‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Episode 3 Review - A Queen Overwhelmed by the Iron Throne

It must have been some kind of joke to title the third episode of House of the Dragon Season 3 "Rhaenyra Triumphant." Yes, Rhaenyra has captured King's Landing, but the episode is mainly about the stress and pressure that come with sitting on the Iron Throne. With great power comes great responsibility, and "Rhaenyra Triumphant" shows that the new queen does not immediately slip into her new role. She is out of her depth here; it takes a while for her to find her footing. Like a new employee, Rhaenyra initially tries to be polite and eager. She presents herself as someone who's there only to help others. Gradually, however, the pressure begins to show. The royal treasury is depleted, the common folk complain about food shortages and hunger, there is a rat infestation in the castle, and a septon refuses to anoint Rhaenyra. Then there is the matter of Corlys asking the queen to make Alyn a Velaryon, and as if all this weren't enough, Rhaenyra gets her period.

It's a high-stress situation, which writer Sara Hess and director Clare Kilner also infuse with humor. You find yourself smiling at Rhaenyra while also wondering whether she is the right person to rule the Seven Kingdoms. She is simply too overwhelmed by her current circumstances. Tired and a little frustrated, she asks Alicent about her own experience of managing the royal business, and Alicent tells Rhaenyra that she needs to toughen up. Sitting on the Iron Throne requires a heart of stone, and the Targaryen queen must be cold when the situation demands it. And tough she becomes when she hosts a banquet only to serve terrible food to all the wealthy guests, emphasizing that they have no right to hoard food while the poor starve to death. Food must be distributed more fairly, which is why the Gold Cloaks are sent to the homes of all the banquet attendees to search for stashed rations.

I think the episode rushes through Rhaenyra's transformation from an overwhelmed queen to one who begins to wield an iron fist. Despite this, if the character arc feels sufficiently coherent, thank Emma D'Arcy, who brings clarity to every beat, every step, through their performance. D'Arcy makes Rhaenyra's zeal and desperation palpable. Even when the show is at its lowest or doesn't seem to work that well, it still avoids becoming a complete dud because of its excellent cast. Now that Corlys's request has been declined and news of the Hightowers taking Tumbleton hostage has reached Rhaenyra's ears, let's see whether Corlys turns against the queen and whether Rhaenyra launches an attack on Tumbleton at the risk of killing her own people. Judging by her face in the final shot, the dragonrider seems to be saying that she has had enough. An angry Targaryen like her wouldn't think twice before setting her enemies on fire. I'd probably be running for my life if I were one of the people living in Tumbleton.

Final Score - [6/10]