Here be dragons and here be death. The civil war that House of the Dragon depicts was in full force in season 3. The premiere, titled "Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood," depicted a major sea (and dragon) battle that wastes no time taking casualties. If you’re already feeling a bit seasick, here’s your guide to every character who dies on House of the Dragon season 3.
Not to vaguely spoil the entire series, but pretty much every character dies horrifically in the Dance of the Dragons. After Season 3, we now know that a few deaths gave been left for the confirmed House of the Dragon season 4. But there are very, very few survivors… some we haven’t even met yet! If you’ve gotten attached to anyone on Team Green or Team Black, you may be watching the wrong show.
Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Targaryen
Died in: Season 3, Episode 1
Rhaenyra’s son goes against her wishes, locks her up in a tower like a cartoon villain, and joins the fighting at the Gullet only to pay the ultimate price. He got multiple arrows to the chest right at the end of the episode. Brutal! Was winning the battle worth his sacrifice?
Sharako Lohar
Died in: Season 3, Episode 1
Alyn of Hull kills the treacherous Sharako Lohar during the Battle of the Gullet. They survived a tricky water pass and successfully attacked the Velaryon fleet, but ultimately lost the fight. Was her personal vendetta against the Sea Snake worth it? Again, we’ll just have to see.
Jason Lannister
Died in: Season 3, Episode 1
One of the Lannister twins died off screen. Daemon receives his head in a bag in the season premiere as proof of his demise. Who did the deed? A new to the show character named Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan).
Simon Strong
Died in: Season 3, Episode 2
When Aemond takes Harrenhaal for the Greens, he kills Simon Strong even after he has surrendered peacefully. He also takes down Simon’s sons Germund and Paxter.
Otto Hightower
Died in: Season 3, Episode 2
At the end of the episode, Rhaenyra has officially taken King’s Landing. While neither Aegon nor Aemond are present for her to slay and officially declare herself Queen of the Realm, other Greens are. Knowing that it will damage the recently repaired bond between them, Rhaenyra beheads Alicent’s father for treason.
Jasper Wylde
Died in: Season 3, Episode 2
While many members of the King’s Guard bend the knee and even help Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen take back the Iron Throne, not all do. Daemon beheads Jasper, a member of the Small Council, for refusing.
A shepherd standing in for Rhaena
Died in: Season 3, Episode 4
Rhaenyra wanted Sheepstealer’s rider to pay for killing Jace. But when Daemon found out that it was Rhaena Targaryen, he certainly wasn’t about to murder his own daughter. So he beheaded a local shepherd and tried, so far successfully, to pass him off as the accidental culprit.
This table
Died in: Season 3, Episode 4
Damn, Ormund. Chill.
Kat’s brother
Died in: Season 3, Episode 4
Also known as Hugh Hammer’s brother-in-law. We’re learning the hard way what happens when you report sexual assault in Westeros. A soldier attacked Kat, and while he was punished with permanent bodily harm, Ormund Hightower had his ward Daeron Targaryen kill Kat’s brother for defending her.
Ser Luthor Largent
Died in: Season 3, Episode 5
In case it wasn’t obvious that King’s Landing is turning on Queen Rhaenyra, a man who worked with Daemon to torture (and kill) another man ends up dead with the rest of the City Watch at the end of the fifth episode.
Ser Criston Cole
Died in: Season 3, Episode 6
Ding Dong! Westeros’s most annoying, pedantic, reactionary even by Game of Thrones standards knights is dead. He was shot multiple times with arrows by a female archer (hot), Alysanne Blackwood, in the Tully army while trying to negotiate a duel in favor of a battle. Dirty? Yes. But at least he’s finally gone. Our condolences to Gwayne Hightower, probably the only person in the realm who will miss him.
A smallfolk rebel in King’s Landing
Died in: Season 3, Episode 6
Daemon, determined to avenge Luthor and get some satisfaction with what happened to the City Watch, finds and kills a rebel faithful to Ormund Hightower and Daeron Targaryen. Before he dies, he issues a chilling warning that does not bode well for Rhaenyra’s popularity.
Assassins pretending to be House Baratheon
Died in: Season 3, Episode 6
Sucks to suck... or at least not be as good-looking as the real Arrion Baratheon. A whole host of assassins sent by Rhaenyra to suss out Daeron Targaryen and kill him before he could claim the Iron Throne failed. Luckily, Gwayne was not fooled and took them out with ease.
Alicent’s bodyguard Adrian Redford
Died in: Season 3, Episode 7
The penultimate episode was light on death. Only one character died: the poor man who escorted Alicent to Harrenhal. Aemond kills him so that nobody will dox his location to the rest of Westeros.
High Septon
Died in: Season 3, Episode 8
Rhaenyra gets fed up in the Season 3 finale and has her ally, Alyn of Hull, kill the High Septon for refusing to annoint her as Queen. She then declares herself Rhaenyra the Chosen and tells the people of King’s Landing all about the prophecy.
Ormund Hightower
Died in: Season 3, Episode 8
James Norton’s hilarious and deliciously nasty was a wonderful addition to House of the Dragon season 3, but unfortunately a short-lived (literally) one. He was brutally stabbed by Roderick at the first battle of Tumbleton.
Roderick Dustin
Died in: Season 3, Episode 8
The leader of the Winter Wolves had a lot of wins this season, including the above killing of Ormund. But ultimately died seconds later in a blaze when the Targaryen bastard Ulf White turned his dragon against the Greens.
Kat
Died in: Season 3, Episode 8
Nooooooooo!! Not Hugh Hammer’s long-suffering wife! She didn’t ask for any of this. Not only did she die, but she seemingly died to motivate Hugh’s future revenge/betrayal... the worst kind of narrative death IMHO.
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