Freddie Fox (Gwayne Hightower) in character as the singer Marilyn in the 2010 film Worried About the Boy; James Norton in character as his camp, gorgeous self, or perhaps a little envy of his cousin Alicent is stirring within Ormund.... xD
Have seen some people complaining (as happens every single episode about something or other) that Ormund is over-the-top evil, mustache-twirling, cartoonish etc. Personally, I think he's brilliant.
Something Game of Thrones did really, really well (in the early seasons) was making objectively terrible people incredibly compelling to follow. Characters like Tywin and Cersei for example were far from saints, yet were fan favourites. I find it hard to stomach that people are totally fine with the majority of the Lannisters from GOT being portrayed as "the baddies" but baulk at the same being done to the Hightowers.
Fire and Blood, as we well know, is an in-universe history book. Character study is a luxury that it was never able to indulge in and everything we know about most of these characters (excluding perhaps Rhaenyra, Daemon, Aegon, Aemond, Otto, Criston and Alicent) is of their actions, rather than their personalities. Its therefore the responsibility of the writers to give what are essentially story beats and concepts that personality, to make them in some way engaging for viewers of a TV show.
Ormund, whether you enjoy the way he is written or not, OOZES personality. He is already so so fun to watch, thanks in no small part to the charisma of James Norton. HOTD hasn't had a pure, compelling villain character like GOT had in Tywin, Cersei or (show) Littlefinger. It could have in Alicent but we all know how that went, it could have in Criston but he's about as interesting as a toilet door, and Aemond is unfortunately little more than the caricature he already was in the books by now. Ormund could fill that role and I for one think that is something this show has been CRYING out for since season 1. A manipulative schemer who is intelligent and deadly, brutal but not outlandishly so like a Joffrey or Ramsay.
I think he could be the greatest addition the show has ever introduced, and the perceived "over-the-top" panto villainy could be a way to finally get viewers invested in a series that might otherwise have been petering out to a bland, wishy-washy conclusion. Hopefully I haven't spoke too soon, but I'm loving what I'm seeing of him so far and hope I'm not the only one.
EDIT: something else I wanted to mention because I forgot to bring him up. Otto Hightower is now dead. >!Cole soon to be dead as well!< , Aemond is.....otherwise occupied, Alicent is a passive prisoner supplicating to Rhaenyra, Aegon and Larys are both mid-redemption arc, Gwayne is not a villain and is actually pretty cool, Daemon is an anti-hero, etc. With Otto gone, there needs to be someone to take up that role. Otto was one of my favourite characters and this show has missed him and missed a performance like Rhys Ifans' HEAVILY. If Ormund can be half of what Season 1 Otto was, he will be a brilliant addition.
I posted the review thread earlier which is mainly made up of mainstream media and journalists that are casuals/show-onlys. I figured the book readers among us might want a review from a book readers' site, and since this review hence has a very different tone to the others, I thought it best to give it its own separate post.
​ You can read the full review here: https://winteriscoming.net/review-house-of-the-dragon-season-3-ambitious-committed-to-undermining-source-material
​ Here are some highlights:
​ - The reviewer considers Episode 3, rumoured to be the conceptual episode centred around Rhaenyra, to be by far the best of the opening four. He also says this is the episode where the changes to the book story work the best.
​ - The reviewer was entertained by the season so far, and was impressed by the scale and spectacle which he says is unlike anything else on TV. However, predictably he is frustrated by some inconsistent and often baffling writing choices, which for him came to a head in episode 4. He believes the performances to be excellent, but in an all too familiar tale, the actors and their characters are heavily let down by their writing.
​ Here's some parts taken from the article itself:
​ Having seen the first four episodes of the season, I can honestly say I'm extremely torn on whether House of the Dragon hit that mark. There are undeniably epic set pieces to be had here, and when the show leans into them, it does it pretty much better than anything else on television. The much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet more or less lives up to all the hype that showrunner Ryan Condal stirred in the months leading up to its release. There are also quiet moments the show does better than anything since its first season, and I'd go so far as to say they're at least as good as any of the action.
