House of the Dragon Season 3 is gearing up for its release this June on HBO and HBO Max. Season 3 will portray the infamous Gullet war. The Targaryen civil war between Rhaenyra and her half-brother Aegon II is getting ruthless, and Aemond is eventually spiraling into madness.
In a candid roundtable interview via CBR, Gayle Rankin, who plays Alys Rivers, opened up about what lies ahead for her character and especially her upcoming relationship with Aemond. Season 3 might finally uncover her truest motivation, as now she finds herself stuck on both sides of the war. One question that has kept the viewers hooked is: What will happen between Aemond and Alys? As per George R.R. Martin’s book, they had an intoxicating relationship. Rankin told CBR that Alys and Aemond’s relationship will be different from her connection with Daemon, as shown in Season 2.
“”I think the most enticing thing about the relationship on paper, knowing it was going to happen and occur, was how it was going to differ from her relationship with Daemon.”
She continued,
“It had to, because they’re different people. So I was like, ‘Oh, wow, what’s this going to be?’ It can’t be the same. I think there’s a lot of juicy, exciting, surprising stuff that comes about, and she learns a lot about herself.”
Here’s more about it.
House of the Dragon Season 3: Gayle Rankin on Alys and Aemond Targaryen’s relationship
Alys Rivers, the bastard child of House Strong and a powerful healer, is a mysterious figure, as her agenda remains unclear as of now. As per the source books, Aemond and Alys share a thrilling and complex relationship after Aemond takes hold of the castle. Eventually, she will claim that she’s pregnant with Aemond’s child, who is the true heir to the Iron Throne.
Rankin told CBR that it’s quite different from the bond she shared with Daemon in Season 2.
As per the book, after Daemon leaves Harrenhal, Aemond captures the Rogue Prince’s place. He executes Simon Strong and his family and spares Alys. He begins an affair with her. Even though Daemon believed that Aemond would have killed Alys. Turns out, Alys was able to convince Aemond not to kill her and a few others. It was quite clear from that beginning that Aemond and Alys’ connection was far more romantic in nature when compared to Daemon.
Speaking with CBR, Gayle Rankin adds how a war affects the inhabitants of Westeros.
Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond Targaryen in House of the Dragon, describes Harrenhal as the White Lotus of Westeros, where the characters check in with their last troubles and check out with a different perspective on their lives. He further tells how he wants the same thing to happen to Aemond, as it did to Damon’s experience, and calls Alys River a therapist.
House of the Dragon Season 3 is all set to premiere on June 21, 2026, on HBO Max and HBO at 9 PM ET.
Also Read: House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere set to become the show’s longest season opener
Follow SoapCentral for more such updates on House of the Dragon Season 3.
Edited by Archi Biswas