House of the Dragon Season 3 is almost here, and Gayle Rankin (Alys Rivers) is opening up about what fans can expect between her character and Ewan Mitchell’s Aemond Targaryen. The actress recently teased their upcoming connection, promising something very different from what viewers saw between Alys and Daemon in Season 2.
The third season of the HBO hit premieres on June 21, 2026, at 9 PM ET on HBO and Max. It picks up with the Targaryen civil war getting worse, and Aemond is slowly losing control. At the same time, Rhaenyra is preparing to take back the Iron Throne. The infamous Gullet war will be a major focus of the new episodes.
Rankin Says Alys and Aemond’s Bond Cannot Be the Same as Her Connection With Daemon
During a roundtable interview with CBR, Rankin talked about what makes the Aemond and Alys relationship so interesting. She pointed out that the biggest question was how it would differ from what she built with Matt Smith’s Daemon 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,” Rankin told CBR. “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.”
She went on to promise that fans are in for a lot of surprises. “I think there’s a lot of juicy, exciting, surprising stuff that comes about, and she learns a lot about herself,” she added.
This lines up with what fans of George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood already know. In the source material, after Daemon leaves Harrenhal, Aemond takes over the castle. He kills Simon Strong and his family but spares Alys. The two then start an affair. Unlike her time with Daemon, which was filled with mind games and manipulation, the book suggests Alys actually has a different kind of hold on Aemond.
How the Book Sets Up the Aemond and Alys Storyline
For those who have not read Fire & Blood, here is what likely happens next. At the end of Season 2, Aemond leaves King’s Landing heading for Harrenhal. He wants to find Daemon. But when he gets there, Daemon is already gone. Daemon has joined Rhaenyra, who has taken the capital city.
Aemond decides to stay at Harrenhal anyway. He executes the Strong family members left behind. But he keeps Alys alive. The two become close, and later, Alys claims she is pregnant with Aemond’s child. She also says the child is the true heir to the Iron Throne.
Ewan Mitchell, who plays Aemond, has jokingly called Harrenhal the “White Lotus of Westeros.” He explained that characters check in with all their problems and leave with a completely different outlook on life. Mitchell also called Alys Rivers a “therapist” for his character, suggesting their time together changes something inside Aemond.
Alys Gets More Depth and a “Big Journey” in Season 3
Rankin also spoke with Winter Is Coming at the London premiere on June 8. She revealed that Season 3 will finally peel back the layers on the mysterious healer.
“We really get to know who she is a little bit more, and she has a lot of depth,” Rankin shared. “And I think the girlies do. They just want to be asked.” The actress called Alys’ journey this season “big” and when asked how Alys would describe the new episodes, Rankin gave a one-word answer: “Hot”.
Fans on social media noticed a sweet moment between Rankin and Mitchell on the red carpet. The two actors grabbed hands, which only added fuel to the fire about their characters’ upcoming romance. The marketing for Season 3 has not directly shown Aemond and Alys together yet, but Rankin’s social media activity has teased fans repeatedly.
Also Read:
What Happens to Aemond After Harrenhal
While the relationship with Alys is a major part of Aemond’s story in Season 3, it does not change his ultimate fate. In the book, after burning several Black strongholds in the Riverlands, Daemon finally tracks him down. Daemon goes to Harrenhal on his dragon Caraxes and challenges Aemond to a fight.
Daemon waits 13 days at the castle. When Aemond finally shows up on Vhagar, the two dragons battle above the Gods Eye. Caraxes locks his teeth into Vhagar’s neck. As both dragons fall from the sky, Daemon drives his sword Dark Sister through Aemond’s blind eye. Both men die, and both dragons crash into the lake below.
House of the Dragon Season 3 consists of eight episodes that will air weekly on Sundays. The premiere date is set for June 21, 2026, and it will be available to stream on Max in the US, Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK, Foxtel and Binge in Australia, JioCinema in India, and Crave in Canada.
Also Read: Every Year After Ending Explained: Percy and Sam’s Second Chance and Charlie’s Collapse
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