After Sunday night’s momentous House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere, one star is confirming their character’s fate. SPOILERS for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 1, “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood” follow.
Harry Collett, the actor who plays Jace in House of the Dragon, stopped by CNN News Central, where host John Berman questioned him about how dead Jace really was after the Battle of the Gullet. Collett didn’t sugarcoat it: “I think I’m pretty dead. I don’t think there’s any coming back from this.”
House of the Dragon Star Confirms Their Character’s Fate
While Jace’s fate may have surprised some House of the Dragon fans, it didn’t shock Collett. The prince’s fate was written by George R.R. Martin long ago, and Collett was made aware pretty quickly.
“I found out when I got cast. So, I’ve known for like four and a half years, probably,” Collett confirmed. “And it was just a moment of like, how and when are they going to do it? And sort of, yes, just how it’s going to look. And it was so impactful. Obviously, last night was crazy. And to go out in such a way is a blessing, really. It’s really lovely.”
Of course, knowing you’re fated to die doesn’t take the challenge out of the scene for an actor. Collett also discussed what it was like filming Jace’s watery demise.
“Acting dead was probably the hardest acting I’ve ever done in my life because we have so many real emotions in these shows,” he explained. “You know, as much as it’s filled with dragons. But playing dead is so unnatural to the body. And especially in water. I was, obviously, like floating. And they wanted me to, you know, drown in some bits. And I just, I couldn’t. And they would go up my nose and in my eyes and I’d cough and everything. Obviously, I can’t cough if I’m dead.”
House of the Dragon’s Battle of the Gullet Has Divided Fans
The way the House of the Dragon Season 3 premiere depicted the Battle of the Gullet has divided fans. In particular, some of House of the Dragon‘s changes from the books have rankled fans.
Critics seem to have felt differently. House of the Dragon Season 3 has the show’s highest Rotten Tomatoes score yet, with a consensus that reads, “The fate of Westeros comes to a head in a reinvigorated and riveting third season of House of the Dragon, complete with wicked new characters and more thrilling battles, crafting a punchy prequel that matches the expectations of its predecessor.”
CBR’s House of the Dragon Season 3 review reads, “The first four episodes of Season 4 provide an intriguing narrative that learns from Season 2’s mistakes: council meetings are still central to the story, but used sparingly rather than as the norm. Early episode plots are instead brutally powerful, including the monumental Battle of the Gullet, its aftermath, and political takeovers. Episode 3 is a standout for focusing solely on Rhaenyra as she confronts the impossibility of ruling and dealing with the unanticipated repercussions of her new dragonseed army.”