Welcome to the Heavy Spoilers Show. I'm your host Paul the Dramer, and today we're going to check out Helena's tapestries for what's going to be happening on House of the Drgon. With season 3 over, we're looking ahead to the fourth and final season of House of the Drgon, and yes, they are saying it is still just going to be four seasons.
But a fair bit has changed from the book, such as Gwyn still being alive, Aegon teaming up with Aemond, and Hugh's reasons for why he's possibly going to switch sides. In this video, we're going to be going through what happens in the book. So, this might give you a fair idea of where things could go.
I also want to talk about my own ideas as well, and I'd of course love to hear yours in the comments. We've also dropped several new shirts inspired by the finale, including our cruel queen one, and also our one inspired by Ulf. That's at the merch store below, and if you buy both, you'll get 12% off.
Yeah, massive savings. But, we said in our breakdown that after the Battle of Tumbleton, that basically we didn't know if that could be topped. It was the best battle in the franchise of the show history.
But, that's where I want to start things off, as it proves to be a pivotal moment for both the book and show. Most plot points have been building to the greens and blacks finally having a huge battle, and this really delivered on that promise. In the past, it's been dragon versus dragon, and stuff like Corlys's guys versus the Triarchy, but this was like the actual greens and blacks fighting.
How about the awesome changes from the book that will ripple out into season 4? Just like the butterflies that George R. R.
Martin wrote about in this infamous blog. In the book, there were actually two battles of Tumbleton, and the first was seen as a huge loss for team black. Rhaenyra's forces were defending the town and thought they were safe as they had the most dragons.
They were very, very wrong though, as both Ulf and Hugh defected to the greens. Now, it wasn't clear why they switched sides in the book, but it is thought that they either wanted better titles, or they [ __ ] themselves when they saw the greens forces, and reality finally sunk in. Also, they were probably like, "Uh Ulf, it's happy hour over here.
Come come get a beer. " But I have to say as well um that the book is more like a history textbook um and because of this you don't get like what the characters are thinking, what they're actually doing at the time. It's all kind of looking back on old accounts, witness testimonies, that sort of thing um and therefore you don't get the intent behind certain decisions.
Now, the show does have its faults um and while I think it's made some bad additions, I also think it's made some good ones, too. And it's added lots of things like Aegon's dream being something that's passed down the line of kings in Westeros. It's also allowed us to see Ulf slowly defect as he was sick of being treated like crap by Daemon, who's beaten in the street by him and then Ormond and it made him do the best [ __ ] you, I quit I've ever seen.
However, in the book he was a total brute and this only got worse after the first battle of Tumbleton. This is something that I can see happening in season 4 where he deals with the fallout of his hangover. Now, the Hightower remnants were actually so sick of the turncloaks that they arranged to have them both killed.
So, expect that Ulf will fall foul of what became known as the caltrops and that he'll be killed by them for what he did in the finale. Jon Roxton found Ormond's burned body and we'll clearly know this was carried out by dragonfire. Hugh is a different case here though as in the book Hugh is also a brute but he believes he could be king.
Now, this is because of a prophecy that reads and talk was heard in camp of a prophecy of ancient days that said, "When the hammer shall fall upon the dragon a new king shall arise and none shall stand before him. " Whence came these words remains a mystery, not from Hammer himself who could neither read nor write, but within a few days every man at Tumbleton had heard them. So, that's what happens with Hugh in the book but personally I think Ulf is more that kind of character and he's been written as possibly having his eyes on the throne and the show has made a big deal about his desire for better lands and titles.
So, maybe that Ulf will fall list in this new prophecy. Now, the reason that I'm even bringing this up is because I I suspect that there's different motivations for why Hugh's going to defect. Like the whole dead wife thing.
Now, he suspected that he would defect after seeing Rhaenyra wanting to burn the town. However, he may blame her for his wife's death and then side with the greens. His dragon is also snuggling up to Ulf's and they clearly have some rapport for being assigned to the same post.
