Jace's Death in House of the Dragon was the Perfect Way to Start Season 3

After a great slow burn build up in season 2 of House of the Dragon, I was very happy to see that the new season started off very strong. I felt that the last season was a bit slow, but then I realized that it was merely setting up the big war in the first episode of season 3.

Princess Rhaenyra is now preparing for war, and after she is offered a deal in the finale of season 2 for a sort of peace treaty for her to take the throne, she doesn't hesitate to consider the deal. Until she hears that an unexpected army is arriving, with many men on boats, ready to take on one of her own armies. She decides to venture out to go and safe the army, only for her son, Jace, to trick her and escape on his own dragon to help the army in his mother's name.

He is joined by Baela, another companion, and they set out to help the army, burning up the enemy ships.

Unfortunately, a lot of bad things go wrong during the fight.

The enemy ships had large harpoons set up to take down the dragons, and Jace was caught in one of them, but is luckily saved by Baela.

Baela's sister arrives to the fight on her own dragon, but it instantly goes wrong when the dragon begins to burn up their own allies. Baela and Jace struggle to save their allies, when they learn that Baela's little sister is riding this wild dragon.

Lord Coryls and his son are left to fend for themselves against Lohar, who had tricked the Hightower family, by purposely joining their side to go after Coryls. They get into a brutal battle, and both sides lose a lot of men. Coryls son is able to win the battle when he defeats Lohar, his father's fate unknown after he fell into the water.

Jace is caught once again by another harpoon during the fight. This time, Baela is unsuccessful in saving him, and both Jace and his dragon are dragged slowly into the water. His poor dragon dies from his wounds, and Jace is left alive, swimming over to a board to stay afloat.

Then Jace is shot from the back of his neck from an arrow by the enemy, and he is shot two more times, killing him instantly.

His death is the perfect way to begin new season. House of the Dragon had been teasing the war for two seasons, and Jace's brutal, unexpected death was the best way to set up the war. No one is safe, and Jace's death proved it.

I was not expecting his death so early in the season. However, it did make sense to kill his character in this way. Jace has always been so stubborn when it came to his mother, and he always wanted to be put out there in war, ready for a fight. I think his character being so young made him a bit cocky, and his braveness is the reason why he got killed.

It's so tragic knowing that his own brother had died too, and I think that Jace deep down was seeking revenge for what had been taken from him.

I did watch the next couple of minutes of episode 2 to see his mother's reaction, and it broke me to death. It was such a raw reaction, and it was so brutal, knowing that she lost both of eldest sons. I think that Jace's death is going to now set up his mother's revenge arc, and she might become an unstoppable queen, becoming a ruthless woman.

I can't wait to watch the rest of the season, and I'm curious to see who else will be on the chopping block.

Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn