**Major spoilers for House Of The Dragon season three episode eight below**
House Of The Dragon viewers have shared their thoughts on the season three finale after premiering last night (Sunday August 9).
The HBO show wrapped its third run over the weekend, with the episode showcasing several deaths including those of Ormund Hightower (James Norton) and Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban). The former is brutally killed by Ulf White (Tom Bennett), while the latter jumps from a window to her fate.
The finale also sees Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) become more ruthless, including killing the High Septon after refusing to anoint her rule, having learnt that Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) is alive – while the latter plots to take back the Iron Throne with Aemond (Ewan Mitchell).
Viewers have shared a mixed reaction to the events, one sharing on X: “HOUSE OF THE DRAGON remains the most frustrating show on TV. Excellent performances and undeniable spectacle clash with some truly baffling narrative choices.”
“House of the Dragon started so strong at the beginning of season three, and it has been a slow, painful watch ever since episode four,” another added, calling the finale “just atrocious”.
Another agreed, suggesting the season “devolved into a Euphoria season two-level train wreck”, adding: “Every single character reduced to the level of bad fan fiction and absurd nonsense everywhere you looked. What a waste.”
However, a third countered: “I’d argue I was giving it time to cook when I started watching it from the beginning of the season because the ingredients to this stir fry are a bit wonky.”
Another fan praised the “great” finale, elaborating: “Season three Episode eight was so good one of the best hours of tv this year. Lots went down many lives lost. The characters well played well acted and the visual effects , sound effects & music top notch 9/10.”
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON remains the most frustrating show on TV. Excellent performances and undeniable spectacle clash with some truly baffling narrative choices. Gwayne Hightower has more plot armor than even Arya Stark herself. The show will have a lot less panache without Ormund pic.twitter.com/G5NMAyEFMi
— David S. Caballero (@DavidSCaballer2) August 10, 2026
House of the Dragon started so strong at the beginning of season 3, and it has been a slow, painful watch ever since episode 4. That finale was just atrocious.
Me watching the finale: pic.twitter.com/Q6JaMyBtEl
— Jessie Earl (@jessiegender) August 10, 2026
Just devolved into a Euphoria season 2-level train wreck. Every single character reduced to the level of bad fan fiction and absurd nonsense everywhere you looked. What a waste.
— Andy (@AndyMan2288) August 10, 2026
I'd argue I was giving it time to cook when I started watching it from the beginning of the season because the ingredients to this stir fry are a bit wonky
— Reevey the Gnome (@demonsthenes13) August 10, 2026
No Spoilers wow. Great Season Finale of House of The Dragon. Season 3 Episode 8 was so good one of the best hours of tv this year. Lots went down many lives lost. The characters well played well acted and the visual effects , sound effects & music top notch 9/10 #HouseofTheDragon pic.twitter.com/MPEfUyTlvC
— Kenny Kraly Jr. (@kennykraly) August 10, 2026
Many also reacted to Ormund’s brutal death, which saw the character stabbed in the anus, one quipping: “ORMUND HIGHTOWER IS DEAD… oh diva i’ll miss your nasty messy ass.”
Another wrote: “Not ormund using those kids as human shields.. his ass is so comfortable with going to hell,” while a third said: “Not Ormund telling Daeron to keep his back against the wall just for him to die from a knife up his ass.”
ORMUND HIGHTOWER IS DEAD… oh diva i'll miss your nasty messy ass#HOTD #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/XKU3QBnpmX
— ★ (@POPin4k) August 10, 2026
not ormund using those kids as human shields.. his ass is so comfortable with going to hell #hotd pic.twitter.com/iZrcysatj4
— var ☾ (@unearthlysighs) August 10, 2026
Not Ormund telling Daeron to keep his back against the wall just for him to die from a knife up his ass #hotd pic.twitter.com/LbZdo811f2
— ✭ (@Rzolf2446) August 10, 2026
The third season has seen quite a few deaths, including the recent demise of Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel), as well as Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans) earlier in the run.
House Of The Dragon season three debuted back in June, though its viewership was down as compared to season two’s premiere, with 21.5million viewers worldwide as compared to the previous season’s 23.4million viewers.
Following the conclusion of the latest episodes, the show will be back for a fourth and final season, which was confirmed earlier this year.
