House Of The Dragon Season 3 has ended but the Dance of the Dragons is nowhere near over. The third season brought the Targaryen civil war to an even more violent stage which has left Rhaenyra Targaryen, Aegon II, Aemond and Daemon with some of their biggest battles still ahead.
Season 4 will be the final season of the HBO series and is expected to have eight episodes. The makers have already indicated that the story was planned as a four season adaptation of the Targaryen civil war, with the final chapter expected to cover some of the most important events from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood.
While the show has made several changes to the source material, the book gives us plenty of clues about what could happen next.
What Happened In The House Of The Dragon Season 3 Finale?
The Season 3 finale brought the Battle of Tumbleton to the forefront as the war between the Blacks and Greens continued to spiral out of control. The battle resulted in heavy losses and showed how difficult it had become for either side to control the dragonriders fighting in the war.
Ulf the White turned against the Blacksduring the fighting, while the battle also resulted in the death of Ormund Hightower. The events at Tumbleton made it clear that the Targaryens were losing control over a war.
Rhaenyra’s position was also becoming increasingly difficult. Although she had taken King’s Landing, holding the capital was proving to be another challenge. Her actions had made her more ruthless, while anger among the people was growing.
The finale also delivered one of the biggest deaths of the season when Helaena Targaryen died.
Meanwhile, Aegon remained alive and was slowly getting back into the fight. Aemond was still determined to continue his campaign, while Daemon’s journey had brought him closer to the final stages of the war.
With the major players now moving towards their final confrontations, Season 4 could move much faster than the previous chapters.
Could Mysaria Become The Shepherd?
One of the biggest possibilities for Season 4 involves Mysaria.
Her relationship with Rhaenyra has already changed dramatically and by the end of Season 3, Rhaenyra dismisses her. That could be important because the source material introduces a mysterious religious figure known as The Shepherd, who plays a major role in turning the people of King’s Landing against the Targaryens.
The series has already changed Mysaria’s story in several way which means there is room for the show to connect her to The Shepherd’s storyline.
If that happens, Mysaria’s knowledge of King’s Landing could make her a powerful figure in the growing unrest.
Will The Dragonpit Be Destroyed?
The growing anger in King’s Landing could eventually explode into one of the biggest events of the final season.
The people have already suffered because of the war while the Targaryens continue to keep dragons inside the Dragonpit. As anti-Targaryen sentiment grows, the Dragonpit could become a target.
In Fire & Blood, the people of King’s Landing eventually storm the Dragonpit that leads to the deaths of several dragons.
The destruction could be particularly devastating because some of the dragons inside are young and vulnerable.
The event could also have terrible consequences for Rhaenyra’s family. Her son Joffrey, who tries to get involved in the situation, could meet his end during the chaos.
Daemon vs Aemond Could Be The Season’s Biggest Dragon Battle
One of the most anticipated moments of the final season is likely to be the Battle Above the God’s Eye.
Daemon and Aemond have been enemies throughout the Targaryen civil war but their hatred could eventually lead to one final confrontation.
Daemon rides Caraxes while Aemond rides Vhagar, the largest and most dangerous dragon in the war.
The two eventually meet above the God’s Eye in an aerial battle that ends with the deaths of both princes.
Daemon manages to kill Aemond but he also dies after falling from the sky. The battle is one of the most famous moments in Fire & Blood, and it could potentially arrive very early in Season 4.
Aegon Could Take Dragonstone From Rhaenyra
Aegon is also expected to become much more important in the final chapter. Despite everything he has suffered, he still has Sunfyre which gives him the chance to return to the fight for the Iron Throne. One of the major developments expected from the source material is Aegon’s move against Dragonstone. Rhaenyra’s stronghold could fall into Aegon’s hands.
But Baela is expected to fight back.
Riding Moondancer, she confronts Aegon and Sunfyre. Both dragons are badly affected while Baela is eventually captured and becomes Aegon’s prisoner.
The fall of Dragonstone could leave Rhaenyra with very few options as the war moves towards its final stage.
The Second Battle Of Tumbleton Could Bring Another Wave Of Deaths
The story of Tumbleton is not finished yet.
The Second Battle of Tumbleton could become another major event in Season 4 with Addam of Hull leading the Rivermen against the Greens.
The battle comes with a huge cost. Addam and Seasmoke are killed while Vermithor also dies. Prince Daeron and Hugh Hammer are among the other major characters whose stories end during this part of the war.
Rhaenyra’s Rule Could Finally Collapse
Even though Rhaenyra has managed to take the Iron Throne, her position is becoming increasingly weak.
The biggest danger may no longer be just Aegon or Aemond. The people of King’s Landing are also turning against the Targaryens and the growing unrest could make it impossible for Rhaenyra to remain in control.
Her relationship with Mysaria has already broken down. Her supporters are divided. The dragonriders she depends on have proven difficult to control. And the war has left King’s Landing exhausted.
All of this could push Rhaenyra towards the decision to leave the capital and return to Dragonstone.
But that move could lead directly to the final tragedy of her story.
Will Rhaenyra Die In Season 4?
If the series follows the ending laid out in Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra’s story will end in one of the most brutal moments of the Targaryen civil war.
As King’s Landing falls into chaos, Rhaenyra eventually escapes to Dragonstone with her youngest son, Aegon. What she does not know is that her half-brother Aegon has already taken control of the island.
Rhaenyra is captured and brought before him.
She is then fed to Sunfyre while her young son is forced to watch.
The moment could become the biggest shock of Season 4 particularly because Rhaenyra has been at the centre of the series since its beginning.
Though it should be noted House Of The Dragon has already changed several parts of Fire & Blood during its television adaptation. So while Rhaenyra’s fate is known to readers of the book, the exact way the series reaches that point could still be different.
House of the Dragon Season 4 is slated to release in 2028.
Meanwhile, all seasons from 1 to 3 of House of the Dragon are currently streaming on JioHotstar in India.
