HBO Quadruples the Dragon Action in an Official First for the Game of Thrones Franchise
Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 7.House of the Dragon thrives in one area where the rest of the franchise cannot compete, thanks to its status as a Game of Thrones prequel. The Targaryen civil war, which is central to the main story, features massive beasts on each side, and every season seems to add more. There have already been some brutal dragon vs. dragon fights in the series, including Battle of Rook’s Rest and Vhagar’s killing of Lucerys (Elliot Grihault) and Arrax. However, House of the Dragon‘s latest installment has delivered the biggest dragon conflict to date.
Season 3, Episode 7, “The Dragon in Winter,” features a face-off between four dragons as Rhaena’s (Phoebe Campbell) storyline comes to a head. Though the moment doesn’t mark a major battle in the ongoing war, since all parties are technically on the same side, it still devolves into a terrifying, violent conflict. More importantly, House of the Dragon uses the fight between Sheepstealer, Caraxes, Syrax, and Seasmoke to highlight what the series has been trying to emphasize from the very beginning. Back in Season 1, Viserys (Paddy Considine) declares, “The idea that we control the dragons is an illusion,” and that sentiment has never been clearer than in the moment when these four beasts clash, which marks a first for the overall franchise all on its own.
‘House of the Dragon’ Delivers the Game of Thrones Franchise’s Biggest Dragon Fight Yet
House of the Dragon has made no secret of how volatile Sheepstealer can be, as seen at the beginning of Season 3 with the Battle of the Gullet. However, by the season’s penultimate episode, Rhaena is no longer willing to hide, regardless of her wild dragon’s actions. When Daemon (Matt Smith) confronts his daughter, both Sheepstealer and Daemon’s dragon, Caraxes, are on edge, despite their riders’ attempts to calm them, and when Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Addam (Clinton Liberty) show up on Syrax and Seasmoke, the situation escalates further, resulting in an all-out battle. Although Syrax, Seasmoke, and Caraxes attempt to subdue Sheepstealer, everyone involved is at risk. Their riders may ultimately walk away from the conflict, but nearly every dragon suffers wounds in the process.
Sheepstealer, especially, is left incapacitated, bleeding and unable to fly away, but Daemon takes pity on his daughter’s dragon and doesn’t pursue him. Considering that the untrained beast held his own against three dragons, that might be the best choice he could have made. Ultimately, this encounter between the four dragons is an unforgettable moment that shows just how powerful they are, which emphasizes the danger the Targaryens are wielding in the ongoing conflict.
‘House of the Dragon’s Most Brutal Dragon Battle Reveals Their True Nature
This dragon fight in House of the Dragon‘s latest episode serves as a first for the overall franchise, given that it occurs on the ground instead of in the sky. It also serves little purpose in the ongoing war, since no one from Team Green is involved. However, the sequence ultimately highlights the flaws inherent in involving dragons in a human conflict. Though the riders yell a few commands, most of the action is led by the dragons themselves, leading to an unpredictable and bloody fight. Even Daemon, the most experienced dragonrider in the series, is knocked off Caraxes during the event. Despite Rhaenyra gaining a significant advantage with the number of dragons whose riders have sworn loyalty to her, the scene reaffirms that even Targaryens cannot control these beasts, and when they lose control, there’s no telling what will happen.
The three-on-one fight is a heartwrenching moment for the series, especially when the damage the dragons cause to each other is so great. Even Sheepstealer, who has always been a volatile wildcard, is rendered pitiable as he tries to fly away. It further emphasizes how successful the show has been at making these dragons unique and lovable characters, and because of that audience connection, the fight becomes that much more intense. House of the Dragon‘s latest hour marks the most dragons that have been involved in a fight onscreen so far, and it likely won’t be the last time that happens, especially with so many of them now involved in the war.