Is House of the Dragon season 3 running out of steam or setting up stunning ending?

James Cox

After episode six, the jury is out on whether House of the Dragon season three is running out of steam or setting up for a stunning finish.

Warning: there are spoilers in this piece if you are not up to date with House of the Dragon. 

House of the Dragon season three had an explosive start, and was everything Game of Thrones fans wanted.

However, it has slowed down significantly since then. That could still be building us up for a brilliant finish, as often happened in seasons of Game of Thrones.

Episode six started with an underwhelming death.

“I have been a servant all my life,” Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) told Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) last week. “I have defined myself by oaths, through unyielding devotion, and the highborn have made much of me while it pleased them to do so. But I will not let them dimmish me now… I am the realm’s greatest warrior, and I will die as such.”

However, after a ploy about fake dead men leads to a small skirmish, Ser Criston's end comes via three arrows after he attempted to save the lives of his men.

Ser Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes) made good on his promise after telling Ser Criston: "I made a promise to the dead, Cole. I told them I would build a sept for them out of traitors' bones, and I don't have near enough bones yet.”

There could be more to come from Tully's relationship with Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan).

Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Daemon (Matt Smith) continue to struggle to govern King's Landing and this is much of the story in the latest episode.

Daemon's Gold Cloaks all resign as their lack of pay eventually becomes too much. He disguises himself as the last remaining Gold Cloak to weed out one of the assassins, who tells him there are more to come in the name of 'King Daeron'.

Meanwhile, something is brewing at Harrenhal between Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). Her plot comes in to focus as she presents Aemond with secret dragon eggs, and suggests an unholy alliance, which he is easily seduced by.

Ormund Hightower (James Norton) cruelly mocks Gwayne after his return from the doomed campaign with Ser Criston.

However, when assassins pretending to be Baratheons come very close to ending him and Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth), he is less cocky.

It is clear Daeron realises Ormund's plot to put him on the Iron Throne is a vanity project, but it appears things are already in motion.

Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) sees her world unravel even further after she pleads for her and Helaena (Phia Saban) to be freed by telling Rhaenyra that Aemond is hiding out in Harrenhal.

However, Rhaenyra instead devises a plot for Alicent to bring him out of hiding so she can put an end to his claim to the throne once and for all.

However, the queen is in for another big problem.

Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) is finally finished with his side quest, and preparing to bring his men back to King's Landing to help police the city in the absence of the Gold Cloaks.

This may be in vain as the episode ends with Corlys being ambushed by Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain), Ormund's closest ally.

You can watch House of the Dragon on NOW (via the Entertainment membership) and Sky Atlantic.