House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Some Dragons Don’t Fly Anymore

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 1, “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” throws viewers right where it left us the previous season. So much so that we see Rhaena Targaryen claiming Sheepstealer after we had seen their first encounter on House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 8, “The Queen Who Ever Was.”

However, as the episode progresses and we see Rhaena and Sheepstealer’s relationship, we realize she hasn’t fully claimed the dragon yet. While Sheepstealer allows her to ride him, he doesn’t listen to her commands as she wishes. 

This reckless, not-thought-through behavior that runs wild in the Targaryen is what eventually leads Rhaena into a battle that nearly has her killing her sister and inevitably leads to Jace’s death.

Granted, Rhaena cannot be fully blamed for what happens to Jace. After all, it’s the same behavior that pushed her, what pushes him to lock Rhaenyra in her room and face battle in her name.

If you’ve never seen Game of Thrones and have no idea what’s to come, the episode does an incredible job of planting the clues that eventually lead us to Jace’s death in the ocean.

From the very beginning, Rhaenyra is forced to choose between believing Alicent or listening to Jace’s feelings. To no one’s surprise, she chooses to believe Alicent. It seems the Dragon Queen is set on mistrusting her son’s judgment, which might be what forces him to constantly try to prove himself to her.

In the same way Rhaenyra has always done what she pleases, Jace does so by defying her and heading to battle. Even though he claims they will bring victory to his mother, we are not sure he will make it back safely.

Even though Moondancer saves Jace and Vermax the first time they are attacked, there is no saving them when the arrows begin to hit them. Jace is so stubborn that by trying to protect his mother and prove himself, he loses his dragon and his life…something Rhaenyra won’t let slide.

Jace isn’t the only one proving things on this episode. For the first time in three seasons, we see Sea Snake actually taking charge and showing us why he’s gotten that name (and so many enemies with it).

When he decides to take his crew down a near-death path (which eventually does lead to death), he takes control of the ship and sails it himself, proving exactly why he’s made it so far and why he’s the one to fear when it comes to the ocean. However, sadly, it seems his enemies might have still won, as we see him disappear into the ocean.

While not many may mourn him like we mourned Rhaenys, his son Alyn seems to finally see his father as worthy of that title, and screams for him when his enemy attacks. Even though they recently argued because Corlys claims he’s done everything to give them a life and Alyn mentions he never gave them a name, Alyn risks his life to avenge his father.

One way or another, it seems House of the Dragon is always reminding viewers of the complex bonds that tie these characters. Because if there’s one thing this show has proven, it is that blood means nothing when it can be shed so easily.

As many claim they have come to die for the dragon queen, the battle is only just beginning. Truth be told, House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 1, “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” does an incredible job at reminding us that the show is always great at curating battle scenes.

However, with the death of Vermax, we understand that the dragon’s involvement has only just begun. This season will absolutely take us for a ride (no pun intended).

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House of the Dragon airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO MAX.

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