Before You Listen…
We made it, that’s it, House of the Dragon Season 3 is over. While frustrating at some points, it was overall a great season, one I think now on hindsight was really about character portraits, more than anything else.
Despite having an intense action packed beginning, the rest of the season played out the narratives in a way where we explored the dynamics of relationships - parenthood, loyalty, romantic love I feel were the dominant ones.
Aside the political games, cliff hangers, and reveals, all of which kept us in suspense and watching, it was the grater theme of power, and in particular what one has to do to get power and how power can corrupt.
I cam across a review of the episode of the season by a legacy publication (I honestly can’t remember which one now) that said something along the lines of “House of the Dragon lacks the charm of Game of Thrones”
OK. What a weird thing to write.
The reason I love this show, is because from the very beginning, I made a conscious decision that I won’t be comparing House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones. Not only is it unfair to a new show to compare to another story from it’s own world, but also what’s the point?
We have to look at this series, as it’s very own thing, a story that informs Game of Thrones, yes, but by no means is it supposed to mimic or be a replica of anything else but be true to the story it is telling.
And on that score, House of the Dragon is a brilliant story about power and how it relentlessly corrupts people and if not checked can destroy the world.
What I Can’t Stop Thinking About: Helaena
Helaena was the only good, truly good person on the show.
Innocent, a little naive at first, but she was pure, uninterested in power even when she was in close proximity to it time and time again. As a dragon rider, she relinquished her dragon, as Queen she wasn’t ever interested in her duties, even as a Targaryen she understood that her family and blood line were… complex, she chose nature, she chose motherhood, she cherished freedom.
The saddest part of Helaena’s end is that it was the product of everyone letting her down. Her brother husband and her mother - particularly her mother, who despite trying at the very end to bond with Helaena, was not there when it mattered, didn’t prepare or teach Helaena about the world she was in enough. And I think Alicent will be the one who suffers the most after and because of Helaena’s death.
In fact, Helaena’s death signifies a lot for season 4, more than most people are probably aware of.
What it all means for Season 4 of House of the Dragon
Now that the only purely idea of good has left the story, I think Season 4 will reveal a much darker and sinister side to every character on the show.
It is the final season of the show and conclude the fate of all of the characters who have (except for Dareon at this point) have done some horrendous things in their quest for power, desire and freedom.
Rhaenyra is a target. Everyone from Baela and her grandfather Corlys, to Hugh the Hammer, the Targaryen brothers, and now Alicent, will want her either out of the way or will want her head. Even Alyn and Addam will turn against her as they turn against each other in their weird incestuous love triangle.
Daemon I predict will remain loyal to her and I think eventually that, along with his maddening arrogance will be his downfall.
I think Rhaenyra is (was?) a good person, but her paranoia, her constant hunger to feel worthy, the pressure of the throne has turned her thoughts dark and now at this point there’s no turning back.
Question of the Week…
I’m keeping this weeks questions (the last one for this series of The Voice Note) vague.
Is it too late for Rhaenyra?