​ Many of the show's longtime actors, like Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Olivia Cooke, and Emma D'Arcy deliver some of their best work of the series in the episodes I've seen — especially D'Arcy, who should be a total shoe-in for an Emmy nomination this season. Newcomers like James Norton (Ormund Hightower), Dan Fogler (Torrhen Manderly), and Tommy Flanagan (Roderick Dustin) also bring something valuable and interesting to the show's sprawling cast. Any time any of them is on screen, I found myself paying slightly more attention. I'm looking forward to seeing more of them in the back half of the season
​ Once it leaves behind its two big story moments in the first two episodes — plot points that are so essential they are all but impossible to cut — the show makes so many deviations it may as well be telling a different story, albeit with a few familiar sign posts along the way. Were that story good, I could get behind those deviations. Episode 3, for example, certainly has many plot elements that aren't in Fire & Blood, but does most of them so well I didn't mind it outside of one particular storyline. But often the deviations are just plain odd, or take something from the book and implement it in a just slightly worse way that left me wondering why it was altered at all.
​ There are also moments I fully expect show-only watchers to frown at, too, including some absolutely horrible handling of Alicent Hightower in the season's first few episodes and a scene which should stand as a dark turning point for Rhaenyra but makes absolutely no sense in the wider Game of Thrones franchise as it's established on screen.
​ Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell) has a plotline this season that is pretty much guaranteed to be controversial with book fans, and so far I'm still not convinced it was a good choice for the series. Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) quietly became one of the most interesting characters on the show last season, only for much of that hard-won development to go out the window here. Daeron Targaryen, the youngest son of Alicent Hightower, is another similar sticking point. The show held back Daeron until season 3, which put an unnecessary amount of pressure on landing his introduction well. I wish that I could say that it pulled it off, but from what I've seen, I have very little confidence in how the show is handling Daeron or anything associated with him and his dragon Tessarion.
​ VERDICT
​ House of the Dragon season 3 is a big-budget fantasy spectacle that is the absolute definition of must-watch television. For any flaws it may have in conversation with its source material, or even the general telling of its story overall, it's impossible to deny the cultural footprint and filmcraft at work in this show. There simply is not anything else on television like it. It's painful, because with such incredible people working on the series it's easy to see how it could be even better than it is, were it not so strangely reluctant to lean on the book that it's adapting. As it stands, I fully expect House of the Dragon season 3 to blow audiences away and frustrate them in equal measure.
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Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer: 97% (36 reviews)
​ House of the Dragon season three review – Dazzlingly bombastic but disappointingly shallow - The Independent, 3/5 https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-b2995906.html
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Review: The Dance of the Dragons is Big, Bloody, Fiery Fun - Decider https://decider.com/2026/06/15/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-on-hbo-review/#:~:text=Neither%20the%20action%20nor%20the,2%20simply%20struck%20the%20match
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Cranks Up the Action in a Less Sleepy Season 3: TV Review - Variety https://variety.com/2026/tv/reviews/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-1236781041/
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Review: Is HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel Finally Starting to Get Somewhere Good? Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-hbo-1236620995/
​ More action-packed but still as thoughtful as ever, the first half of Season 3 suggests it could very well be House Of The Dragon’s best offering yet. Empire, 4/5 https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/house-of-the-dragon-season-3/
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Review: ‘Game of Thrones’ Spinoff Reaches Its Most Gripping, Devastating Chapters - TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/reviews/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
James Norton enters House of the Dragon with full panto villainy. The Game of Thrones spin-off returns for a third season with epic sea battles, political scheming and a new – nastier – player - The Telegraph, 4/5 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/house-of-the-dragon-sky-atlantic-season-3-review/
Captivating Third Season of “House of the Dragon” Is More Complex Than Ever - Roger Ebert https://www.rogerebert.com/streaming/house-of-the-dragon-season-three-review
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Review: Season 3 Wages an Unwanted War Filled with Horrors and Ghosts IndieWire, B- https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/house-of-the-dragon-review-season-3-war-bad-1235200128/#:~:text=Through%20two%2Dand%2Da%2D,was%20when%20the%20fighting%20began.
