HBO’s House of the Dragon season three, episode five begins with a conversation between Ser Roderick Dustin (Tommy Flanagan), Lord Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), and Lord Piper (Antonio Magro). Dustin and Tully are disappointed to learn the crossings to Tumbleton have been destroyed. Tully orders Lord Piper to take 100 of his fastest men, head to Stoney Sept, and proceed from there. It’ll delay their arrival by a week, but it can’t be helped.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode five and there are spoilers.)
Dustin’s getting antsy and tired of hearing about Criston Cole. He asks for permission to take his Winter Wolves and hunt Criston Cole down.
Lord Piper’s barely made it back to his tent before he’s attacked. His throat’s slit as a small group of Criston Cole’s men attack the camp and set it on fire.
Elsewhere, men slink around Harrenhal looking for Aemond Targaryen. Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) spots them and confirms many bounty hunters have come seeking Aemond to collect Queen Rhaenyra’s reward. Alys insists Aemond’s no longer there and she scares the men as she speaks of the castle’s ghosts. She tosses a stone and wakes up bats that flood the halls. The men scurry off.
Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is still in bed, recovering, and he wakes from a nightmare of Aegon dragging him into the dark. Alys comforts him as he recalls Helaena’s prophecy that he’ll die.
Grand Maester Orwyle (Kurt Egyiawan) delivers a potion to Alicent (Olivia Cooke) to end Helaena’s pregnancy. Orwyle confesses that he serves Queen Rhaenyra now and this is the last time he can help her without telling Rhaenyra what he’s doing.
Helaena (Phia Saban) doesn’t want to abort her baby, but Alicent insists that Rhaenyra will kill the baby since Aegon’s heir would be a threat to Joffrey. When Alicent mentions Aemond vanishing, Helaena corrects her. She’s seen Aemond at Harrenhal and describes him as burning but not from fire. Alicent continues to beg Helaena, but Helaena insists the child is hers and she won’t kill it.
Lady Sabitha Frey (Sarah Woodward) is upset that Queen Rhaenyra (Emmy D’Arcy) pledged Harrenhal as a trophy to whoever kills Aemond. Jace promised the castle to them in exchange for safe passage for the Winter Wolves, but Rhaenyra doesn’t seem to think she needs to honor Jace’s word. A glare from Rhaenyra finally silences Lady Frey. She agrees a place on the council will suffice for now.
The small council meets and Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Lady Frey are now part of Rhaenyra’s advisors. Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Lady Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia) inform the council that a village outside of Wendish Town is burning and that Vhagar was responsible. Rhaenyra doesn’t understand Aemond’s motivations, and Ser Torrhen Manderly (Dan Fogler) whispers to Lady Frey, explaining who the various players are in the room. Daemon (Matt Smith) glares at him and then suggests Vhagar burned the farms to eat the sheep. Torrhen finally realizes he’s upsetting Daemon and stops whispering.
Mysaria (Sonoya Mizuno) and Daemon continue their rivalry to be Rhaenyra’s top advisor, taking sides to defend the small folk versus the City Watch. Rhaenyra ignores them and asks about Vhagar’s whereabouts. Baela admits they couldn’t track her.
Daemon’s furious that two Gold Cloaks were murdered in Flea Bottom that morning, and he’s frustrated that Rhaenyra won’t burn Lord Ormund Hightower’s army out of Tumbleton. He insists his men will take care of it.
Orwyle’s received word from Lord Tully that Criston Cole’s men are delaying them. Rhaenyra orders Addam and Baela back to the Riverlands to find Aemond and figure out what he’s up to. Addam explains they’re exhausted and haven’t eaten, and Rhaenyra agrees they need rest and wants to send Daemon instead. But Daemon’s fixated on the dead Gold Cloaks and wants to take care of that matter first. Rhaenyra offers to have Ser Luthor do it instead, but Daemon won’t listen.
Rhaenyra follows Daemon out of the meeting and demands that he stop undermining her. Daemon insists he’ll do what she asks but must take care of the Gold Cloaks now since they’re not being paid. He doesn’t like that she’s acting out of revenge and thinks she’s allowing herself to be “rattled by vapid taunts.”
Rhaenyra learns Prince Joffrey has returned, but she doesn’t immediately go to see him.
Meanwhile, Larys (Matthew Needham) insists they need to return to Rook’s Rest, but Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is adamant they head to Wendish Town since Vhagar was there. Neither Larys nor Aegon knows which way is west, but that doesn’t stop Aegon from trudging forward through the woods. Larys thinks Vhagar’s long gone, so Aegon decides they’ll go to Harrenhal instead. Larys tries to reason with Aegon, but Aegon’s way past rational thought. He blames Aemond for everything and is obsessed with killing him.
