‘House of the Dragon' Season 3 Episode 1: Who Died in the Battle of Gullet?
After a wait of two long years, “House of the Dragon” is back with a dramatic Season 3 premiere, and it didn’t waste any time in letting viewers know why Westeros remains one of the deadliest places on television. The HBO series stunned everyone with a brutal first season, while Season 2 turned out to be a mixed bag. As a result, fans wanted the TV series to be more brutal and more dramatic, and it seems the makers heard what the fandom said. The first episode of Season 3, titled “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” brings the long-awaited Battle of Gullet to the screen, delivering large-scale naval warfare, dragons, and epic action sequences.
The finale of Season 2 made everyone feel like the war was not on the cards. But things are rarely that simple in the “Game of Thrones” universe. As the tensions between Team Black and Team Green continue to escalate, the premiere leaves behind a trail of devastation. Some deaths arrive suddenly, while others carry a lot of emotional weight for the narrative moving forward. It was already established that the Battle of Gullet would not only be massive but also destructive, and as the episode reached its conclusion, we realized that all the claims made by the cast and makers were undoubtedly true.
But who died during the battle? Let’s take a closer look at all the major characters who lost their lives in the first episode of “House of the Dragon” Season 3.
Jason Lannister Meets a Brutal End
It doesn’t take much time for Season 3 to introduce us to the first casualty, and one of the earliest notable deaths in the episode is of Jason Lannister. Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith) and his army are doing anything and everything to gain support in the Riverlands. While they continue to do so, the Lannister commander attempts to escape the growing conflict. Unfortunately, his efforts to flee the scene were unsuccessful.
The character’s fate is sealed when he is captured by the forces allied with Rhaenyra Targaryen (played by Emma D’Arcy) and killed in the ensuing fight. His severed head is later presented as proof of victory, sending a clear message that war is becoming more and more ruthless. Jason’s death came suddenly and didn’t have any emotional impact, but it is still one of the major casualties, as the Lannisters are one of the most important families in the world of “Game of Thrones.”
Sharako Lohar Falls Short Of Greatness
The premiere of “House of the Dragon” Season 3 introduces viewers to one of the dangerous commanders, Admiral Sharako Lohar. And trust me when I say this, she could have very well become the reason for Team Black’s first official loss in the battle. Leading the fleet of the Triarchy, Lohar plays an important role in the Battle of Gullet and attacks the forces of Corlys Velaryon with everything she has got.
She is not empathetic and just wants to defeat Corlys by any means. Throughout the battle, Lohar proves to be a formidable opponent and pushes the Velaryon fleet to its limits. She even manages to injure Vermax by aiming one of the massive arrows. However, the tide eventually turns. In one of the most intense fight sequences, Alyn of Hull fights Lohar and manages to kill her during the chaos of the Battle of Gullet.
Her death is a significant victory for Team Black because Lohar could have turned out to be absolutely monstrous had she survived the battle.
The Death of Vermax
Not every casualty in the Battle of Gullet was human. One of the premiere’s most devastating deaths is Vermax, the dragon ridden by Jacaerys Velaryon.
Jacaerys takes a bold decision by locking her mother, Rhaenyra, in her chamber and going to the battlefield. He takes his dragon and reaches the battlefield. As soon as Vermax reaches the scene, the odds quickly go against Team Green. Vermax was unstoppable, but it seems Lohar and her army were ready for the beast. Lohar fires a powerful anti-dragon weapon and injures the fire-breathing beast. After being struck multiple times and chased by Sheepstealer, Vermax is dragged into the sea.
Despite making several attempts to escape, the dragon ultimately drowns beneath the waves. The death of a dragon is always significant in the world of “Game of Thrones,” and Vermax’s death has made things really interesting. Losing him weakens Rhaenyra’s side and makes the war even more dangerous for her and her supporters.
Jacaerys Targaryen’s Tragic Final Stand
The most tragic and heartbreaking death of the premiere belongs to Prince Jacaerys Velaryon, popularly known as Jace. In the initial part of the episode, Rhaenyra decided to go to the battlefield and see what the Triarchy has done. However, Jacaerys didn’t want her to go and told his mother not to take any chances. Rhaenyra didn’t listen to him and got to her chamber. But then, Jacaerys did the unthinkable and locked her mother inside her chamber, while he took Vermax to the Battle of Gullet.
Determined to defend their fleet, he joins the battle, and what follows is a deadly series of events during the battle. After enduring a couple of lethal blows, Vermax is brought down, and Jace is fighting for his life. For a moment, he had a chance of escaping, but that hope quickly disappeared when enemy archers spotted him in the water. Multiple arrows strike the young prince, killing him before Baela can save him.
His death has changed everything, and when Alicent gets to learn about Jace’s death, her problems are going to get worse. But most importantly, Jace’s death will make Rhaenyra even more dangerous. What would be her reaction to Jace’s death? Will she fly to King’s Landing and wreak havoc? Let’s wait and watch.
The brutal premiere sets the tone for Season 3 and promises to be the darkest chapter of “House of the Dragon.” If the first episode is any indication, the “Dance of Dragons” is entering its most catastrophic phase, and viewers might see some of their favorite characters not able to survive the grueling war ahead.
The premiere of “House of the Dragon” is available for streaming on HBO Max.
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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 10:12 AM.