When will 'HotD' end? Key S03 details unveiled by HBO
What's the story
House of the Dragon fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the show's final season has been confirmed! Showrunner Ryan Condal announced on Monday that the epic Targaryen saga will conclude with its fourth season. While this might be bittersweet news for some, it also confirms a definitive ending to the series. With Season 3 currently in the writing phase, its production is scheduled to begin in early 2025.
Upcoming season
Season 3 likely to maintain same tone as S02
Preparations for the third season of HBO's prequel to Game of Thrones are set to commence in the fall. When questioned about the number of episodes, Condal stated in a press conference, "I haven't had discussions with HBO about it." "I would just anticipate the cadence of the show, from a dramatic storytelling perspective, will continue to be the same from Season 2 on," he added. Meanwhile, HBO will premiere another GoT prequel series—A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms—in 2025.
Episode count
Season 3 likely to feature eight episodes
Meanwhile, Condal confirmed that the third season of the next installment will likely consist of eight episodes, similar to Season 2. He also revealed that Daemon Targaryen seeing Daenerys Targaryen's vision was the only interconnectivity they could show for events that occur later in the Game of Thrones universe. This suggests a continued focus on maintaining narrative continuity within the broader series.
Show duration
George RR Martin's four-season prediction confirmed
George RR Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire and co-creator of HotD, had previously suggested on his blog that it would take four seasons to tell the Dance of the Dragons story from his book Fire & Blood. Until now, HBO had not confirmed how many seasons of House of the Dragon would run. This recent announcement aligns with Martin's initial prediction.
Plot development
Anticipated 'Battle of the Gullet' delayed for future seasons
The second season finale of House of the Dragon did not feature the much-anticipated 'Battle of the Gullet,' an event from Fire & Blood. Condal explained, "We were trying to give it the time and space that it deserves...That event will happen very shortly in terms of the storytelling of House of the Dragon." He added that they aimed to build anticipation for this event.