House of the Dragon Season 3 debuts intense scenes and a massive naval dragon battle

The third season of HBO's fantasy series House of the Dragon premieres on June 21. Lead actors Emma D'Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen) and Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen) described how they prepare for the season’s more intense confrontations, noting the challenges of filming heavy emotional moments and even sharing a High Valyrian oral exam together.

Showrunner Ryan Condal revealed that Season 3 will feature the series’ largest battle to date – the Battle of the Gullet – a naval clash that pits dragons against dragons on sea and sky. The conflict pits Rhaenyra’s commander Corlys Velaryon, known as the Sea Snake, against Alicent’s admiral Sharako Lohar, bringing together ships, swords and fire in what Condal calls a turning point for the Targaryen civil war narrative.