House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2 Recap: Rhaenyra Claims the Iron Throne

Grief and Anger at Dragonstone

The episode starts with Baela bringing Jace’s body back to Dragonstone. Rhaenyra is completely heartbroken over the death of her son. She also feels betrayed by her council and everyone else who let her get locked in her room while the battle happened. Later, Daemon returns to Dragonstone after hearing about Jace. He and Rhaenyra talk and realize that someone on the Green side must have claimed the dragon Sheepstealer.

Rhaena Hides in the Vale

Rhaena goes to Lady Jeyne Arryn in the Vale to ask for a place to hide. Rhaena feels incredibly guilty because she brought Sheepstealer to the Battle of the Gullet, which caused Jace's death. Lady Jeyne doesn't want to help because she knows Queen Rhaenyra will be looking for Rhaena.

To convince her, Rhaena offers to give Lady Jeyne the dragon. All she asks is for Lady Jeyne to hide her and act like she isn't there. Lady Jeyne agrees, but tells Rhaena she never wants to see her again and will pretend she knows nothing about Rhaena or the dragon being in the Vale.

Alyn Gets a New Name

Out at sea, Alyn looks for Lord Corlys. When he finds him, Corlys tells Alyn that because High Tide is destroyed, he has nothing left to give him except his family name. Alyn happily accepts it.

Fights at Harrenhal and on the Road

Aemond goes to Harrenhal looking for Daemon and attacks the castle. Daemon isn't there, so Aemond kills the Lord of Harrenhal instead. During the fight, Aemond gets stabbed and begs Alys for help right before collapsing. Meanwhile, Larys and Aegon’s wagon gets attacked on the road, but they manage to escape.

Trouble in the Red Keep

In King's Landing, Lord Jasper finds out about Alicent’s secret plan to let Rhaenyra take the throne. He attacks Alicent in her room, but the Maester walks in just in time and has Jasper arrested. Following the plan, Alicent and Hyacinth tell the gate guards to let Rhaenyra’s dragon into the city when it arrives.

Taking King's Landing

When Rhaenyra and Daemon find out that Vhagar has left the city, they fly to King's Landing. They believe everything is going according to the deal Rhaenyra made with Alicent. They are let into the city, but they still have to fight guards inside the castle who are protecting the throne. The Gold Cloaks (city watch) march in to help Daemon, forcing the King's men to surrender.

Rhaenyra Takes the Throne

Rhaenyra demands that Aegon be brought to her, not knowing he has already left King's Landing. The Maester tells Daemon that Aegon fled. At the same time, Alicent and Hyacinth try to escape with Hyacinth's daughter. Daemon searches the cells and finds Alicent’s father, Otto Hightower, locked up. Rhaenyra knows she needs to publicly execute the traitors. Rhaenyra hesitates to kill Otto, but she ultimately goes through with it. Finally, she sits down on the Iron Throne.

At the very end, guards push Alicent and Hyacinth into the throne room. Alicent sees her father's dead body. She and Rhaenyra look at each other, and it is clear that their secret alliance is now in deep trouble. The future is again uncertain with Aegon’s whereabouts unknown and Alicent’s father now dead at the hands of Rhaenyra.

House of the Dragons is currently streaming on HBO Max.

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