New ‘House of the Dragon’ Photos Hint at Velaryon Family Tensions in Season 3 Episode 3

Westeros has rarely felt this divided, and the remaining members of House Velaryon illustrate the heavy toll the war has taken. ‘House of the Dragon’ has dedicated its early Season 3 episodes to putting nearly every significant family through intense challenges, but few narratives carry as much emotional depth right now as the strained dynamics within Corlys Velaryon’s lineage. Fans are eagerly monitoring every piece of footage related to this family as the season progresses.

This week, that focus intensified with a new batch of images shared by the fan account westerosies, providing a fresh glimpse of Lord Corlys Velaryon, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, Alyn of Hull, and Addam of Hull together in the upcoming third episode. The photos depict Corlys seated at a candlelit table, alongside intimate shots of Alyn and Addam engaged in close conversation, suggesting a quieter, more personal chapter following weeks of turmoil.

This tonal shift aligns with the current state of the Velaryon storyline as Episode 3 approaches. Corlys was cast overboard during the brutal Battle of the Gullet, leaving his fate uncertain for much of the premiere. However, it has since been confirmed that he survives and remains a central figure in the season moving forward.

After being rescued by Addam in the aftermath of the battle, Corlys returned to find his castle in ruins, a devastating homecoming that has clearly impacted him.

This loss seems to have driven Corlys toward a long-overdue reckoning with his sons. Following the battle, Corlys made it clear to his family that with his treasures and home destroyed, the priority now is to legitimize Alyn and Addam as true Velaryons, a desire Alyn has held for a long time. The new images suggest that Episode 3 may be the moment when that promise either begins to take shape or faces challenges.

The relationship between Corlys and Alyn has been one of the more intricate threads of the season thus far, rooted in years of resentment that are not easily resolved. Steve Toussaint, who portrays Corlys, shared with ScreenRant that his character sees a reflection of himself in Alyn, particularly in Alyn’s refusal to simply accept a helping hand after being overlooked for so long. Toussaint explained that Corlys expects gratitude once he finally acknowledges Alyn as his son, only for Alyn to push back and question where that acknowledgment was decades earlier.

This tension has already manifested in small yet significant moments earlier in the season. In the premiere, Corlys shared a rare private moment with Alyn over a harsh drink called dragon water, offering both an apology for lost time and a warning that turbulent times lay ahead before the Battle of the Gullet commenced. Notably, it was Alyn who ultimately delivered the decisive blow against Triarchy leader Sharako Lohar in that very battle, a moment driven as much by duty as by his complicated admiration for the father who had long kept him at a distance.

Addam’s storyline has taken a different direction, rooted more in loyalty than resentment. As one of the dragonseeds, Addam was dispatched to Harrenhal to keep watch over Aemond and Vhagar alongside fellow dragonriders Ulf White and Hugh Hammer, remaining committed to that duty even as Ulf urged abandonment of the post. This reliability has already established him as someone Rhaenyra can trust, making his presence alongside Corlys and Rhaenyra in these new images particularly significant.

With the queen herself now seated at the same table as Corlys and his sons, the photos suggest a moment where personal history and political necessity intersect. Rhaenyra has just claimed the Iron Throne and lost her own heir in the process, so a scene centered around loyalty, legitimacy, and family seems poised to resonate far beyond the Velaryon household. Whether this conversation leads to reconciliation or fresh tension remains to be seen once Episode 3 finally airs.

For a show that has built its reputation on grand dragon battles, these more intimate character-driven moments have quietly emerged as some of its most impactful material. The new look at Corlys, Alyn, Addam, and Rhaenyra suggests Episode 3 may slow down just enough to allow those relationships to develop before the war resumes.

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