Mysaria visits Alicent and orders her to show what Grand Maester Orwyle brought. Alicent claims it’s for Helaena’s headache but Mysaria’s not buying it. Alicent changes her story and insists she’s pregnant from a lover and needs to abort. She drinks the potion and asks Mysaria not to say anything.
Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), describes Oldtown to Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), inviting him to make his home there after the war. Suddenly, one of their men is thrown from his horse. Cole goes down too, and they discover that “crow’s feet” traps have been placed on the trail. Criston’s forced to kill his horse to stop its suffering.
Daemon urges Ser Luthor Largent (Tom Cullen) to order his men to show a little more restraint when dealing with the smallfolk. They’re discussing the mood of the Gold Cloaks when yelling draws their attention. They discover two more slain Gold Cloaks, their throats cut and their bellies ripped open.
A dove is sent from a Hightower loyalist in Flea Bottom to Lord Ormund Hightower (James Norton) reporting the Gold Cloaks’ deaths. Ormund orders trees cut down to secure Tumbleton’s walls, certain Rhaenyra’s sending an army.
Lord Ormund quizzes Prince Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) on his studies, and Daeron assures him he’s been learning about his Hightower relatives and not his Targaryen bloodline. Daeron’s studies include House Greyjoy, House Peake, House Osgrey, Gardener, and Dorne. Ormund asks about Meria Martell (the Yellow Toad of Dorne), the only woman with a military mind. Daeron hasn’t studied her, and Ormund describes her as hideous-looking but incredibly intelligent. She wouldn’t submit to Aegon the Conqueror and declared Dorne would never bow down.
The Hightowers were among Aegon’s armies who marched on her, unaware she poisoned her own wells and hid her men in the desert. The castle was empty, but it was just a ruse. She slaughtered everyone when they let their guard down. Meria Martell outwitted everyone, and Dorne is still unbroken.
Ormund’s stunned when Daeron beats him in chess, and Daeron braces for his wrath. Although he’s obviously upset, Ormund insists Daeron shouldn’t apologize for winning. He’s convinced Daeron is the king everyone’s been waiting for and shows him a gold coin with his face on it.
Alicent gives her necklace to the maid in exchange for help escaping. She tells Helaena the plan, certain now’s the time because Rhaenyra’s men will be busy keeping the peace. Alicent wants to escape through the same hidden door the men used to kill Helaena’s son, Jaehaerys. The room is Baela’s now, but she’ll be out hunting.
However, they must leave Helaena’s daughter, Jaehaer, behind. Alicent claims they’ll send for her and promises Rhaenyra won’t hurt her. Helaena knows her mother’s lying.
Addam and Baela are striking out in their hunt for Vhagar. Baela’s determined to keep searching while Addam knows they need to rest. Baela believes Rhaenyra holds her partially responsible for Jace’s death and that she needs to do something to get back in Rhaenyra’s good graces. She thinks her future will be to marry someone to pay off Rhaenyra’s debt. Addam promises that if that’s true, he’ll rescue her.
Aemond wakes and calls for Vhagar, but Alys says she flew off. He manages to step outside after asking if he’s a prisoner. Aemond insists he needs to find his dragon because without her, he’s nothing. He asks about Aegon and learns that Rhaenyra spread the news that he killed him. Aemond admits that as a child he worshipped Aegon and had a complicated relationship with his mother.
The Larys and Aegon road trip has hit a speed bump. Aegon finally admits his dragon’s dead, he’s a cripple, and there’s no possible way he’ll make it to Wendish Town and kill his stupid brother. Larys wants to go back to Rook’s Rest, but Aegon would rather waste time airing his grievances. He rants about Aemond being the better fighter and how he was forced to just sit and applaud him. Aegon believes their mother loved Aemond more, and now Aemond’s “killed” him.
Larys admits he thinks all of Aegon’s whining is fascinating. “You could have risen to greatness but instead you trampled your birthright in the mud,” says Larys. He calls Aegon mediocre, lazy, and not just a terrible king but a terrible man.
Aegon remains silent as Larys walks away.
Daemon’s shocked to find Rhaenyra in prayer, laughing that she’d spend time appeasing the Seven. She believes there’s no harm in it, and Daemon takes a seat. He reveals six Gold Cloaks are dead with their throats cut and bowels removed and thinks this is just the start of an attack. Rhaenyra confesses she was wrong; the enemy is within. Daemon points out the men were slain in the daylight without any witnesses, so there’s more than one person scheming against her reign.
