Warning: Spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 3 ahead! House of the Dragon episode 3 features a scene that justifies a critical Game of Thrones death from season 1. Although Game of Thrones famously featured multiple deaths that were questionable in their importance to the overall story, the losses from season 1 often had far-reaching consequences and established the show’s notoriety for killing off major characters. While it is yet to be seen if House of the Dragon will follow in its predecessor’s footsteps in that regard, its callbacks to the previous show are striking for viewers.
In its first three episodes, House of the Dragon has begun setting up the Targaryen war of succession, beginning with the passing of the head of the Targaryen family tree, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen. After the old king’s death, the throne passed to his grandson, King Viserys I Targaryen, who, in turn, named his daughter, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen as heir apparent. However, just as in Game of Thrones, the line of succession has not gone without contestation and conflict, particularly as Rhaenyra chooses Ser Criston Cole as the new Kingsguard Knight.
It is Ser Cole and Princess Rhaenyra who demonstrate an important Game of Thrones death in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3. While the two are in the woods during a hunt organized by King Viserys, they are suddenly attacked by a boar. This is reminiscent of when the Game of Thrones character King Robert Baratheon is injured by a boar in season 1, episode 7, “You Win or You Die,” an incident that ultimately causes his demise. Although Robert’s attack is not shown on-screen, his fall makes more sense after seeing the stealth and ferocity with which the beast attacks Cole and Rhaenyra — they struggle enough during their surprise encounter that a deeply inebriated Robert would certainly fall to such a beast.
Why House Of The Dragon Has Robert Baratheon Parallels
Warning! SPOILERS for the novel Fire & Blood.The events of House of the Dragon predate those of Game of Thrones by many years, making the Robert Baratheon parallels even more striking. Like Robert, King Viserys is a relatively good man while not being a particularly strong ruler. Both men put great stock in enjoyable pastimes such as tournaments and hunts, as shown with the very stag hunt that brings Cole and Rhaenyra to their boar attack. Also, House of the Dragon‘s King Viserys, like Robert, does not seem to have much interest in the political movements of his kingdom and court. Finally, both men’s reigns maintain a tenuous peace among the Seven Kingdoms and will herald much death and destruction in wake of the power struggles following them.
The circuity of the boar attacks in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones paired with the similarities between Robert and Viserys draw attention to the ongoing themes of the two shows. Both examine the corruptive influence of power and the influence of family, both for good and for ill, in how power is passed from hand to hand. This is particularly true given Viserys’s heir issues in House of the Dragon. In this case, both Robert and Viserys are shown as being — or once were — deserving of power due to their characterization as “heroic” or “warm” in bygone days. However, neither can hold power, as they lack interest in the courtly sway they have; nor can they excel physically in the hunts that they hold. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra and Cole can do what Robert cannot, as shown when they slay the sort of creature that will later kill him, perhaps signaling a new turn in the politics of the Seven Kingdoms.
While King Viserys has not yet passed, House of the Dragon’s callback to the death of Robert after his rebellion in Game of Thrones serves two purposes. It both justifies his death physically and portrays the thematic players before the war of succession. Either way, House of the Dragon’s use of circuity and history foretelling the future suggests that the coming events of the show are sure to be striking.
House of the Dragon releases new episodes Sundays on HBO and HBO Max.
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