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House of the Dragon season 3 news

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The gist

House of the Dragon season 3 ended Aug 16, 2026, with Rhaenyra taking King's Landing and Aegon returning. The finale sets up a climactic fourth season, with Aegon and Aemond.

Background

House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones, adapts George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood. Season 3 covers major events of the Targaryen civil war, including the Battle of the Gullet and the Battle of Tumbleton. The season has been praised for its battles and performances, but Martin has distanced himself due to creative differences with showrunner Ryan Condal.

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 12, 2026HBO announces the physical media release for season 3 on December 1, 2026.
  2. Aug 14, 2026Finale airs, featuring Aegon's return with Sunfyre and his reunion with Aemond at Harrenhal.
  3. Aug 15, 2026Reviews and episode rankings highlight the season's battles and character deaths.
  4. Aug 16, 2026Season 3 officially ends after eight episodes.

Who’s saying what

Critics
Critics praise the season's epic battles and emotional depth, calling it a freight train of devastation.
Fans
Fans are divided on deviations from the book, with some welcoming changes and others preferring the source material.
Author
George R.R. Martin has distanced himself from the show, citing a poor relationship with showrunner Ryan Condal.

Still unverified

Theories about season 4 plot points, such as Daemon's fate and the assault on the Dragonpit, are speculative and not confirmed.

Sources

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