The unexpected and abrupt finale, left fans with a mix of humour and frustration and they let it show in the hilarious comments that flooded social media. Leading up to a highly anticipated battle for the Iron Throne, the season finale ended just before the highly talked about wars could actually begin, prompting some viewers to quip that the entire season felt like a “trailer for season 3.”
Throughout the season, the build-up suggested an epic clash with massive armies including the Starks, Lanisters and Hightowers marching on with their banners, while fire-breathing dragons and their riders prepped for battle.However, the season ended right when fans expected the action to begin. One fan remarked, “They really made us watch a mud fight instead of giving us a satisfying ending to this season of House of the Dragon.”
HBO’s pre-season marketing had teased an epic civil war clash between the Green and Black factions of House Targaryen. The marketing campaign included rival Targaryen banners at historic locations, further fueling fans’ expectations for a grand showdown. Instead, the finale prompted reactions such as, “Did I just watch a 70-minute trailer for Season 3?”
Another said, “That season of House of the Dragon could’ve been an email.”
Still another quipped, “This amazing build-up and now we have to wait two years for Season 3.”
This season, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) mostly remained an ocean apart, while fan-favorite Daemon (Matt Smith) spent most of the season at Harrenhal until he experienced a prophetic vision that included glimpses of Daenerys Targaryen, the three-eyed raven, the White Walkers, and several slain dragons. Reacting to the epic scene, one fan humorously commented, “Daemon got the 60-second trailer for all of Game of Thrones.”
Despite the lack of a climactic battle, fans appreciated certain elements of the finale, especially the tense face-off between Rhaenyra and Alicent. The reunion of the former best friends, striving for peace amid the looming war, led some fans to believe that the true story of the series is the “tragic love story” between the two characters. One fan summarized this sentiment by saying, “The beginning of HOTD S1: Rhaenyra tells Alicent she wants to fly away with her. The ending of HOTD S2: Alicent tells Rhaenyra to run away with her. House of the Dragon is a tragic love story confirmed.”
“The dynamic between Rhaenyra and Alicent is absolutely the love story at the center of House of the Dragon,” another fan quoted series director Geeta Patel.
The reduced episode count this season, from 10 in the first season to eight in the second, has also drawn criticism. Deadline previously reported that a major battle was moved from season two to season three. Showrunner Ryan Condal explained that the shorter season was intended to provide “a good opening and a good ending.” HBO has maintained that the episode reduction was “story-driven” and not a result of cost-cutting measures.
Whether the epic battles will finally unfold in season three remains to be seen, but for now, viewers will have a long wait for Season 3 which is expected to begin filming in 2025. If season 3 has a similar production schedule as the last season, it should premiere sometime in the summer of 2026. This is understandable considering that season 3 will adapt another big battle, the Battle of the Gullet, a massive sequence involving ships, dragons, and land armies.
Making the wait a little bearable was the announcement of Game of Thrones prequel series, the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which will premiere sometime in 2025.
