‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Finale Death Watch: Who’s Most Likely Not Making It Out of Tumbleton

The Dance of the Dragons is barreling toward its bloodiest chapter yet, and fans are bracing themselves as ‘House of the Dragon‘ Season 3 heads into its finale. With the long-awaited battle in Tumbleton finally arriving, the body count is expected to rise sharply, and viewers have spent the week combing through clues, trailers, and book comparisons to guess who won’t survive.

House of the Dragon season 3 has been full of some major deaths so far, and fans are expecting a few major deaths in the finale, with a major battle in Tumbleton looking imminent. That confrontation has been building for weeks, ever since Alicent’s scheming stalled Ormund Hightower’s march and pushed the story toward this final, explosive showdown.

Ser Roderick Dustin Looks Like a Goner

Few characters have made their fate feel more inevitable than Ser Roderick Dustin, played by Tommy Flanagan. Many fans consider him the one character most likely to be killed off, with speculation building around him all season long.

Part of what makes Roderick’s potential death sting so much is how openly he’s talked about it. Roderick has developed a habit of declaring his enthusiasm over dying for the dragon queen throughout the season, and that framing has fans convinced the finale is setting him up for exactly that fate.

The show’s own marketing may be tipping its hand as well. HBO’s preview for the episode reportedly features Daemon asking Roderick if he is ready to perish, with Roderick giving a resounding yes in return. That exchange has done little to calm nerves among viewers hoping he makes it out alive.

Some critics have noted that losing Roderick would carry real emotional weight without derailing the larger story. His death would be sad enough to give the battle real stakes, while not being so massive a loss that it would permanently alter the show’s trajectory going forward.

Ormund and Gwayne Hightower Are Both in the Crosshairs

On the Hightower side of the war, Lord Ormund Hightower has spent the season as one of Rhaenyra’s most direct threats, and that role may catch up with him fast. Ormund is widely expected to meet his demise in the finale given his consistently antagonistic role toward Rhaenyra Targaryen throughout the season.

His fate is also tied closely to the source material. In George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire and Blood’, it’s Roddy the Ruin who ultimately kills Ormund, and fans are hoping the show honors that beat rather than rewriting his ending.

Gwayne Hightower’s situation is more emotionally complicated, since he’s already outlasted his book counterpart. Gwayne has already outlived his character from ‘Fire and Blood’, who dies when King’s Landing falls to Rhaenyra, making his continued survival on the show feel like it’s living on borrowed time.

Several critics have pointed out just how narratively convenient it would be for the show to finally take him out now. Gwayne is likely to be positioned at the center of the finale’s action, which would give the writers an ideal opportunity to write him off in a way that feels both hard hitting and somewhat poetic. Still, not everyone agrees his death is a sure thing, since some predictions have floated the idea that Gwayne survives Tumbleton entirely and instead rises to command the Hightower host going forward.

Helaena’s Storyline Is Pointing Toward Tragedy

No potential death has generated more anxiety among fans than Helaena Targaryen’s arc. Predictions suggest Helaena will go into labor during the finale, only for the child not to survive, a devastating turn that could push her toward taking her own life.

That grim possibility is rooted directly in the books. In ‘Fire and Blood’, Helaena is said to jump from a window, and many believe that same fate could once again turn Alicent against Rhaenyra heading into Season 4.

The show has reportedly been laying groundwork for this outcome for a while now. Helaena has repeatedly said she has no interest in riding her own dragon into battle, and a recent moment shared with her mother has struck many viewers as feeling like a quiet goodbye.

Even critics who see the writing on the wall admit it will be a hard watch. Some have said they expected Helaena’s death well before now, and while they’re not entirely convinced the show sticks to her book ending, her death remains one that would hurt more than almost any other.

Addam and the Battle’s Wildcard Casualties

Beyond the characters with obvious book precedent, Addam of Hull has emerged as a genuine wildcard heading into the finale. Trailer footage suggests Addam will ride alongside Daemon into the final battle, likely stepping in to stop Ulf’s betrayal and help Hugh deal with him once his treachery comes to light.

His arc has made him one of the more sympathetic figures left standing, which only raises the stakes further. Addam has been portrayed as unusually kind and loyal, and some believe he could ultimately sacrifice himself to save either Hugh or Daemon during the fighting.

There’s also the looming threat hanging over Larys Strong, whose scheming has never come without consequence. One theory suggests Aegon could view Larys walking away as a betrayal and respond by ordering Sunfyre to finish him off.

With Tumbleton set to erupt into the season’s biggest confrontation, almost no one on either side of the war feels safe. Which of these characters do you think won’t survive the ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 finale, and whose death would hit you the hardest?