Flonique Guimary

'House of the Dragon' finally premieres Battle of the Gullet, marking turning point in Dance of the Dragons

Article (news)

Push Team

<div>Warning: This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon Season 3. Read at your own risk.</div><div> </div>If you thought Season 2 of House of the Dragon left you breathless, Season 3 is already making clear that it has no intention of letting up.<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PUSH ABS-CBN</a> attended the premiere of the upcoming episode, and the verdict is simple: it is 72 minutes of television that grabs you from the opening scene and does not let go. The Dance of the Dragons is no longer looming on the horizon. It is here, and it is brutal.The episode delivers two of the most highly anticipated moments following last season.The first is Rhaena Targaryen finally claiming Sheepstealer, the wild dragon that readers of George R.R. Martin&#x27;s Fire and Blood will recognize as a pivotal creature in the Targaryen civil war. Book readers may recall that a different rider was supposed to claim Sheepstealer, but given where the show left things at the end of Season 2, the change feels earned.The second, and far more devastating, is the Battle of the Gullet, the bloodiest naval battle in the history of Westeros. House Velaryon goes to war against the Triarchy in the narrow waters between Dragonstone and Driftmark, and the show does not soften any of it.It begins with a choice. Rhaenyra, trusting as ever despite all the betrayals she has suffered, is willing to stand down. But her son Prince Jacaerys, known as Jace, is convinced it is a trap. He urges her not to yield, not to trust Alicent.When Baela brings word that a battle is already raging in the Gullet, Rhaenyra decides she has to go herself. Jace, unwilling to let his mother walk into danger and risk everything the Blacks have fought for, does something drastic. He locks her in her own quarters, persuades Baela to fly with him, and the two of them take their dragons Vermax and Moondancer straight into the fight.Meanwhile, Alicent, who seemed to be genuinely holding up her end of a fragile agreement, finds her plans unraveling when her son Aemond returns to King&#x27;s Landing unannounced. She manages to convince him to leave for Harrenhal, where it is safer. But not before the show delivers one of its most jaw-dropping moments: a kiss between Alicent and Aemond that makes clear the Targaryens are not the only ones with complicated family dynamics.After Rhaena is thrown from Sheepstealer – an apparent abandonment following her first successful ride – she later discovers that the dragon had only gone off to hunt, a small but telling sign of the bond beginning to form between them. As she approaches Dragonstone and spots the fire consuming the water below, she steers Sheepstealer toward the battle.But things go wrong fast. Sheepstealer, not yet fully tamed, begins burning the ships of Team Black. Baela, seeing the destruction from above on Moondancer, has no way of knowing it is her own sister causing it. She moves to attack. Jace and Vermax follow.By this point, Vermax is already badly wounded. Admiral Sharako Lohar had struck the dragon with a grappling hook earlier in the battle. A second hit proves too much. Vermax can no longer stay airborne and goes down into the sea. Jace manages to free himself from the dragon, but crossbow bolts find him before he can reach safety.It is a gut punch of a scene – and it means Rhaenyra has now lost two sons. If you know the books, you know there is more pain ahead. If you do not, then all we can say is: brace yourself.There are other significant moments packed into the episode as well. Lord Larys Strong and Aegon are captured and forced to pledge their allegiance to Rhaenyra. Rather than face execution, Larys, sharp as ever, makes the case that both he and Aegon are worth far more to Rhaenyra alive. Lord Corlys Velaryon finally has the conversation long overdue with his bastard son Alyn of Hull, who not only fought for his father in the battle but personally killed Admiral Sharako Lohar.Filipino celebrities who attended a special screening ahead of the premiere were not shy about their reactions.&quot;Wow. Grabe. It was really exciting. Very high energy because there were a lot of intense scenes. And I did not expect less. Makikita mo talaga na ang ganda ng quality ng production. I was literally on the edge of my seat while watching. Amazing,&quot; Maxene Magalona said.Debbie Then, who watched alongside her husband Dino Imperial, zeroed in on what gets to her most about the show.&quot;Super intense. I feel like when it comes to House of the Dragon, I care the most for the dragons. I always want them to be safe because I&#x27;m against cruelty,&quot; she said.Dino offered his own take: &quot;I feel like the dragons are just really, really big dogs that you have to take care of, you get to ride, they breathe fire, and they fly.&quot;Jai Agpangan summed it up the way most fans probably will after watching. &quot;Oh my God. Ang bitin. And I&#x27;m always looking forward to it. Ang ganda. Ganu&#x27;n ako lagi after every episode.&quot;House of the Dragon Season 3 is now airing on HBO Max.<div> </div><div>-By Paolo Lim</div>

Local celebrities shared their reactions after watching the first episode of the third season of “House of the Dragon.”

Local celebrities shared their reactions after watching the first episode of the third season of “House of the Dragon.”