Unwin Peake is also a major character that hasn't been introduced in the Tumbleton story. Though, he does play quite a big part. However, Ryan Condal has promised new characters in dragons in season 4.
So, I expect that we could see Peake in season 4. Cuz Peake's what the cool kids say, isn't it? Now, in the book, he tried to take charge of the town after Ormund's death and was part of the caltrops plot.
Unwin even survived the second battle of Tumbleton and John Roxton also played a major role post-battle. Lord Footly was actually killed when the town was taken in the book, but the show's kept him alive and we saw him with his life lady Sharra. In the book, John actually took her for himself after the first battle and I'm expecting to see all order go out the window now that Ormund's dead.
Ulf killing Ormund was also something new for the show. So, with him having a dragon and being the one to win the day for the Hightowers, there's going to be a fair bit of tension between Bull John and Ulf. Now, the second battle of Tumbleton is potentially coming as well and that was a win for the blacks in the source material.
I am interested to see how this goes though as the show may just combine them and if they don't go with part two, we'll probably just have this as one big battle of Tumbleton. Beyond that though, there are some major changes as we've seen Aegon's return with the Tom Glynn-Carney delivering an episode-stealing performance as he chastised his brother. I'm alive.
The king demanded that Aemond come with him to Tumbleton and though they never arrived in the finale, they are on their way despite Aemond's goth girlfriend's pleas. At this point in the book though, Aegon's whereabouts are unknown and Aemond was burning the Riverlands, so they are clearly altering things. The problem for the greens though is that old one eye doesn't have his dragon at the moment.
Aemond though did have a redemption moment which mirrored Daemon bending the knee to Rhaenyra in season 2. I expect he's going to try and make up for attempting to kill his brother and he may follow him through the first half of season 4. That will then likely lead to the God's Eye which we'll talk more about after a quick word from our sponsors.
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You'll look fantastic. Now the God's Eye is a battle that's been set up ever since season 1 and there's been tension since Daemon and Aemond almost fought after the toast to those very very strong boys. It was really a compliment?
Daemon then hired Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond after he killed Lucerys, which ended up causing blowback on his wife. Alice also said that Daemon would die at Harrenhal while Helena was the one who delivered the news to Aemond. This was a foreshadowing their showdown, which leads to both leaving the story.
Now, both of them experienced the spooky times at the castle and both wanted to bang their mothers. Their hot-headed nature has gotten them into trouble and caused problems for their respective monarchs, and Daemon and Aemond are pretty much very similar names. As such, they've both been on a trajectory to face each other once and for all.
In the book, Daemon went to Harrenhal and actually waited 13 days for Aemond to return as he had disappeared and basically gone to burn the Riverlands. This left just Alice at the cursed castle, and Sabitha Frey then went there to take it back. This is something that's been adapted into the show, which is why Sabitha pestered Rhaenyra about it and then was told to go and take it.
That was left as a dangling thread, and I do think next time that we will see her doing it. He then arrives to find Alice and hides when Aemond returns. Either way, the gods eye will happen, and we should see the princes fight high up in the sky.
Drgon fights in season 3 in general were pretty impressive, and I am expecting this to be a very, very big one. To kick things off, Aemond arrived with Alice, who is heavily pregnant, and because of that, I even wonder if we may have a small little time jump between the seasons or if season 4 will cover a longer period like season 1 did. Vhagar had come at last, and on her back rode the one-eyed Prince Aemond Targaryen.
Clad in night black armor chased with gold, he had not come alone. Alice Rivers flew with him, her long hair streaming black behind her, her belly swollen with child. Prince Aemond circled twice about the towers of Harrenhal, then brought Vhagar down in the outer wall with Caraxes 100 yards away.
The dragons glared balefully at each other, and Caraxes spread his wings and hissed, flame dancing across his teeth. During the inside the episode for the finale, You Mitchell also mentioned how Aemond will need to choose between his duty to his brother and a life with Alice. So, I think that that will be played up to pay off when he decides to leave Alice to go and fight Damon.
