“The Bear,” “Only Murders,” and more of this summer’s hottest TV series
USA TODAY TV critic Kelly Lawler lists this summer’s must-see TV shows, including the return of “The Bear” and “Only Murders in the Building.”
There is more to see from Team Black and Team Green.
The “Game of Thrones” prequel series “House of the Dragon” is entering its third season, despite what USA TODAY television critic Kelly Lawler said was a disappointing finale.
The second season of the HBO series, now streaming on Max and based on George RR Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” concluded on Sunday. The final season, which premiered on June 16, followed the ongoing battle for Westeros’ Iron Throne and was “uneven but often gripping.”
Some fans were disappointed after the abrupt and uneventful ending of season 2. However, viewers can look forward to an action-packed season 3 that will likely start with a bang when it premieres.
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What will be the plot of the third season of “House of the Dragon”?
Fans curious to see what happens next in House of the Dragon can read Martin’s Fire & Blood, which contains the entire plot of the series.
But those disappointed by the lack of major battles in the season 2 finale can take comfort in the fact that, based on the book, a highly anticipated battle will occur early in season 3, perhaps as early as the first or second episode. One reason some fans were disappointed by the finale is that many expected that battle, as well as another major event from the book coming soon, to occur in season 2.
In a featurette that aired after Sunday’s finale, showrunner Ryan Condal hinted that while Season 2 would be about the “ups and downs” of war, Season 3 would be “about all-out war.”
“Could have been an email”: The finale of “House of the Dragon” leaves fans wanting more
“House of the Dragon” renewed for season 3
Despite fans’ disappointment with the second season finale, the series will not be canceled, as House of the Dragon was renewed for a third season before the second season premiered.
“George, Ryan and the rest of our incredible executive producers, cast and staff have reached new heights with the phenomenal second season of ‘House of the Dragon,'” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of programming at HBO, in a statement. “We are impressed by the dragon-sized effort the entire team put into creating a spectacular second season, whose scope and scale is only matched by its heart. We couldn’t be more thrilled to continue the story of House Targaryen and see this team burn brightly again in season three.”
Martin will serve as co-creator and executive producer of the series alongside co-creator, showrunner and executive producer Ryan Condal.
When does the third season of “House of the Dragon” premiere on HBO?
There is no premiere date yet for the third season of “House of the Dragon” on HBO.
However, according to Variety, Condal confirmed on Monday that production on the season will begin in early 2025. After the long wait between season 1 and season 2, fans shouldn’t expect to see season 3 until 2026. Season 2 began production in April 2023 and premiered in June 2024. So based on that schedule, season 3 could return in summer 2026.
Meanwhile, another Game of Thrones prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, will air on HBO in 2025. Based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg, it follows the adventures of a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and Prince Aegon Targaryen. A short teaser for the series was released on Sunday.
How many seasons will there be of “House of the Dragon”?
In a press conference on Monday, Condal talked about how many seasons “House of the Dragon” will run. “I think it’s four,” he said, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Martin had previously stated that he expected there to be at least four seasons of “House of the Dragon.”
“It will take four full seasons of 10 episodes each to do justice to The Dance of Dragons from beginning to end,” the author wrote on his blog in 2022. In January, Martin also said he had spoken to Condal and the series’ writers about the “third and fourth seasons.”
In an interview with Deadline in 2023, Orsi said the series would likely have no “less than four” seasons and hinted that there “could be more.”
‘Game of Thrones’ Star Kit Harington says a Jon Snow spinoff is no longer being worked on
Will there be new characters in season 3 of “House of the Dragon”?
One of the biggest questions book readers had during the second season was when and if Nettles would be introduced in the series.
In Fire & Blood, Nettles is one of the fan-favorite characters, coming into play during the “Dragon Seed” storyline, which sees the emergence of numerous new dragon riders. In the book, she is described as a “little brown girl” who grew up homeless, but she was nowhere to be seen in Season 2. The events of Sunday’s finale strongly suggested that Nettles was cut from the series, with parts of her story given to Daemon’s daughter Rhaena instead.
One character expected to be introduced in Season 3 is Alicent’s other son, Daeron. He is not seen throughout the series, but was mentioned in Season 2, and his dragon Tessarion is seen at the end of the finale, suggesting that his actual introduction is imminent. No casting for Daeron has been announced yet.
How to watch season 2 of House of the Dragon on HBO, Max
The Emmy-winning series airs on HBO. The first two seasons of the show can also be streamed in full on Max, HBO’s streaming platform.
House of the Dragon cast: Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke and more
Read on to learn more about the cast of House of the Dragon Season 2 and their characters:
- Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen
- Olivia Cooke as adult Alicent Hightower
- Emma D’Arcy as adult Rhaenyra Targaryen
- Eve Best as Rhaenys Targaryen
- Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon
- Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole
- Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen
- Tom Glynn Carney as Aegon Targaryen
- Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria
- Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower
- Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon
- Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen
- Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen
- Phia Saban as Halaena Targaryen
- Jefferson Hall as Tyland and Jason Lannister
- Matthew Needham as Larys Strong
- Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle
- Elliott and Luke Tittensor as Erryk and Arryk Cargyll
- Bobby the Dog
Contributors: Eric Lagatta
