Pop culture's favorite fantasy show is officially back.&nbsp;

After two seasons of plotting, scheming, and skirmishes, House of the Dragon is heating up with season 3. Two summers back, the show left off on a massive cliffhanger, and while fans spent plenty of time catching up on the original books, devising intricate theories, and rewatching their favorite moments, the first episode of season 3 alone was (almost) enough to make up for the long break in between release dates.&nbsp;
Between Aemond's plot to keep his throne, Rhaenyra's persistent hope, Daemon's thirst for battle, and Alicent's growing sense of dread, there's plenty to unpack—especially if your memory of season 2 is hazy.&nbsp;Below, catch up on all of the events (including spoilers) from season 3 episode 1 of&nbsp;House of the Dragon.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">House of the Dragon Season 3 Episode 1 Recap</h2>

After all of the foreshadowing last season, fans were glad to see the episode kick off on a high note. Rhaena, the only Targaryen of age without a dragon, finally had her moment to shine. While wandering out in the Vale, she stumbles across a wild dragon, Sheepstealer, whom she manages to survive an encounter with. Before long, the dragon flies off again, and she can only hope it plans to return.&nbsp;
Back in King's Landing, the struggle for the throne between Aemond and Aegon continues. In his weakened state after finding himself at the wrong end of dragonfire, Aegon and his primary advisor, Larys, have fled the city in the middle of the night, hoping to wait out the intensifying war between Rhaenyra and Aemond. After noticing his brother's sudden disappearance, Aemond drags a maester out of bed and nearly beheads him after accusing him of having a hand in Aegon's escape. Luckily for the maester, Aemond is quickly informed that Larys Strong was behind the bedridden king's escape.&nbsp;
On the road, Aegon bemoans his new life to Larys, but his complaints are cut short as they're discovered by Rhaenyra's bannermen. When they're forced to kneel and swear fealty to the queen, Aegon's demeanor gives them away, and Larys makes a calculated decision to reveal their identities. The soldiers decide to take custody of the wayward pair and send them to Rhaenyra as hostages.
Back on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra is abuzz after Alicent's secret visit—as seen in the final episode of season 2. In exchange for the information, Alicent asks Rhaenyra to spare her, Helaena, and Helaena's surviving child, Jahaera. Thinking Aegon is still bedridden and Aemond is occupied in Harrenhal, she plans to fly to the city with her dragons and take control. Despite her optimism, Jacaerys and her council aren't sure Alicent is trustworthy. However, once Alicent returns to King's Landing, she discovers that her son's original plans haven't come to fruition. Instead of coming home to a weakened Aegon and an absent Aemond, she's immediately summoned to the throne, where she sees Aemond lying in wait. He reveals the Hightower army (accompanied by Alicent's third son, Daeron, and his dragon) is marching toward Harrenhal. Alicent's face falls as she realizes what this means for her arrangement with Rhaenyra.&nbsp;
Across the realm, we see Daemon in battle against the Lannister army. Before long, he's joined by the Stark forces (with a Lannister head in tow), offering an optimistic twist in their battle. Not far away, Gwayne Hightower argues with a despondent Criston Cole, arguing that even in battle, soldiers should act like knights and refrain from committing atrocities against citizens. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra's new dragonriders—Ulf, Karl, and Addam—talk about their upbringings together and what Rhaenyra's victory could mean for their futures. Back in the Vale, Rhaena tries to assert her dominance over Sheepstealer, but the dragon proves unpredictable and flies away.&nbsp;
Attempting to deal with the situation that is Aemond, Alicent is scribbling out notes while talking with Helaena, who talks to her mother about Aemond's future.&nbsp;
As they sail to King's Landing, Corlys and Alyn sit down for a chat, and while Corlys attempts to extend several opportunities for bonding (including a mention of his relationship with Alyn's mother), Alyn appears distrustful. Before long, a Triarchy fleet is sighted, and the Velaryon fleet is on track to meet it. In another brief cut, we're back in the Vale, where Sheepstealer returns with a charred lamb, which it tosses to Rhaena, who eats it warily as she looks up at the looming dragon.&nbsp;
Still determined to see Aemond off to Harrenhal, Alicent tries to convince her son to leave and go to battle against Daemon, playing off of his rivalry with his uncle. She tells him that if he stays in King's Landing, she's afraid he will share Aegon's fate—or suffer worse. As she attempts to convince him, he leans in and kisses her before exiting the room with promises of Daemon's head on a spike. As he leaves, Alicent is frozen, eyes wide and teary, as she processes the discomfort and horror of what just happened.&nbsp;
On the outskirts of Harrenhal, Ulf, Karl, and Addam spot a strange antlered creature as Alys emerges from the woods and tells them to go back to Dragonstone.&nbsp;
Sprinting through the halls, Baela arrives with news of a battle in the Gullet. Jacaerys tries to convince Rhaenyra not to join the fight, but she's intent on action. As she's changing into her riding leathers, Jacaerys has Ser Lorent bar the door, locking her in. He and Baela leave to join the battle, leaving a discouraged and frustrated Rhaenyra behind.&nbsp;
Out at sea, the battle between Triarchy ships (with Jason Lannister onboard) and Velaryon ships commences. With intelligence that Corlys, a longtime enemy, is at the head of the Velaryon ships, Lohar takes on a new goal: sacking High Tide and defeating Corlys. She abandons her agreement to fight on behalf of Aegon, putting Lannister in a difficult position. Before long, Jacaerys and Baela arrive on their dragons to aid the fight. Lohar strikes Jacaerys' dragon, Vermax, with a spear tied to an anchor, and the dragon begins to sink into the sea, but Baela arrives to save the pair. Attempting to lead Lohar astray, Corlys does a risky maneuver through a narrow pass as high tide approaches, hoping her ships will get stuck in the jagged rocks. While Lohar struggles to follow behind at first, she throws all of the armored Lannister men (including Jason Lannister) overboard, lightening the ship's weight and allowing her to pass through. After clearing the pass, she speeds on ahead to pursue Corlys.&nbsp;Rhaena, (somewhat) securely on board Sheepstealer, flies to join the fight, but she quickly finds the dragon is out of control, and begins burning Velaryon and Triarchy ships alike before setting its sights on Baela and Moondancer flying nearby. In tears, Rhaena shouts commands at the dragon, which it ignores.&nbsp;
Lohar's ship crashes into Corlys', damaging both of them. A bloody battle on the deck ensues. Corlys and Lohar battle, but Corlys falls into the sea before long. Alyn takes over the fight, eventually killing Lohar. In the skies, Jacaerys and Baela avoid Sheepstealer and stray arrows, but another spear is launched at Vermax. This time, it sinks into the dragon's chest and pulls it into the sea. As Vermax dies and sinks into the depths of the sea, Jacaerys manages to free himself and swims up to the surface. An instant after he surfaces, he is fatally shot in the neck and sinks back below the surface, dead.&nbsp;

Harry Collett and Emma D'Arcy as Jacaerys Velaryon and Rhaenyra Targaryen in Season 3 Episode 1 of 'House of the Dragon.' Photography by Ollie Upton/HBO.

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