This House of the Dragon Battle Was Moved To Season 3 (& For All The Right Reasons)

The Battle in the Gullet (or the Battle of the Gullet) has attracted attention since HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Films, Francesca Orsi, spoke of it in an interview with Deadline at The White Lotus Season 3 premiere. It is now confirmed that the epic naval battle will open Season 3, with four Blacks’ dragons expected to soar into the fray. House of the Dragon should live up to expectations, as its predecessor, Game of Thrones, broke new ground in the contemporary TV landscape with the scale, spectacle, and emotionality of Hardhome, the Battle of the Bastards, and the Battle of Winterfell.

Earlier, House of the Dragon viewers lamented gimmicky tweaks in the source material, and the snail-paced plot progression, while hoping to be rewarded with the naval battle in the Gullet in the season 2 finale. That, of course, didn’t happen, but the explanation makes sense. The Battle in the Gullet was held off due to a combination of factors.

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House of the Dragon Season 3 Premiere Is All About The Gullet

The Gullet is the key naval choke point for shipments to King’s Landing and Rhaenyra maintains a strong presence here, ensuring the city starves under the Greens’ watch. The Velaryon fleet and her dragonriders patrol Blackwater Bay and the Gullet to prevent food and supplies from reaching King’s Landing. This wartime strategy of cutting off supplies by the sea ensures Blackwater Bay remains disconnected from the Narrow Sea and King’s Landing suffers. The Smallfolk find themselves at the short end of the stick, discontent simmers while Rhaenyra sends “relief” shipments to gain affection.

Since the Gullet is the key maritime passage for supply and trade routes, it has massive political and strategic significance in the current scheme of things. Rhaenyra’s Blacks have control over the nearby islands of Dragonstone and Driftmark. Prince Regent Aemond Targaryen counterbalances her power by sending Lord Tyland Lannister to ally with the Triarchy across the Narrow Sea. Tyland, on behalf of the Greens, is tasked to invite the foreign invaders whom the Velaryons and Daemon Targaryen fought previously for control of the strategically important Stepstones:

“I have a task for you as well, Ser Tyland. We will make an alliance with the Triarchy. I’ve had enough of this cursed blockade.”

The Small Council urges Aemond not to invite the foreigners so close to the capital, but he rejects their counsel and declares that they will treat the Triarchy as they await the Lannister and Hightower fleets. And so, Tyland Lannister goes to the formidable Lyseni commander of the Triarchy fleet, Sharako Lohar. He fights to win support, and in the end, they sail for the Gullet.

HBO’s Decision To Hold Off The Battle in the Gullet

House of the Dragon finale concluded with Sharako Lohar agreeing to sail beside Tyland, and the Velaryon fleet on the lookout. Seeing as they were significant developments, the show took its sweet time and marinated them to set the stage for the Battle of the Gullet. HBO’s Orsi added that this battle required high production value, thus:

I’m so glad we waited because it’s going to be better than ever. It’s just so massive, we needed the time to build it.

In terms of the technical know-how, Orsi said:

“One of the lead producers on it [Kevin de la Noy] worked on Titanic, so all that he brought in terms of acumen of what happened on the Titanic and how that entire experience is built, he brings that expertise to it.”

A lot has gone into developing this high-stakes battle, which will effectively weaken the Sea Snake‘s grip on the seas. It demanded time and attention to detail. Moreover, the second season episode count being brought down from 10 to 8 made it impossible to capture it within the stipulated timeline.

The Battle in the Gullet Will Forge A New Narrative

The Dance of the Dragons Spirals Into Chaos

During the Triarchy’s Gay Abandon ambush, Prince Aegon escapes on Stormcloud to bring the ambush news to Dragonstone, prompting Jace’s call for action. Jacaerys does not return from battle; he and Vermax meet their deaths, while Queen Rhaenyra loses Prince Viserys in the ambush. Viserys is taken captive and raised in Lys under the magister Bambarro Bazanne’s care, but the Blacks believe him to be dead.

The balance of power will be tilted in favor of the Greens. With control over the small castles in the Crownlands and success at breaking the blockade, the Greens have an upper hand over the Blacks, for the time being, that is. The Sea Snake’s reputation as a maritime overlord will take a huge hit. If the source material is to go by, the Triarchy will lose fighters and galleys. All in all, it is the battle of four dragons in the air, with the Velaryon fleet against the Triarchy at sea.

The new dragons expected to join Prince Jacaerys and Vermax are:

Hugh Hammer atop Vermithor, which he claimed in the Sowing of the Seeds, Seasmoke who chose Addam of Hull, Ulf who claimed Silverwing, and lastly, Rhaena (in place of Nettles) who seeks out the wild dragon, Sheepstealer.

As known from the source material, Vermax, and the newly tamed dragons will unleash fire on the Triarchy’s warships in the Battle of the Gullet. House of the Dragon has established Seasmoke’s fighting prowess in the Siege of Bloodstone with Laenor Velaryon as a rider, but the Gullet is Addam of Hull’s first test as a fighter. Silverwing and Vermithor are ferocious beasts who roast scores of dragonrider wannabes in the Red Sowing. Princess Rhaena has never flown a dragon, but House of the Dragon alluded to her gaining the wild dragon at the Vale in the finale episode. She will claim Sheepstealer, but whether she will make it to the Gullet remains to be seen.

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