But, the fight is very brutal in the book, and this led to both dragons and commanders being taken off the board. Damon left from his dragon to stab Amond through the eye, and both then fell into the water below. Along with their dragons, Amond's body then washed up on the shore, but dirty Damon was nowhere to be found.
In our season finale breakdown, we did predict that Damon might actually run away after the fight to live with Rhaena, which was sort of touched upon in the source material. In the book, again, his body was never found, um so that there was the suspicion there. The show has changed Rhaena's story to match with Nettles as well, and in the work, Nettles and Damon were thought to have a sexual relationship, but some also suspected it was more of a father and daughter thing.
During the last moments of the Battle of Tumbleton, Damon also looked horrified by the death and destruction of the war, and clearly didn't see the glory in what they'd done. So, I think the guy might give it all up after killing Amond, and he could end up going to look after Rhaena. But, the battle really kick-started the beginning of the end of Rhaenyra's reign, and I think that's likely where we'll go next.
Speaking of her, Rhaenyra has experienced some very heavy changes to her character, and after being the most moral person on the show, she's finally given in to Damon's way of tyranny and ruling with fire and blood. She had the High Septon killed, which was a very crazy thing to happen, and it shows she stopped trying to placate to the church. The Targaryens have basically had to feign interest in following the faith of the Seven, um and Aegon did this as a way to unite the realm.
It's like when you see politicians saying they're religious, but they have countless scandals and also clearly aren't religious. The Targaryens follow the old gods of Valyria, though, but Westeros, like Europe in the Middle Ages, is deeply religious, and it takes its faith very, very seriously. In the book, the city turned against her because of the overly harsh taxes, and also what happened with Helaena.
Both the book and show had the greens hide the crowns gold and in the source material uh taxes were then levied. This then turned the citizens of King's Landing against the former realms delight with Rhaenyra now being called Maegor with teats. The show has referenced both the name and taxes and the lack of funds has led to Tyland Lannister being blamed by the small folk.
It's as if I have been installed here as some sort of scapegoat. This then led to feces being smeared on the door of his home, but things are about to get a lot worse. Again, the public rose after Helaena's death which sent King's Landing into all-out riots.
In the book, Larys Strong had returned to King's Landing and spread rumors that the queen was behind the princess's death. So, in the show, the public will probably hate her for killing their religious leader and then banging on about some danger from beyond the wall before Helaena was then dead. So, which it sounds like a PR nightmare.
The city is on a tinderbox due to Orman's machinations though, so I think the public is just looking for a reason to riot. In the book, this then saw the rise of the Shepherd who became a religious leader to the disgruntled small folk and he was a big figure in the riot. Showed up badly burned and preached against the Targaryens and said that the only way to stop them was to storm the Drgon Pit.
Now, I did think Orman might raise someone like that as part of his plan and did even consider that Aegon could fit this part as well. I did see a great theory as well during a blurry-eyed 6:00 a. m.
Reddit scroll that Mysaria could be filling the role of the Shepherd, too, which we will see. But, she begged Rhaenyra to keep the well-being of her citizens in mind when playing war. But, the queen decided she couldn't be asked to listen to petitions anymore and with no hand, the small folk's plight went unheard.
Mysaria thought that she could be a champion of the people in the court though and asked Ser Arryk to bring her any issues that she'd heard. The White Worm was warned by the madam that the highborn will only ever see her as what she was before she came to court and eventually this proved to be right. Mysaria knows the queen has gone way too far though and the lives of the small folk are in danger.
So with Orman now dead, she may take over the efforts to get rid of Rhaenyra. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned as they say, but not around here cuz I'm not sexist. I love both sides.
Women are and men are great and all are got a great. But in the book, she stayed behind after warning Rhaenyra that her position in the capital was untenable. Once it's fell, Plec and the Flea installed a bastard of Vis erys named Tristan Truefire who I think we may have seen a glimpse of in season 1.
