House of the Dragon: Season 3 Episode 4 Recap

A New Rival Emerges in House of the Dragon

It’s hard to believe we’re now halfway through House of the Dragon Season 3. So much has happened—we lost Jace the Face (RIP) and his adorable dragon. We also lost the best damn schemer Team Green has ever seen, but another Hightower has swiftly taken his place. Enter Ormund (James Norton), a real rival for Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) as she now finds herself on the back foot.

The Rise of Ormund

Season 3, Episode 4 spends a lot of time with Ormund as audiences learn more about his master plan. In King’s Landing, Rhaenyra finally assembles something of a small council. Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) retains his seat. Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) is the queen’s Mistress of Whispers. Alyn (Abubakar Salim) serves as Hand of the Queen in Corlys’ (Steve Toussaint) stead, who believes he’s more useful cutting down the Triarchy pirates terrorizing Driftmark. Rhaenyra names Ser Torrhen Manderly (Dan Fogler), who was introduced in Episode 3, as her Master of Coin (and her requisite scapegoat should the smallfolk try to hurl any rotten produce at her).

Meanwhile, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) finds Sunfyre, who appears to be very, very dead. Aegon insists he’s not, though (hmm…). Larys (Matthew Needham) arranges for the pair of them to work for their lodgings at Rook’s Rest before they embark on the next ship to Essos. Criston (Fabien Frankel) and Gwayne (Freddie Fox) lead the Hightower host to Harrenhal. There, they meet Alys (Gayle Rankin), who claims Aemond flew away on Vhagar after learning that Rhaenyra took King’s Landing. Instead of sitting on their hands, Criston proposes they prevent the Rivermen from reaching the Westerosi capital to aid her.

Tumbleton and the Struggles of Power

In Tumbleton, Kat (Ellora Torchia) is assaulted by a Hightower officer. She and her family inform Ormund about the heinous act, and Ormund punishes the officer. Elsewhere, Daemon (Matt Smith) discovers Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) in the Vale. He begs her to either sail to Pentos to reunite with Aegon and Viserys, his youngest children, or accompany him back to King’s Landing to explain the situation to Rhaenyra. When Rhaena refuses to budge, Daemon finds a solution: he kills an innocent shepherd, cuts off his head, and presents it to Rhaenyra, ensuring that Caraxes charred it just enough that she can’t make out its features. Rhaenyra isn’t satisfied at first, but Daemon persuades her that nothing will truly assuage her grief.

The Politics of Power

Later, Daeron (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) watches awkwardly as Ormund throws a temper tantrum because Aemond isn’t flying to Tumbleton to help him. Ulf (Tom Bennett), who will take turns with Hugh (Kieran Bew) in surveying Tumbleton on dragonback, asks the queen for favors for his drinking buddies (he’s a ride or die, that one). When she refuses to grant them, Ulf informs Rhaenyra about someone writing “Queen of Bastards” on a wall in the city. She sends the gold cloaks to root out the culprit.

Aegon struggles with the new world order, and winds up kissing a sh*t-covered boot (his version of “kiss the ring”). Alicent (Olivia Cooke) realizes that Helaena (Phia Saban) is pregnant. Elsewhere, Daeron spends quality time with his dragon Tessarion, who’s the prettiest blue queen ever. Ormund orders Daeron to kill Kat’s brother, Janos (Abhin Galeya), who struck the officer that assaulted his sister. Daeron protests this before reluctantly carrying the order.

Ormund’s True Objective

It’s in this scene we also learn Ormund’s true objective: to raise Daeron up as the rightful ruler of Westeros (sorry Aegon and Aemond) to challenge Rhaenyra’s claim to the Iron Throne.