House of the Dragon S3E2, 'Queen’s Landing', Rhaenyra claims the throne

tvJun 29, 2026531,261

Episode 2, "Queen's Landing," ends with Rhaenyra Targaryen physically claiming the Iron Throne in Queen's Landing after a bloody push led by Daemon Targaryen. The episode opens with Baela returning Jace's body to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra reeling from that loss, then follows Daemon as he murders opponents to clear a path for her. The sequence closes on a striking final image of Rhaenyra reflected in a pool of blood as she takes the seat. Viewers singled out Emma D'Arcy's performance as visceral and commanding, and several posts praised the episode's score. Some viewers objected to an unnecessary sexual assault scene in the episode. Multiple commentators described the episode as marking a new chapter in the war between the factions.

Mueller, She Wrote

@muellershewrote.com

ME: Why do the Targaryens all have the same name? Aemond. Daemon. Aegon. Rhaenyra. Rhaenys. BFF: I long for a Josh Targaryen. @tenth-muse.com

6034h ago

DWKing8

It’s difficult enough trying to remember which brother is also his own cousin and uncle

The Grumpy Old Troll7

Remember that time the mad king sent Jared Targaryen to the Free Cities to negotiate a peace deal after the same time he was working to build the Braavos Targaryn Tower?

Agnes of Caerbanogg 🐇🐹🦜🐈‍⬛6

And their seedier cousin, Chad Targaryen

✨hcl✨5

The Last Kingdom is much worse — Athelred, Athelstan, Athelweard, Athelfled, and on and on.

Malebranche5

I was just talking with my girlfriend about this and she adds that all the incest makes it even more difficult to tell them apart

Dan5

I couldn't be unhappier with an iteration of GoT than the bloodless, House of Dragons. Gone, is the warmth, the humor, the relate-ability, the compelling drama. Bezos vacuous soul sucked the life out of it.

Quoting this

Anathema 🏳️‍🌈🏴‍☠️2

I mean there was a Jon…

Mina Kimes

@minakimes.bsky.social

Not the best swing at the first pitch for ol Rhaenyra Targaryen but she’s gonna get that batting average up in no time

1932h ago

Meatwad Bod6

I don’t know - .500 is pretty good.

BRAK AND BLUE5

Fouled the first one off, but hacking the Chief Designer of the Soviet space program is a big one to start on

ampers andi1

i'm gonna blame daemon for this one. the rogue prince was off on an ayahuasca vacation instead of training his wife in basic royal duties

SoonerMedic1

Even setup on a tee! Probably should have practiced a head of time!!

Scott Jordan1

She swung for the fences on that second one though!

Brittany Marshall1

I think the Mariners should sign her now while she’s cheaper

Jason K Pargin, author

@jasonkpargin.bsky.social

It's ridiculous how fans complain that House of the Dragon takes so long between seasons. Uh, guys, you do realize that before they can shoot a new season the actors have to take time to grow out their hair, right?

864h ago

Asher Elbein

@asherelbein.bsky.social

Yeah, I think House of The Dragon is a much, much smarter show in construction and theme than I've seen a lot of people giving it credit for

224h ago

The Smol Bear 🐻

@thebearheir.bsky.social

All hail Queen Rhaenyra of House Targaryen, the First of Her Name. Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men #HouseoftheDragon #HOTD

215h ago

Quoting this

HamletIsDead3

Shits about to get real yo.

Glen Weldon

@ghweldon.bsky.social

Some sad goodbyes, a coup that isn’t entirely bloodless, and a locker-room scene, because the HBO butt-quota is a ravenous beast which much be fed cake on the regular. A recap of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S3, E2. www.npr.org/2026/06/28/n...

225h ago

Quoting this

Matt Mitovich3

“[As wild-eyed Rhaena] she's giving Scrat from Ice Age, and I can't get enough.” 👏👏 #HOTD

Antoine Brown

@bldrteal.bsky.social

Calling all Black Fantasy fan This episode was peak for us. #HouseofTheDragon

122h ago

sophiehovis.bsky.social

@sophiehovis.bsky.social

emma d'arcy in 3x02???!!???! the performance was so visceral from start to finish. give them literally every acting award under the sun. i'm blown away #HOTD #HouseoftheDragon

114h ago

Velodus✨

@velodus.bsky.social

I enjoy when people post about House of the Dragon because I felt so incredibly burned by the main series that I can't bring myself to ever trust the franchise again, so seeing people post about HOTD genuinely is the closest I'll come to ever experiencing GOT again.

131h ago

Kazuma Hashimoto

@kazuma.bsky.social

house of the dragon continues to remain a series about continued miscommunication and you cannot carry an entire show on that kind of writing for multiple seasons.

153h ago

Azilyn1

Miscommunication is such a tired way to stretch tension. I still feel relief every time a show resolves character tensions within the same episode they're introduced.

Brian Grubb

@briancgrubb.bsky.social

my House of the Dragon Scorecard for S3E2 is up at @vulture.com i am already giving out scores like -100 I’m as mad with power as anyone on the show www.vulture.com/article/hous...

124h ago

Lacy Baugher Milas

@lacymb.bsky.social

Daemon Targaryen casually murdering dudes to clear a path to the throne for his wife is genuinely some peak Targaryen romance. #HouseoftheDragon

114h ago

meggoart @ WOWKEA

@meggoart.bsky.social

house of the dragon more like house of the dyke drama 💅

113h ago

STARLOG Da7e Gonzales

@da7e.com

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S3e2- what a series finale. What do you mean there’s more? Isn’t there always more in a history?

135h ago

Mekka Okereke

@mekka.mekka-tech.com

OK, House of the Dragon Season 3 is a much better show than the original series. The writing is A+, it handles SA better and doesn't use it as cheap entertainment, and Emma D'Arcy is turning in an amazing performance. Industry awards are irrelevant: you know what you're seeing when they're onscreen.

101h ago

3 sources

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House of the Dragon S3E2, 'Queen’s Landing', Rhaenyra claims the throne

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