Mysaria was told though that if she walked naked to the castle of the gods while being whipped and actually made it, she'd then be let free. However, she died after only making it halfway. But I think Mysaria may feel responsible for having helped Rhaenyra take power and now try to do something to stop it.
In the book, the Drgonpit was stolen by the Shepherd's followers which is something that Helaena saw in her dream. Ryan Condal has promised new dragons as well and she she rocks Shyracks. These, Moondancer, Tyraxes, Dramfire, and Syrax all die during the falling of the Drgonpit.
So that's something I think we'll definitely see and I know we saw Dramfire in the vision but Helaena being on top of it is clearly not happening. But maybe we'll see a similar shot albeit without Helaena riding it. The Corlys might also be someone who can help Mysaria.
In the book, Corlys was imprisoned after trying to warn Adam that the queen was going to imprison him due to Alfyn Hugh switching sides. In the finale, we saw the Valyrian soldiers appear at King's Landing and Allen then decided to use them to protect the queen. In the book, these dudes were already in the city as they remained there from when Rhaenyra took King's Landing.
Once Corlys was arrested, they then tried to stage a coup and the rest of the soldiers then went into the city to join the riding. The show has played things a bit differently though by having Orman arrest Corlys. Daemon then said he was taking him as prisoner for trying to broker a peace.
Because of this, I think he'll no longer be the hand of the queen and will be locked up in the cells which may cause him to turn. So we could see the men of Drftmark try to liberate Corlys. I do wonder as well if it will lead to tensions between Alan and the men as he's clearly now seeking after power and position.
Perhaps due to him obeying Rhaenyra in the Sept, he will be made Hand of the King. After being warned, Adam then went to the Isle of Faces and supposedly met with the Green Men who was seen earlier in the season. He then went to burn Tumbleton which led him fighting Daeron's dragon above the town.
Now, we never saw Daeron's body and it is said that if you don't see the body, the character's not dead. And that circles back to Daemon before. So, I do expect we'll finally see him ride to Sauron but I don't know if that will go down well.
But how will the show end? Well, in our review we spoke about how House of the Drgon is just a small part of Fire and Blood and it it's basically just the Dance of the Drgons section. Because of that though, the story continues.
However, there are a few natural end points for the show and the most obvious one is Rhaenyra's death. In the book, Aegon conducted a successful coup on Drgonstone and after the city fell, had to sell her crown for passage to the island. He then arrived only to learn that Aegon was still alive.
I'm alive. He then fed her to his dragon and that was that. His reign though was quite literally short and sad.
Like that that's what it's called in the book. The dance wasn't over after this and he had to make a deal with Corlys and Alan to get ships to King's Landing. However, after the second battle of Tumbleton, the Rivermen smashed the green forces at the Battle of the King's Road and this then led Larys to poisoning Aegon as the king refused to surrender the city.
Aegon the Younger was then installed on the throne and at present in the show, he's currently in Pentos. So, it could end with either Aegon or Aegon the Younger taking the throne but I feel that ending with Aegon the Older on the throne would be a bit more poetic. We've had this massive war that's caused untold death and destruction only for us to basically be back where we started.
He's never been told about the prince who was promised prophecy either and this could be why it doesn't get passed on. Has he been told about it? I don't think he has.
May if he has, erase this part of the video from your memory. But everything's been all about ego and a family squabble that's done nothing to improve the lives of the people of Westeros. Having Aegon on the throne also kind of sets up why the the dance basically begins the end of the Targaryen dynasty.
Most of the dragons died and none would be allowed by A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which takes place 78 years later. So, yeah, just ending on a note where it's like Aegon's the king. Is he going to be He's probably not going to be a good king.
That makes sense why everything's [ __ ] after it. Anyway, that wraps up our predictions and I'd of course love to hear your thoughts below. Please come back in 2028 to see if we're right and also drop a like on the video and drop a comment with all your thoughts below.
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I've been your host Paul as always. You've been the best and I'll see you next time. Take care.
Peace.
