Warning: This article contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 3, Episode 3.
By the third season of “House of the Dragon,” it’s been pretty clearly established that Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) has every right to serve as Queen of the realm and continue the Targaryen dynasty unimpeded. The reality has proven quite different thus far, of course, and Team Black has waged the Dance of the Dragons in response. But ruling from King’s Landing is slightly more complex than merely invading it, and it’s now under Rhaenyra’s control following a bloodless takeover. (Well, mostly, as Rhys Ifans’ Otto Hightower would surely protest if only he, uh, still had a head). And as she’s beset on all sides by issues ranging from famine to funds to social unrest and more, Rhaenyra’s biggest threat of them all may have just reared its ominous head.
One seemingly trivial conversation early in Episode 3 could pay dividends in the weeks to come. In the midst of her endless problems, Rhaenyra is abruptly confronted — and just as quickly rebuffed — by High Septon Balman. Played by Simon Chandler (reprising the role after first appearing in Season 1), the religious figure represents a crucial symbol of legitimacy. But, having previously crowned Tom Glynn-Carney’s Aegon II as king, his refusal to do the same for Rhaenyra is just another in a long line of setbacks.
As book readers may have realized, however, it’s his extreme vehemence towards dragons and his thinly-veiled threats to the aristocracy that should raise eyebrows. George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” a sort of patched-together history of Westeros on which this series is based, memorably depicts a beggar prophet known only as the Shepherd, who plays a huge role in the story to come. If our guess is right, “House of the Dragon” may have begun setting up its own adaptation of the pivotal character.
Did House of the Dragon just introduce its version of Fire & Blood’s Shepherd?
Before anyone is tempted to cry foul over yet another change made from the pages of George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” to “House of the Dragon,” please keep this in mind: Every adaptation has to take its own unique path, and sometimes those deviations are quite necessary. In this case, it’s actually quite easy to understand why series co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal and his writers would feel the need to put their own spin on the mysterious book character referred to as the Shepherd — presuming that’s exactly what’s happening here. Spoilers for “Fire & Blood” and possible events to come in the rest of Season 3, naturally, will follow.
Readers know all too well that Rhaenyra’s reclaiming of King’s Landing doesn’t exactly go according to plan. As her grip on the city weakens, “Fire & Blood” shows how it all comes down crashing around the would-be Queen … and much of it is spurred on by the Shepherd. Origins and identity unknown, this beggar-turned-prophet rails against Rhaenyra and her black-magic dragons in the public square. When living conditions worsen and the tides of war turn the other way, the Shepherd’s influence over the smallfolk grows, and soon he commands an entire mob of frightened, angry, and murderous peasants ready to do his bidding — culminating in a riot that leads to the deaths of all of Rhaenyra’s dragons.
Is the show hinting that the self-righteous High Septon may be headed for this role? It certainly appears likely, and it’s a clever workaround for a character who appears out of nowhere in the book. All will be revealed, as new episodes of “House of the Dragon” hit HBO every Sunday.
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