House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 3 Review: Second of His Name
Viserys reaffirms Rhaenyra’s status as heir to the throne on House of the Dragon Season 1 Episode 3, “Second of His Name.”
The first two episodes of House of the Dragon revolve around setting the plot and introducing these wonderful characters. Thanks to that, the third episode is given free rein and the ability to focus solely on the crucial plot points.
“Second of His Name” features another time jump, which seems to be the pattern we will follow all season. This time, though, we’re transported three years into the future, where Aegon is alive and well at the ripe age of two. Plus, Alicent is pregnant with her second child.
Life is well for Viserys as he enjoys spending his days with the son he’s always wanted. However, that happiness soon fades as the kingdom pesters him on naming Aegon the official heir.
Where Viserys has me taken aback is the veracity in which he stands his ground on his decision for Rhaenyra. The entire kingdom sees Rhaenyra as a temporary heir, and now that Aegon is of age, it’s time to make a change. It’s something I wholeheartedly anticipated Viserys doing, but instead, he stands by her without shame.
He doesn’t sugarcoat it or try to pretend as if he’s contemplating naming Aegon as heir. Instead, he forcefully stands behind his decision and shuts any conversation on the topic down. It’s an admirable stance for him to take.
Viserys may have his issues, but his doubling down on Rhaenyra allows a different perception of him to arise.
Not only is Viserys snapping back at council members, but so is Alicent. It’s hard to gauge if she’s genuine, but it feels like she is when she says that Rhaenyra would make an excellent queen.
Throughout the hour, Alicent spends most of her time convincing others of Rhaenyra’s worthiness. She’s far along in her second pregnancy, and it’s clear that all she wants is for everyone to get along.
Titles do not carry the same weight when you never wanted to be involved in politics. Alicent only entered the race for the throne because of her father, not because she wanted to.
House of the Dragon makes it easy for viewers to fall for Alicent and her pure-hearted ways. Especially after this episode.
It’s safe to say that Rhaenyra probably believes Alicent was malicious and devious in her actions. One moment they’re best friends sharing everything, and all of a sudden, her best friend is her new stepmother.
The audience knows that is not true, but for Rhaenyra, it’s the ultimate betrayal. Hopefully, in the future, we can see the two rectify their friendship and become close again.
I’m keeping all my fingers crossed that their fight in the trailer for the season is a fake-out. I need Rhaenyra to get over her spitefulness towards Alicent and work together to end the patriarchy.
“Second of His Name” outshines the previous episodes in many different aspects, such as the familial dynamics at play. However, its fight sequences and power dynamics at play are what take the cake. Daemon’s struggle in the Stepstones gives us the first real taste of the battles we’ve been looking forward to.
It’s not another Battle of Blackwater, but it gives us a great first insight into what to expect for future battles and what it’ll be like with more than one dragon intermixed.
Daemon’s eagerness to persevere without Viserys’ help is enthralling because we can see the fire in his eyes ignite. The moment Viserys’ men give Daemon the letter, and he realizes what’s happening, he enters a fight or flight mode.
Daemon would rather perish at the hands of the enemy before allowing his brother to swoop in and save the day. So, with his adrenaline making all the calls, he takes his chance, and it works. His fake surrender is so convincing that even I am at a loss for words at first.
Nevertheless, at the right moment, he makes his move and secures the Stepstone land, all thanks to a bit of deception and strategically timed reinforcements. It’s an epic, unforgettable first battle in the series.
It’s a magnificent look into the power dynamics at play three years later and what the season ahead will look like. With Daemon’s success in the Stepstones, he will undoubtedly garner a more considerable following. Which will, in turn, cause later drama as Daemon attempts to overthrow his brother.
House of the Dragon is excelling at producing a captivating story that continues to keep the viewers on their toes and wanting more.
Stray Thoughts:
- Caraxes is, without a doubt, one of the episode’s highlights. I’ve been waiting to see the dragons in battle, and they did not disappoint!
- Emily Carey and Milly Alcock are crushing it in these roles. It’ll be a sad day when we hit the final time jump into adulthood and no longer get to see their character portrayals.
What did you think of this episode of House of the Dragon? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Cade Taylor
Cade Taylor is a television and film critic living in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV. His love for television developed at a young age, with a concentration on queer stories, sitcoms, teen dramas, and science fiction thrillers. In addition, he works full-time as a news producer, telling the stories of Missourians and helming "Produced in the Bi-State," a segment spotlighting actors, musicians, and entertainers from the St. Louis area. He can be reached by email at cade@telltaletv.com.