Harry Collett Reveals the One Final ‘House of the Dragon’ Moment He Needed Before Saying Goodbye

Harry Collett knew from the beginning that his journey as Prince Jacaerys Velaryon in House of the Dragon would end in tragedy. Still, the actor wanted to make sure his final moments as Jace gave fans something memorable, including one special moment he had been waiting for since joining the HBO series.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Collett revealed that he had one thing left on his House of the Dragon bucket list before leaving the show: saying the famous dragon command, “Dracarys.”

“There’s no way I can leave this show without saying ‘Dracarys!’” Collett said. “There was no way. Not on my watch.”

The moment finally happened in Season 3’s opening episode during the massive Battle of the Gullet. While Jace had previously flown on his dragon Vermax in Season 1, Collett explained that this was a completely different experience. His earlier dragon scene was calm, but the new battle sequence pushed the character and the actor much further.

The Battle of the Gullet became one of the biggest moments of the season, bringing together dragons, ships, and the growing violence of the Targaryen civil war. For Jace, the battle was also a chance to prove himself. After spending much of his life being protected by his mother, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

Collett explained that Jace’s choice came from wanting to finally step up. “She has been fighting so hard to keep me at home and keep me safe because she knows that I’m the heir,” he said. “Now, he’s playing the ‘I don’t want to listen to mum. I’m gonna be my own man now.’”

However, Jace’s decision leads him into one of the most heartbreaking moments in the series. During the battle, his dragon Vermax is pulled into the sea after being attacked, and Jace is killed in the chaos.

The actor admitted he hoped the scene would have a strong emotional effect on viewers. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Collett said, “I hope that people feel sad by it because it is sad, and the way they’ve done it is remarkable. Hopefully, I’ve imprinted enough Jace onto people’s hearts that by the time I actually pass on the show, it makes an impact.”

Filming Jace’s death was also one of the hardest challenges Collett faced. The actor had to shoot scenes underwater, including moments where Jace appears lifeless after the battle. He described the experience as physically exhausting, especially while trying to stay still while dealing with waves and holding his breath.

“I was really struggling with trying to float above the water as a lifeless body and not breathing in any water,” Collett recalled.

His final day on set was emotional for another reason. After joining House of the Dragon at only 17 years old, Collett was saying goodbye to a show that had been part of his life for years. He explained that the cast and crew became like a second family.

“I feel like they were my family in a way, my second home,” he said. “For that to just end is so weird.”

To remember his time on the series, Collett received special gifts from showrunner Ryan Condal, including a 3D model of Vermax’s head and Jace’s sword.

Although Jace is gone, Collett believes his character’s actions will continue to affect the war ahead. His final choice may have changed the future of the Targaryen conflict forever, making his short life one of the most important parts of the story.

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