House of the Dragon Season 3 Review: HBO’s Stunning GOT Prequel Is More Epic Than Ever, but Will Divide Fans ​ Comicbook.com https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/review/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-hbos-stunning-got-prequel-is-more-epic-than-ever-but-will-divide-fans/
House of the Dragon Finally Delivers on Its Most Game-Changing Promise in Season 3 | Review - Collider https://collider.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-hbo/
​ House of the Dragon season 3 review: Powerhouse performances meet sheer scale in explosive return. HBO's second trip back to Westeros in 2026 is a triumph - RadioTimes, 5/5 https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
House Of The Dragon Reclaims The Magic, Fire, And Blood Of Its First Season. The Thrones prequel gains a newfound confidence that brings it into its destiny. - Inverse https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review
'House of the Dragon' Season 3 Review: Epic Battles Make Fast Pacing Worth It - MovieWeb https://movieweb.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
​ House Of The Dragon Season 3 Review: A Fiery Triumph - Looper https://www.looper.com/2194219/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-hbo-review/
House of the Dragon series three review - it's becoming old hat and boring - The Times, 2/5 (under paywall) https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/house-dragon-season-3-review-james-norton-game-thrones-tv-television-wzkwszgkj
​ House of the Dragon season 3 review: "The most explosive start to a Westeros-set season to date" GamesRadar+, 4/5 https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/fantasy-shows/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
‘House of the Dragon’ Is Finally Reaching ‘Game of Thrones’ Heights - The Daily Beast https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/house-of-the-dragon-is-finally-reaching-game-of-thrones-heights/
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Review: Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown [B+] - AwardsWatch https://awardswatch.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-heavy-is-the-head-that-wears-the-crown-b/
​ House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2. The Battle of the Gullet is here, and we're so back. Mashable https://mashable.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review
‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3 Review: Emma D’Arcy Rules Over Thrilling Return Of ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel ComicBookClub https://comicbookclublive.com/2026/06/15/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review-hbo/
​ ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 is all gas, no brakes: review - NY Post https://nypost.com/2026/06/15/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-is-all-gas-no-breaks-review/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CHouse%20of%20the%20Dragon%E2%80%9D%20has,ostensibly%20the%20leads%2C%20like%20Daemon.
"House of the Dragon season 3 is Game of Thrones at its very best" - Polygon https://www.polygon.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
House of the Dragon Season 3 Review: Even the Changes Work This Time - Fangirlish https://fangirlish.com/2026/06/15/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
​ House Of The Dragon Season 3 Review: Bigger And Darker - With Mixed Results - SlashFilm, 6/10 https://www.slashfilm.com/2194042/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-review/
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I left the UK at age 8 in 2009 and returned at age 17 in 2017. I spent a year living in the UAE, and 7 years in Oman. I lived in an abusive household with my expatriate parents. I never learned Arabic while living in the UAE or Oman, and I am an atheist. I also identify as LGBT.
Ask me anything about what it was like growing up there! Happy to share my insights on Oman and why I think its a super underrated place to live, especially as a foreigner!
English translation of Sky Italia post: "Alongside them, we find Freddie Fox (Gwayne Hightower), Abubakar Salim (Alyn de Hull), Clinton Liberty (Addam de Hull), Tom Bennett (Ulf, the White) and Kieran Bew (Hugh Hammer). There are also new additions to the cast: James Norton (Ormund Hightower) and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (Daeron Targaryen)."
Creds: @dawnstarz on YouTube.
Seen so much talk about how much people wouldn't care about season 3 when it comes out. Seems like that was an exaggeration wasn't it? After just 3 days the trailer is HBO Maxs 6th most watched video ever and is about to become HOTDs most watched trailer ever on YouTube.
All they needed was an action packed trailer and people are sucked back in all over again. Book fans may still end up disappointed, but this show never fully lost the casual audience.
I like that they're trying to give Rhaena more to do/better characterisation (not fully sold on the execution of that yet to be fair) but I'm not sure why it had to come at the cost of one of this story's most beloved characters and a canon POC character to boot.
Like surely if you're adapting something for the TV screen, a supposedly lowborn young girl feeding and taming a dragon where so many others failed should be a goldmine for creating a character that audiences can be invested in and/or root for. It just baffles me that Condal and Hess decided to get rid of that entirely just to give Rhaena something to do, when they could easily just have had Rhaena claim Grey Ghost or something, or brought Morning into the story earlier.... like are we deadass? Why did they hate the idea of Nettles so much.
I know that they until now have been allergic to Rhaenyra being anything other than the second coming of Christ, but if they didn't like the idea of making Rhaenyra seem racist or classist onscreen they could have changed the reasons behind the mistrust of the character? You didnt have to get rid of her altogether, its just such a waste and you could tell that both George and the book fandom was really upset by that decision. So why do it?
It just would have been so cool to see her flying into battle on Sheepstealer and although I'm relatively happy for Rhaena (and happy the dragon was still included in the show at least) I would much rather have had it been Nettles. Thats the one part of the trailer that still leaves a bitter taste, that and Alicent still being whatever she is now rather than her book counterpart.