battle of the Gullet, Rhaena and Sheepstealer return to The Vale, where she returns to The Eyrie and seeks asylum from Lady Jeyne Arryn. She angrily refuses, telling her that her failure to follow the instruction of taking Rhaenyra’s two youngest children, Aegon and Viserys, to Pentos, along with her reckless attempt to tame Sheepstealer has made her a liability. Rahenyra will want her head for the death of her son, and she does not wish to be around when she takes it. She tells her to be gone. As she turns away, Rhaena launches one more gambit – does the Lady of the Vale want a dragon or not? She maintains no one saw her on the dragon during the battle and taking her in would give The Vale the security of Sheepstealer’s protection. Lady Jeyne reconsiders.

The Fall of King’s Landing

Snapped into action by Daemon’s return, Rhaenyra informs her council that she is riding with Daemon to take King’s Landing, flanked by Ulf and Hugh. The council plead caution, as it reeks of a trap, but Rhaenyra has faith that Alicent is good on her word. Before they depart, Mysaria presents her with a crown, telling her she will need it.

In King’s Landing, with Aemond departed, Alicent springs into action. She visits captain of the Kingsguard, Ser Soren, and pleads for him to order his men to stand down when the time comes. However, he refuses, still loyal to the current throne. However, visiting the Gold Cloaks barracks, their commander Ser Luthor Largent, while initially considering whether her request may be treasonous, is more receptive.

She then recruits the assistance of her daughter and Aegon’s sister-wife, Queen Heleana, who is eccentric and easily led. She offers her a chance to escape and live a simpler life, and she accepts. With her in tow, she approaches the captain of the guards situated on the Red Keep’s battlements, and with the Queen present and no King currently present in the capital, he reluctantly agrees to stand down when the time comes.

With Rhaenyra on her way, Alicent hurries to prepare for their departure. However, this does not go unnoticed by a member of the Small Council, Lord Jasper Wylde, Master of Law. He accuses her of plotting against the crown, before attacking and attempting to rape her. However, he is thwarted by the arrival of Maester Orwyle, who arrives with a contingent of soldiers and arrests Lord Wylde, throwing him in the dungeon. Alicent thanks the Maester, but in private, he shares his concerns over her actions.

Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive at the capital, with Ulf and Hugh providing support close by. True to their word, the city watch allow the dragons to land unharried. Landing and seeing the Red Keep’s doors are open, the pair enter. Some guardsmen loyal to the King attack, but Daemon makes short work of them. They reach the throne room, but a retinue of White Cloaks, led by Ser Soren, stand in her way.

Suddenly, a great many feet are heard rushing in behind them. Ser Largent arrives with a small army of Gold Cloaks, blocking Daemon and Rhaenyra’s exit. Ser Soren believes the day is won, but it becomes clear that Ser Largent owes Daemon a debt – he is the one who first gave him his cloak. With the City Watch on the side of The House of Black, the Kings Guard contingent are hopelessly outnumbered, and surrender.

The Black Queen

Meanwhile, as the dragons' arrival causes chaos amongst the smallfolk, Alicent and Heleana attempt to flee. However, they are too conspicuous and are recognised before they can find a route of escape.

Before she takes the throne, Rhaenyra demands for the usurper, Aegon, to be brought to her. She is told that he has fled King’s Landing, but on searching the dungeon, Daemon is informed that Larys Strong has left a gift for them in one of the darkest corners.

He returns to the throne room with two captives – Lord Jasper, and former Hand of the King Otto Hightower. Daemon encourages Rhaenyra to execute Hightower, telling her that Queen’s do not waver. Hightower, unrepentant, asks that Daemon be his executioner, as he does not wish to be “hacked at”. At Daemon’s encouragement and with Hightower readily offering the nape of his neck, an emotional Rhaenyra executes him, albeit with the first strike landing off target and painfully striking his upper back. Daemon quickly executes Lord Wylde before he can make a final request.

Leaving bloody footsteps in her wake, Rhaenyra finally takes the Iron Throne. As she does, guards enter the throne room with two captives, Heleana and Alicent. As the episode closes, Alicent looks upon her father’s corpse and the trail of blood leading to the the Iron Throne.

Who Dies in Season 3 Episode 2?*

As with the previous episode, a decent number of unnamed soldiers are killed in battle, but of the named characters here are the confirmed deaths:

Ser Simon Strong was killed by Aemond as he took Harrenhal. Offering no resistance, Strong was killed in cold blood along with his two sons / grandsons (sources differ on their exact place in the family tree).

Lord Jasper Wylde was a member of Aegon II’s small council and Master of Laws. Arrested while attempting to rape Alicent, he is found in the dungeon by Daemon Targaryen and executed as a traitor when she took the throne.

Lord Otto Hightower was the most significant death this episode. At one time Hand of the King to both Viserys I and Aegon II, Lord Otto was instrumental in the marriage of Viserys and his daughter Alicent, and the House of Green’s insurrection that began the war known as the Dance of Dragons. After falling out of favour with Aegon, he was stripped of his title as Hand of the King and pledged to support his daughter by recruiting House Tyrell to their cause and mentoring her youngest son, Daeron. However, at some point Lord Otto was captured under the orders of Lord Larys Strong and left in the Black Cells as a gift for when the throne was taken by the Rhaenyra. He is then executed when she took the throne.

Aemond Targaryen is left gravely wounded by one of Ser Simon Stong’s progeny during his conquest of Harrenhal but is not confirmed to have died. It is also confirmed Lord Corlys survived the Battle of the Gullet, while Ser Tyland Lannister's status remain unknown.

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