Jun 29, 2026 9:23am IST
‘House of The Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 2 Review: Give Emma D’Arcy An Emmy Already!
This review contains spoilers for "House of the Dragon" Season 3 Episode 2, “ Queen’s Landing”.
The Queen is coming to King’s Landing. And a possible Emmy nomination is coming for Emma D’Arcy, who plays Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen on HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel series, “House of the Dragon”. And while the actor has been consistently putting up a strong performance, “House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2, titled “Queen’s Landing,” allows her to deliver a career best, playing a mother who has lost her firstborn son and a queen who walks through spilled blood to claim the Iron Throne.
The episode follows the aftermath of the Battle of the Gullet, in which the Triarchy, fighting for the Greens, nearly decimated the Blacks’ naval blockade by Lord Corlys Velaryon’s fleet. But the true loss was that of the crown prince, Jacaerys Velaryon, who flew in on his dragon, Vermax, alongside Baela Targaryen on Moondancer, to aid their grandfather, and perished. The visual of his death is already both: another painful scene woven into the House Targaryen tapestry in the series' opening credits and a pop culture meme about actor Harry Collett serving face even at the end.
That face card, though, is seen once again, pale in death, in a scene that might just cement an Emmy nod for Emma D’Arcy. The goosebumps are undeniable when Baela brings home the body of her betrothed, and a shocked Rhaenyra seeks answers from her dead son, who disobeyed her and went to war before hugging his lifeless body. For those keeping count, this is the second son Rhaneyra has lost to this blood feud with the Greens. Though if we’re hung on technicalities, the show makes Jace’s death the fault of a wildcard dragon entry. Even as Rhaena Targaryen seeks asylum in The Vale (a Lady Jeyne Arryn sighting) and is broken with guilt, the identity of Sheepstealer’s rider is a mystery for all parties at present, and another betrayal awaits the Blacks.
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Considering Season 3 Episode 2 was ideally supposed to be Season 2 Episode 10, it’s a complete package on every single front—the emotions, the battle strategy, the shock value and death. As the episode title indicates, this is the one where Rhaenyra finally claims the Iron Throne, prodded on by her husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen, who receives news of the crown prince’s death in the Riverlands and rushes to be by his queen’s side.
Matt Smith, just like Daemon, is standing on business here with his trademark smirks and swagger. The episode finds time in its 64-minute episode to not only give us Daemon sassing the Dragonseeds, getting jealous of Mysaria’s proximity to Rhaenyra and having a rather illuminating chat with Alys Rivers, but also some of that old Rogue Prince energy. He celebrates with a song, slices through anyone insulting his queen, and talks Rhaenyra into taking action in High Valyrian, their love language. The scene of the two of them taking King’s Landing together is iconic for the show and Daemyra shippers.
The episode grips you tightly as it leads you through each of its multiple storylines: From Alicent’s manoeuvres at King’s Landing to get it ready for Rhaenyra’s arrival, to Aegon and Larys’ road trip adventures and Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen’s takeover of Harrenhal (as a relieved Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower watch Vhagar fly overhead) and fated meeting with Alys Rivers. There are plenty of moments for fans who’ve read George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” to get smug over, such as a little Velaryon family meeting between Lord Corlys and his heirs.
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However, there’s no denying that the Rhaenyra and Daemon scenes steal everyone’s thunder. Everything in this scene is perfectly seasoned. Like when Daemon strikes down soldiers who “dare to attack us in our house”. Or the full circle moment of Rhaenyra walking towards the Iron Throne on a trail of bloody footsteps, circling back to Season 1 Episode 6, “The Princess and The Queen”, when Rhaenyra walked to Queen Alicent’s chamber immediately after delivering her third son, Joffrey Velaryon, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.
The throne room scene also offers up just one more surprise in the form of a long-missing character returning to the scene of his crime. And while it is a brilliantly timed return, it also presents this writer’s only gripe with the episode. After all the history and now the grand reveal, Ser Otto Hightower deserved better final words.
The Episode 3 teaser promises more of Queen Rhaenyra coming into her own as a ruler and a long-overdue introduction to Prince Daeron Targaryen, but keeps the fate of Aemond and the other characters hidden. Even as it takes great liberties from the lore, “House of the Dragon” Season 3 is shaping up to be the return to form that was promised.
"House of the Dragon" Season 3 is currently streaming on JioHotstar, with new episodes every Monday.
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