House Of The Dragon 3.01 Recap & Reaction: Salt And Sea, Fire And Blood - Opening Pandora's Box Doesn't Mean You Win

Mary & Blake recap and react to House Of The Dragon Season 3 Episode 1, “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood.”

The Dance is officially here, and this premiere comes out swinging with the Battle of the Gullet, Rhaena and Sheepstealer, Aegon and Larys on the run, Alicent realizing Aemond is not exactly manageable, Daemon back in Riverlands war mode, and Jace meeting a brutal end in the water.

In this episode, we discuss whether this premiere feels like the real Season 2 finale, why the dragons finally feel terrifying again, and how the Battle of the Gullet turns spectacle into consequence. We also get into Corlys finally being Corlys, the nightmare buddy comedy energy of Aegon and Larys, the old magic weirdness around Alys Rivers and Helaena, and why Rhaena may have created one of the biggest problems on Team Black.

Plus, Mary and Blake both give the episode 4.9 flames, debate whether Team Green even exists anymore, read listener feedback from the Small Council, and answer Five Questions That Have Nothing To Do With House Of The Dragon.

In this episode, we chat:

• Why “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood” works as a season premiere
• Whether the Battle of the Gullet should have been the Season 2 finale
• Rhaena and Sheepstealer’s chaotic dragon bond
• Jace’s death and why the quietness of it matters
• Corlys, Lohar, Alyn, and the Dragonstone Pass
• Alicent and Aemond’s deeply unsettling scene
• Aegon and Larys as the odd couple we did not expect
• Daemon, the Winter Wolves, and Riverlands violence
• The old gods, Alys Rivers, Helaena, goats, and antler people
• Listener feedback and our 4.9 flame ratings

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