Rhaenyra’s still upset the Septon denied her requests and Daemon argues that neither Targaryens nor God needs septons. Daemon believes she underestimated the reaction to her claiming the iron throne and should have realized as a woman her reign would always be opposed.
Rhaenyra is upset that she doesn’t know where Aegon, Aemond, or the gold are. She feels the dread of something crouched and waiting. She wonders why Daemon, given his reputation, he hasn’t been able to find them. Daemon walks off, saying, “You are more than this.”
Cole, Gwayne, and the men are forced to hack their way through the woods without their horses. Gwayne believes they need to abandon their plan, but Criston insists they march on to catch up with Oscar Tully’s army.
Larys makes it back to camp and Aegon joins him not long afterward. Aegon tells him to hire a ship and suddenly Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) stands in front of them, wondering what ship. (The last we saw Tyland he was tossed into the ocean during the Battle of the Gullet.)
Alicent and Helaena dress as maids and are trying to sneak out but Mysaria knows everything. Alicent pleads with Mysaria not to tell Rhaenyra and urges her to think for herself. She’s certain Rhaenyra will choose Daemon over Mysaria in the end and suggests that the White Worm remembers it’s wise to play all sides. They’ll remain Rhaenyra’s captives and no harm’s done. If Mysaria says nothing, she’ll earn a favor from the Hightowers.
Helaena is adamant that she needs to go outside but Alicent tells her to look at the moon through the window.
Mysaria leaves without replying.
It’s late at night when Queen Rhaenyra finally enters Joffrey’s bedchamber.
Cole’s men continue their long march through the woods as heavy rain falls. They’ve been marching so long without food that men are dying, but the others don’t stop. Gwayne pauses briefly to pull off a leach, while Criston walks by unbothered.
Four armed men climb into Harrenhal Castle and refuse to believe Alys when she claims Aemond’s not there. They attack her and Aemond comes to her rescue, slaughtering the men but running out of energy as the fourth man dies.
Tyland and Larys argue over whether Aegon should return to King’s Landing. Larys is sure Braavos is their destination, and he’s got the means there to take care of Aegon. Tyland insists Aegon needs to go to Lannisport to prepare to retake the throne.
While they’re arguing a man attempts to steal their bag. He holds Aegon’s crown and Aegon reacts by killing him quickly before he can call out.
Daemon and Ser Luthor meet with the remaining Gold Cloaks, assuring them they’ll find the attackers. They demand their pay and Daemon shushes them, reminding them that without the City Watch there would be no queen or king. They need to trust Queen Rhaenyra and if they do, they’ll be repaid twice what they’re owed. He gives a rousing speech and rallies the troops, as Ser Luthor instructs them to stay in groups of three or four.
Cole’s men have made it within eyesight of Stoney’s Sept when they discover the bridge has been destroyed by the Rivermen after they crossed. They’ve failed their mission and the grueling march has been for nothing.
Daemon plucks the eye out of a man who’s been caught as a conspirator to kill the Gold Cloaks. He swears he acted alone, and Daemon threatens to take his other eye. He finally admits it was the king’s work, but not King Aegon. Inside his boot is a gold coin that he claims is from King Daeron Targaryen for killing traitors.
Daemon takes the coin and Ser Luthor kills the man while he screams for mercy.
Gwayne thinks they should head to Tumbleton and meet with Ormund. Criston Cole refuses to do that and instead wants to raft or swim the river. He’s still determined to battle the Rivermen even though they’re vastly outnumbered. Gwayne points out it’ll be a march toward certain death and then realizes that was Criston’s plan all along.
Criston confesses that’s true. He won’t continue to serve the highborn and will fall as the realm’s greatest warrior, dying a glorious death in battle. Songs will be sung about him.
Daemon drops the gold coin with Daeron Targaryen on it in front of Rhaenyra. He’s more certain now that they should have burned Ormund’s army when they had the chance.
Criston delivers a speech to rally his remaining men, urging them not to lose heart. The Seven are watching over them and they must continue in their resolve. Some men leave as he’s speaking.
Daemon goes in search of Ser Luthor and finds him seated at a long table, surrounded by slain Gold Cloaks. Behind the dead men, the words “A Feast for Traitors” are written in blood on the wall.
Helaena finds a secret door in the wall and she and her mother step through it, along with Helaena’s cat. They haven’t gone far when they encounter a brick wall, and Helaena wants to turn back. Alicent is terrified because they can’t; the door shut behind them.
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 1 Recap
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2 Recap
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 3 Recap
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 4 Recap
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Trailer
- House of the Dragon Season 3 Details
