Spoilers: In House of the Dragon season 3, episode 1, Harry Collett’s Jacaerys Velaryon dies in the water after pirates kill his dragon, and Collett says acting dead was among the hardest things he’s ever done.
The first thing fans saw in House of the Dragon‘s season 3 premiere on Sunday, June 21 wasn’t just danger—it was a drowning kind of helplessness.
Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon. played by Harry Collett. met his watery end along with his dragon. Vermax. during an action-packed opening episode that dragged Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) and his ship—the Queen Who Never Was (originally called the Sea Snake)—into the open. Jace and Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) came to their aid after the Gullet was ambushed by a fleet of Triarchy pirates led by Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).
Near the end of the episode, the fight turned into a cruel sequence. With Jace distracted by Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) and wayward dragon Sheepstealer joining the fray. the pirates speared Vermax using a ballista. bringing the beast down into the water. It looked like Jace might make it—he freed himself from his mount and came up for air—until the prince was struck by no less than three arrows and died at sea.
In an interview with Variety on Sunday. Collett reacted to Jace’s final moments. including the ordeal of having to play dead in the water. “It was really hard to act dead — it’s actually one of the hardest acting I’ve ever done in my life. ” he said. “It was really fun. but also really challenging trying to keep my eyes open in the water and staying afloat while also not getting any up my nose. Otherwise, I’d cough, and obviously I’m not dead if I cough. So that was quite challenging.”.
Collett’s Jace is 22, and his run on the series has always carried a sense of a countdown. He first joined House of the Dragon in the latter half of season 1 as Rhaenyra’s eldest son and heir apparent to the disputed Iron Throne. He said he always knew his character would only appear in the show for two seasons. but his time on set got extended after the Battle of the Gullet was moved from the end of season 2 to the beginning of season 3.
“I knew my fate already and was taking the days as they come and enjoying myself and just being grateful to be on this show in the first place. ” he said. “When I read season 2, normally [showrunner] Ryan [Condal] calls you to tell you what is gonna happen this season. I didn’t get a call. and I was like. ‘Is he just waiting until like we get to the script read?’ But. no. it got skipped in season 2. which I’m very grateful for. It’s great that it gets to be the first episode that people see for this season.”.
Jace’s death lands in the shadow of an even more recent loss. His younger brother Lucerys Velaryon (Elliot Grihault) was also killed alongside his dragon, Arrax, at the end of season 1. For those keeping score. Rhaenyra is now down to just three children: her young sons Joffrey. Aegon III and Viserys II with husband/uncle Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith).
House of the Dragon season 3 airs Sundays on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max.
House of the Dragon Harry Collett Jace death Jacaerys Velaryon Vermax Triarchy pirates Sharako Lohar Queen Who Never Was Battle of the Gullet HBO Max
So he just had to fake drowning? Actors do anything for HBO money I guess.
Wait I thought Jace survived somehow?? Like I saw a clip where people were cheering and then this article says he died in episode 1. Kinda confused.
Playing dead in water sounds brutal but also the way they did the arrows… why would they shoot him if the pirates are already stabbing the dragon? Feels like bad writing to me. Unless it’s symbolism or whatever.
I’m sorry but the “keeping my eyes open” part made me cringe. Also didn’t Collett say it was one of the hardest things he’s ever done, but then “really fun”?? That’s how you know it’s all fake drowning and nobody really cares about the realism lol.