5 Worst Episodes of House of the Dragon Before Season 3 Airs

Before the Targaryen beasts rise again, it’s worth looking back at where the dragonflame didn’t quite burn as hot. While House of the Dragon has delivered plenty of spectacle and political drama, not every episode has lived up to its own towering expectations.

Over the course of two seasons, we’ve had a couple of hit-and-miss episodes; from dull scenes to controversial creative choices, these chapters tremendously affected not only the story’s impact but also our viewing experience. As Season 3 approaches, let’s revisit some of the episodes that totally missed the mark.

1 The Princess and the Queen Had A Time Jump & Recast Issue (S1 E6)

House of the Dragon got off to a strong start, and fans particularly appreciated the casting and chemistry between the characters. Towards the midpoint of the series, a major time jump occurred, aging the main characters and resulting in the recasting of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower.

While the shift was necessary to move the story toward the Dance of the Dragons, it felt jarring and was difficult to immediately reconnect with the recast performances. Not only this, but we missed several key plot points, such as Rhaenyra’s relationship with Harwin Strong and the early years of her marriage to Laenor Velaryon.

As such, the episode had to compress major developments into a short span, making the transition feel too rushed.

2 A Son for a Son’s Major Ending Change Disappointed Fans (S2 E1)

One of the most disappointing episodes from Season 2, A Son for a Son promised the highly anticipated Blood and Cheese murder scene only to give viewers a toned-down version. Instead of a calculated act of vengeance, the show framed it in a way that was less deliberate and more of a mistake. Helaena directly sending Jaehaerys to his death was also far from what was told in the source material.

This massive change severely undercut the horror and impact of the event, and the consequence of it is expected to show up in later seasons. This is one of those alterations that might not feel immediately damaging on screen, but poses a great risk in the long term. At this point, Helaena’s arc is looking a little messed up already.

3 The Burning Mill Was A Slog With Little Plot Movement (S2 E3)

This episode spent much of its runtime reinforcing tensions we already understand rather than pushing the story forward. There was no meaningful development from any of the key characters, as if they continued circling the same pattern.

Here begins Daemon’s hallucinations in Harrenhal, which would drag on for how many more episodes, then the infamous scene where Rhaenyra dresses as a septa to secretly meet Alicent and try to persuade her against war. Not only was this unnecessary, but it also never happened in the book. Nothing in this episode served as a turning point for the story.

4 Smallfolk Had So Many Dull Scenes That Took Up Much Time (S2 E6)

Another episode that remained on the setting-up stage with little outcome, Smallfolk had so many tedious scenes. The storyline at the Eyrie and in the Vale doesn’t seem to do much for the plot, while Daemon’s fitful dreams in Harrenhal were starting to annoy viewers.

Unlike The Burning Mill, though, this one has a few memorable scenes, such as Ser Steffon Darklyn’s attempt to claim Seasmoke and Addam of Hull ultimately bonding with the dragon. Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s intimate scene also sparked controversy, leaving the episode with a mix of standout moments and divisive reactions.

5 The Queen Who Ever Was Went Heavy on Build-Up, Light on Payoff (S2 E8)

Although not exactly an empty episode, but rather an underwhelming one, the final chapter of Season 2 focused heavily on positioning pieces for the next phase of conflict rather than delivering a decisive climax. We saw the Blacks and the Greens gearing up for the upcoming battle, which gave fans mixed feelings of excitement and disappointment.

The decision to end the season after only eight episodes felt like it hurt the story rather than helped it, as it could have built toward a large-scale battle that delivered a stronger climax and provided a more satisfying conclusion, while also generating greater anticipation for Season 3.

Episode Title	Season & Episode Number	IMDb (As of April 30, 2026)
The Princess and the Queen	Season 1 Episode 6	8.0
A Son for a Son	Season 2 Episode 1	8.2
The Burning Mill	Season 2 Episode 3	7.6
Smallfolk	Season 2 Episode 6	6.3
The Queen Who Ever Was	Season 2 Episode 8	6.5

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House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres on June 21, 2026 on HBO.