‘House of the Dragon’ Director Discusses Major Death and Epic Battle in Season 3
The highly anticipated Battle of the Gullet made its debut in the Season 3 premiere of ‘House of the Dragon’, showcasing one of the most significant and costly action sequences in the series to date. Director Loni Peristere emphasized that the objective was to create a sea battle that felt both authentic and truly grand.
In an interview with Variety, Peristere shared his vision for the battle, aiming to reflect the scale and peril of historic naval conflicts. He and cinematographer P.J. Dillon drew inspiration from notable references, including paintings of the Battle of Trafalgar and the 2003 film ‘Master and Commander’, to inform their artistic direction.
“We need to go back to what epic means for battles at sea,” Peristere remarked.
Originally slated for Season 2, the Battle of the Gullet was postponed due to budget constraints. With the resources available in Season 3, the production team finally realized this ambitious scene, featuring a significant confrontation between Rhaenyra Targaryen’s forces and the Greens loyal to King Aegon II.
To enhance authenticity, the crew constructed full-scale replicas of two ships, the Queen Who Never Was and Bitchfist. These ships were designed for both dry and wet filming conditions. The production utilized vast quantities of water, hundreds of extras, practical effects, and visual effects to depict the dragon battles.
Peristere emphasized that realism was a top priority, even with blue screens and CGI prevalent throughout the set.
“There was a really big desire from all of us, despite being surrounded by blue screens, to put it all on the deck. Even though we’ve got land, sea and air, we wanted everything that was on the deck to be legitimate and real and present,” he stated.
The cast underwent extensive training, working with real naval experts to understand how sailors would operate during a battle. According to Peristere, it was crucial for everyone on set to grasp their roles to ensure the scenes felt authentic.
The production demanded meticulous planning, with Peristere creating a comprehensive 186-page guide for department heads that addressed everything from weather conditions to blood effects.
“Even though we have a decent budget, we’re not a $300 million motion picture. So everything we had to do had to happen on the day. We’re not Marvel,” he noted.
While the action is a key highlight, the episode also features one of the season’s most poignant moments with the death of Jace Velaryon. He meets his end during the battle, struck by arrows and plunging into the water alongside his dragon, Vermax.
Peristere commended actor Harry Collett for his portrayal in this challenging scene.
“Even when the arrow comes, Jace is like, ‘I’m a god, I’m a dragon rider.’ And when I pop up and I take that gasp of breath, even though I’ve lost my dragon and I’m heartbroken, I never once think I’m going to die. Baela is going to pick me up,” Peristere explained.
The director indicated that the battle was crafted to evoke a sense of loss rather than triumph. By the conclusion, ships are wrecked, lives are lost, and the harsh realities of war are laid bare.
The aftermath of Jace’s death will have significant repercussions for Rhaenyra. Peristere hinted that this tragedy propels her toward a darker trajectory as the season unfolds.
“We literally watch Emma D’Arcy become queen, king in that moment,” he said. “It leads us right into Episode 2, which Claire brilliantly directed, and honestly, the start of what canonically is going to become a bit of madness.”
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