House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8 Review: Rhaenyra The Violent

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8, “The Treasons at Tumbleton,” brings the season to an end the only way it could have. While every episode leading to this finale might have felt a tad repetitive, they were only preparing us for what was to come.

The battle that takes place within the walls of Tumbleton is only the beginning of the darkest period of time in Rhaenyra’s life. Even though her first reaction after hearing the news of Sunfyre’s return is a little bit childish, she soon turns into a violent, dark, and twisted version of herself.

The bond between Daemon and Rhaenyra has always been toxic, complicated, and only understandable to the two of them. But on “The Treasons at Tumbleton,” it is this bond that sparks the violent fire within Rhaenyra.

Daemon reminds her of Old Valyria and why they have done everything they’ve done. It seems that reminder awakens something in Rhaenyra that we had not seen before, leading her to a darker path.

From that moment on, Rhaenyra chooses violence at every turn. She orders Daemon to take Tumbleton, forces her sister to be fed against her will, and instructs Alyn to kill the priest who refuses to make her queen.

That insecure, paranoid woman we watched all season long is gone. In her place, there is a version of Rhaenyra that had been kept in the shadows, but is fully ready to take on during the final season of House of the Dragon.

As she closes the window after watching her sister’s dead body, Rhaenyra locks her feelings away and transforms into someone who no longer has empathy or compassion. Someone who will absolutely make House of the Dragon Season 4 far more interesting.

As Rhaenyra stands on the threshold between the woman we know and the more violent version of herself, both Helaena and Baela confront her with the reality of her character. From their perspective and everything they lay at her feet, Rhaenyra has always been a cruel and careless person.

Both young women force her to come face-to-face with the realization that maybe she’s always been using people to her own purpose. Maybe now she only has an excuse to let her true persona shine through.

Neither Helaena nor Baela believes that Rhaenyra is a good person. Helaena goes as far as to say that their father would hate Rhaenyra for everything she’s done.

This is something that definitely stands out considering Rhaenyra has excused every single one of her actions with her father’s words. She continues to say Viserys claimed her as the true Queen and tells the entire town of the prophecy that led her to this place.

Rhaenyra considers herself the Prince That Was Promised because Viserys said so. But is she truly?

House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 8, “The Treasons at Tumbleton,” is full of death and loss. Hugh Hammer loses his wife, Helaena takes her own life, Ulf the White turns against everyone and kills Lord Ormund, and Daemon seems to have failed at the one battle Rhaenyra trusted him with.

The only ones that may not feel completely lost are Aemond and Aegon. Now that the brothers are reunited and Aegon is full of confidence after his dragon’s resurrection, they might be ready to face Rhaenyra.

But is Aemond willing to leave Alys behind? Is the power put together by these brothers enough to bring down this new version of Rhaenyra?

There are plenty of thoughts, questions, and theories to get us through the hiatus until House of the Dragon Season 4.

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

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