Missed in Season 2, Epic Event Will Ignite ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 According To Olivia Cooke

The next season of House of the Dragon is getting closer, and fans are eager to return to Westeros. Information about Season 3 has been limited, but Olivia Cooke, who plays Alicent Hightower, has now shared a big hint about what’s coming.

While promoting her new movie The Girlfriend, Cooke spoke with Collider’s Therese Lacson and revealed that the opening episodes of the new season will not hold back.

“Well, I think I can say for the show that it is, you know, it starts off with a bang. The first two eps were essentially supposed to be our finale last year. So you can just imagine coming into that sort of energy. It’s bigger and more ferocious than ever before, I think is what I can say,” Cooke said.

Her comments fit with what showrunner Ryan Condal has said before. On his podcast, Condal admitted he underestimated how much larger Season 3 would be compared to Season 2. With the Targaryen civil war, known as the Dance of the Dragons, now in full motion, fans have been expecting the scale to grow quickly.

One of the biggest moments of the war is the Battle of the Gullet. This fight is about control of the sea routes that keep King’s Landing supplied with food. Rhaenyra Targaryen and her supporters have been blocking ships with the help of the Velaryon fleet, but her enemies are preparing to strike back.

Many fans thought the battle would appear in Season 2, but it was delayed. Francesca Orsi, HBO’s Head of Drama, explained the reason for holding it back.

“I’m so glad we waited because it’s going to be better than ever. It’s just so massive, we needed the time to build it.” She also said producer Kevin de la Noy, who worked on Titanic, is involved in making sure the sequence looks as real and dramatic as possible.

The story of the battle begins when Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen decides to ally with the Triarchy, a naval power. Against the advice of his council, he orders Lord Tyland Lannister to make the deal. “I have a task for you as well, Ser Tyland. We will make an alliance with the Triarchy. I’ve had enough of this cursed blockade,” Aemond declares.

The Triarchy agrees and sends its fleet, led by commander Sharako Lohar, to join the Greens. The Season 2 finale already teased this alliance, setting up the clash at sea.

The fight will be costly for both sides. The Greens and the Triarchy manage to break through Rhaenyra’s blockade, but they lose many ships in the process. The Velaryons, who have been keeping control of the waters, face their toughest test yet.

The battle also involves dragons, which makes it even more destructive. Vermax, Seasmoke, Vermithor, and Silverwing all take part in the attack, with the possibility of Sheepstealer being flown for the first time by Rhaena.

Prince Jacaerys leads the fight on Vermax but does not survive. His younger brother Viserys is captured, though Rhaenyra’s side believes he is dead. Prince Aegon narrowly escapes an ambush on his dragon Stormcloud and brings word of the attack back to Dragonstone.

Season 3 will finally show this long-awaited fight. With so many dragons in the sky and massive fleets clashing at sea, the battle is set to change the course of the war and raise the stakes for every character.

Olivia Cooke’s words about the opening episodes being “bigger and more ferocious than ever before” suggest that the new season won’t waste time. The show is expected to throw viewers right into the heart of fire, blood, and betrayal from the very start.

What do you think about Olivia Cooke’s tease? Are you excited to finally see the Battle of the Gullet on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.