By Carly Lane Published Jun 28, 2026, 10:30 PM EDT Carly Lane is an Atlanta-based writer and critic who has been with Collider in some form or fashion since 2021. She considers herself a television nerd, diehard romance/sci-fi/fantasy reader, and nascent horror lover. Her fondness of books is only eclipsed by the towering TBR that her shelves can't possibly contain. She is the author of A REGENCY GUIDE TO MODERN LIFE: 1800s ADVICE ON 21ST CENTURY LOVE, FRIENDS, FUN AND MORE , published through DK Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House) and currently available wherever books are sold. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Editor's note: The below interview contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2.
We're only two episodes into House of the Dragon Season 3, and already the show's penultimate chapter is making some pretty definitive moves on the larger chessboard of Westeros. Rhaenyra ( Emma D'Arcy ) and Daemon ( Matt Smith ) have already descended on King's Landing , but her efforts to decisively claim the Iron Throne are somewhat thwarted by the fact that Alicent ( Olivia Cooke ) has already redirected Aemond ( Ewan Mitchell ) towards Harrenhal instead. The Kinslayer's arrival at the largest castle in Westeros is certainly memorable, not the least of which is because it culminates in him bleeding out on the floor at the feet of a silent Alys Rivers ( Gayle Rankin ).
Ahead of the Season 3 premiere, Collider had the opportunity to speak with several members of House of the Dragon 's expansive ensemble, including Mitchell and Rankin, about their characters' biggest moments over the first two episodes. Over the course of the interview, which you can watch above or read below, the two discuss that shocking premiere kiss between Aemond and Alicent, why Alys' conversation with Daemon about Harrenhal feels like a "breakup," why Season 2's spookiest location is closer to the "White Lotus of Westeros" this season, and more.
COLLIDER: Ewan, I do have to bring up the kiss between Aemond and Alicent. I really think you and Olivia [Cooke] played that scene with so many layers to it. There's a lot of complicated emotions at play. From a character standpoint, what do you think Aemond’s biggest motivation or feeling is in being the one to initiate that between them?
EWAN MITCHELL: I think for Aemond, in Episode 1 at least, he’s very much assumed his dominance as the king, at least on Team Green, and he wants to act accordingly. Alicent, maybe, is his queen, in a weird kind of way , in his mind, and he wants to assume the leadership role of this family and really take them all under his wing. He's now the father figure. He's the daddy. He's the daddy now. I always think of Scum — have you seen that? — when Ray Winstone’s like, “I'm the daddy now!”
MITCHELL: And Aemond has such a skewed perception of love, how to show it, show affection, because he never really had it when he was growing up. I definitely think that kiss was probably a little too far .
Gayle Rankin in House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 2 Image via HBO Talking about characters that are trying to make power moves, Gayle, we see Alys put herself forward to take control of Harrenhal. She goes to Daemon for that, and they…