There are many deaths still to come on House of the Dragon. After all, this is set in the Game of Thrones universe, and we know that death is certain, whichever side of the war you’re on.
House of the Dragon season 3 remains based on the book titled Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin. This book is written more as a historical text, which means the show has taken some liberties with the storylines, but the deaths largely remain the same — at least, they’ve happened when we’ve expected them.
So, now we come to the third season, and that means we’re expecting more major deaths. There will be losses on both sides, but some will hurt more than others.
Ser Criston Cole
Arguably, the worst of the characters — yes, even worse than anyone who has sat on the Iron Throne — Criston Cole will meet his end on House of the Dragon season 3. This has even been confirmed by the showrunners in various interviews, preparing us for the storylines that we’re expecting form the book.
Criston is at a battle known as Butcher’s Ball, which takes place after Criston and Aemond Targaryen capture Harrenhal, which has been left abandoned. Well, the two disagree on next steps, leading to Aemond heading off in search of Daemon Targaryen, and Criston heading to the south.
You can guess that Criston’s team is ambushed. Criston does attempt to negotiate a surrender, but Team Black doesn’t entertain that and kills him. I’m expecting cheers as his death happens.
Otto Hightower
With Alicent making it possible for Rhaenyra to get to King’s Landing, we should see the power shift to Rhaenyra sitting on the Iron Throne. After all, Aegon has already fled the city, and now Rhaenyra needs to make it clear that she belongs on the Iron Throne. The best way to do that is to take down the many who helped put Aegon on the throne.
This leads to the execution of Otto Hightower, which we’re expecting to see rather early on during House of the Dragon season 3. However, the end of the second season saw Otto imprisoned somewhere, and that is a deviation from the books. Does it mean Rhaenyra won’t get the execution she wants?
Jacaerys Velaryon
Rhaenyra has already faced the loss of one child at the hands (well dragon) of Aemond Targaryen. She’s about to face the loss of another, and House of the Dragon season 2 set this one up. We know that Jacaerys is off to fight at the Battle of the Gullet, which is when his part in the dance comes to an end.
Jace and the dragonseeds head to the Battle of the Gullet, but Vermax is wounded in the fight. Vermax ends up crashing into a burning ship, and while Jace is able to jump from his dragon’s back, he ends up being shot by a crossbow.
Helaena Targaryan
Probably the most heartbreaking death of them all is Helaena Targaryan, who takes her own life in Fire & Blood. However, there have been some changes to Helaena’s story already, which could change the circumstances of her death.
In the book, she has to choose between her two sons to die, and she chooses her youngest child, Prince Maelor. Blood and Cheese don’t stick to their word, and they kill Jaehaerys instead. Helaena retreats into herself and goes mad from the grief, and then, after Maelor is eventually killed, she takes her own life.
It’s possible that she’ll be pushed to her death instead, as that was hinted at by a vision in the second season. Helaena’s death has to happen to continue the next part of the story, but the circumstances could heavily change, leading to a major riot within King’s Landing. All I know is that this is going to be a heartbreaking death, considering how beloved and innocent Helaena is.
House of the Dragon season 3 will premiere in summer 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.