The intro of episode 3 of House of the Dragon gives us a quick snippet of the happenings in the Stepstones. It’s one hell of an opener and I will leave it at that.

But we start the drama of the episode at a two-year-old’s birthday party — and not the type of birthday party any of us are used to. From what I can tell, there is no cake or signing of 'Happy Birthday' for a two-year-old prince. When a prince turns two in the realm, you celebrate by hunting! King Viserys finally has his male heir, Aegon, and the new queen is pregnant again. Thankfully, HBO spared us having to watch a sex scene between the two.

In case you forgot, everyone was shocked when the king chose Alicent Hightower to be his new wife, and Queen. And, as everyone has noticed, we have had about a three-year time jump since the last episode. Speaking of everyone.. you may not have heard that HBO has doubled its viewership from roughly 10 million viewers – to over 25 million!

At the prince’s birthday party, the King has to suffer some of his tone-deaf guests. The good ‘ole king has been hitting the sauce for a while and is in no mood for brown-nosing. We also get the impression that he is not in the best health.

The king is in his feelings and lamenting his relationship with Ryaenrya. Marrying her best friend shortly after her mother died in childbirth might make things bonding with his daughter difficult. And to make matters worse, Otto, the King’s Hand, is in the king’s ear to name his new grandson the heir to the throne over Ryaenrya. Lord Strong stops by and reminds Viserys that King Jaehaerys was nearly driven mad by his daughters.

Next comes another bootlicker, the King’s Master of Law, Lord Lyonel. Lyonel suggests Ryaenyra should marry Laenor Velaryon, Corlys’s son. Laenor is off fighting the Crabfeeder and may die in battle, thus, his true agenda is revealed. No one can read the room and the King is disgusted by all the lobbying.

At the hunt, inside the royal tent, there’s no shortage of drinks and gossip. Rhaenyra might be the heir, but it’s clear these people aren’t for her. And outside the tent, she learns why her dad was begging her to attend.

We are introduced to twin brothers: Lord Jayson and Tyland Lannister who are both played by actor Jefferson Hall. Tyland is a strategist and part of the King’s court while Jayson is the lord of a castle you may have heard of called Casterly Rock. For those of us that watched Game of Thrones, we know the name Lannister and everything that comes with it. In no surprise (because he’s Lannister), Jason states he would like to make Rhaenyra his “lady wife.” The first time he ever talks to her.

Jason Lannister gifts a golden spear to King Viserys Targaryen for the upcoming hunt. House of the Dragon S01E03 'Second of his Name'

Eventually, a stag is captured for the King that he is to kill with a new Lannister lance. Keep in my mind, this is a man that needed a mini-staircase to dismount from his horse and spends his time building a miniature model city of old Valryia. Understandably, he doesn’t feel good about it, but the King eventually gets the job done with a couple of stabs.

However, it wasn’t an elusive White Hart – a large stag. The king’s royal huntsmen have informed him that they’ve been tracking the white hart which Otto Hightower calls “the king of the Kingswood.”

The young princess is in an already unbelievably awkward spot. First, her dad marries and impregnates her best friend – twice. Her dad now has a male heir, her half-brother, who may eventually take her promised seat atop the iron throne.

The princess takes off on a horse when she realizes why Viserys was clamoring for her to attend and is followed by Sir Criston Cole (who she appointed to the king’s guard). Sir Criston jokes about killing Jason when Rhaenyra asks: “Was I named heir to the Iron Throne so that I might only further raise the standing of a lord of Casterly Rock?” How cute.

A wild boar attacks the two at night and the princess savagely stabs it to death. On the way back to camp, Rhaenyra and Ser Cole encounter the White Hart that the King and his men were hunting. Criston sets to confront the stag but Rhaenrya decides to let it go. The moment carries some symbolism to ponder before episode 4.

Princess Rhaenyra and Ser Criston Cole return to camp after slaying a wild boar in the Kingswood. House of the Dragon S01E03 'Second of his Name'

When Rhaenyra arrives at camp with her kill behind her on a horse, her hair is still coated with blood. The fair princess will not be made to do anything she doesn’t wish to – apparently. Perfect timing as King Viserys tells Rhaenyra to marry who she pleases as he did. She must keep the Targaryen line going and solidify her claim to the iron throne.

Nevertheless, Rhaenyra spent an entire day with a charming prince and survived a wild boar. Seems as though Sir Criston will develop into a love interest… The show is laying it on pretty thick. Or is it just a coincidence?

While drama continued to build in House Targaryen, things in Westeros are relatively quiet outside of the Stepstones. That is where Daemon and Corlys are dealing with Craghas “the Crabfeeder” Drahar. A man that has crabs eat people alive on the beaches! Corlys and Deamon are at their witts end. Their tired and weak forces can’t break the Crabfeeder’s stronghold within the caves of Bloodstone and archers on the high ground firing on ships.

Viserys decides to send ships and reinforcements. Earlier, he had dismissed Ser Tyland Lannister’s reports Daemon and Corlys are losing the Stepstones. However, Vaemond, the younger brother of Corlys, has gone behind his brother and Daemon’s back to ask the king for help.

The captains in the Velaryon army discuss their plan to defeat the Crabfeeder. House of the Dragon S01E03 'Second of his Name'

The group is plotting their next move when Laenor (one of Ryaenyra’s potential matches) makes a suggestion. They decide that they need someone crazy enough to head over to Bloodstone and draw out the Crabfeeder and his men. But who is crazy enough to do such a thing? Daemon, that’s who!

Under a white flag of surrender, he reaches the Crabfeeder’s stronghold, but it’s a trick. Daemon hacks his way through a couple of dozen pirates on a dead rush to the caves, singlehandedly dicing up dozens of men, and taking three arrows to the body. It was enough to draw the Crabfeeder’s men out of caves and gave the Sea Snake’s infantry time to advance. A melee ensues.

Laenor Velaryon flies in on his dragon named Seasmoke. Seasmoke makes quick work of the archers while the Triarchy deals with Corlys’ men.

Daemon stalks into the cave where the Crabfeeder hides. Whatever went down happened off-screen, but Daemon emerges covered in the blood and hauling half the Crabfeeder’s corpse through a tide pool.

Daemon remains Ryaenrya’s main threat in succeeding Viserys for the Iron Throne. Viserys wavered a bit on his promise but did swear to Ryaenrya, “on your mother’s memory, you will not be supplanted." Also, worth noting he gave her permission to marry who she wishes.

Meanwhile, Daemon is exterminating his enemies and ingratiating himself to House Velaryon more than we could have imagined. House Velaryon’s shipping lanes are safe from the marauders and owe Daemon a great deal of gratitude. He has a very powerful ally moving forward if he plans to make a move for the Iron Throne.

Prince Daemon Targaryen returns to Kings Landing with a crown on his head after defeating the Crabfeeder. House of the Dragon S01E04

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