‘House of the Dragon’ – ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’ – Review

After much longing and waiting, HBO MAX is set to heat up with the return of the colossal high-fantasy juggernaut that is House of the Dragon, and fire and blood are ready to reign. Kicking off immediately with Episode One, ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’, series showrunner Ryan Condal throws audiences straight into the fires of the legendary Dance of the Dragons. Civil war for the Iron Throne now threatens to engulf all of Westeros in flame and ash, and this opening chapter fully embraces the idea that when you play the game of thrones, you either win or die.

Driven by her faith in Alicent, Rhaenyra positions herself to take King’s Landing while the Triarchy sails to take on Corlys in the Gullet.

The Dance of the Dragons Rages

Season Two ended on a staggering cliffhanger, with war finally ready to ravage the Seven Kingdoms as the Greens and the Blacks vied for ultimate supremacy. Episode One wastes no time picking up from that tantalising finale. War has arrived in Westeros, and only bloodshed will suffice.

Condal and director Loni Peristere lead audiences directly into the flames, but they do so with remarkable restraint. While war looms on every horizon, they refuse to rush the story forward. Instead, they patiently position every piece on the board, building tension with deliberate precision. The result is an episode brimming with suspense, anguish, shock and anticipation, all of which combine to create what may be the most memorable season opener the series has delivered thus far.

A Kingdom Splintering From Within

Balancing multiple narrative threads and shifting points of view, ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’ thrives on dramatic tension. Audiences will find themselves watching with bated breath as every faction edges closer to catastrophe.

The episode opens with Phoebe Campbell’s Lady Rhaena Targaryen finally claiming a dragon of her own in the fearsome Sheepstealer, and from there the tension only escalates. King Aegon II Targaryen’s (Tom Glynn-Carney) escape from King’s Landing alongside the slippery and manipulative Lord Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) has left the Greens facing a dangerous power vacuum. One that the cunning and brutal Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) is all too eager to fill.

His sudden claim over the Iron Throne completely derails Queen Alicent Hightower’s (Olivia Cooke) hopes of negotiating peace with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), and the fragile prospect of reconciliation quickly burns away.

Away from the chaos of King’s Landing, Prince Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) wages war at the Red Fork, putting the Lannister host to the sword, while Ser Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) and Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) continue their relentless campaign through the Riverlands.

A growing sense of unease permeates every frame of ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’. As blood is spilled and battle lines harden, both the Greens and the Blacks begin to fracture under the weight of their ambitions. This instability keeps audiences constantly off-balance. Just when you think you understand where the story is heading, Condal and Peristere pull the rug out from underneath you.

New Players Enter The Game

‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’ also serves as an impressive introduction to several key new players who immediately leave their mark on the conflict.

Chief among them is Lord Ormund Hightower, ruler of Oldtown and one of the most powerful men in Westeros. Portrayed with commanding presence by James Norton, Ormund arrives ready to unleash the full might of House Hightower against the Blacks. Wealthy, intelligent and dangerously ambitious, Norton plays him as a volatile strategist whose charisma is matched only by his callous ruthlessness and opulent narcissim.

Equally memorable is Tommy Flanagan’s introduction as Roderick Dustin, better known as Roddy the Ruin. The Lord of Barrowton and commander of the Winter Wolves arrives as a ferocious northern warrior determined to spend his remaining days fighting and dying in service to Queen Rhaenyra. Flanagan brings immense presence to the role, immediately establishing Roddy as a fan favourite.

Family, Fury And Uncomfortable Truths

Among the many escalating tensions of ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’, some of the most compelling arise from the fractured family dynamics at the heart of the story.

Ewan Mitchell’s vindictive and power-hungry Aemond Targaryen now sits firmly in control of King’s Landing, and his increasingly volatile behaviour leads to a heated confrontation with Alicent. What follows delivers one of the episode’s most shocking moments between the two of them, revealing a deeply unsettling side of Aemond that will leave audiences recoiling.

Counterbalancing this is Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), whose own rebellious streak places him at odds with Queen Rhaenyra. Their confrontation sparks a major revelation and sets in motion consequences that will undoubtedly reverberate throughout the season.

The Battle Of The Gullet Arrives In Spectacular Fashion

Everything in ‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’ ultimately builds towards the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet, one of the most famous conflicts in Westerosi history.

The battle sees Lord Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint), the legendary Sea Snake, locked in a brutal naval conflict with the ruthless Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn). The result is a staggering piece of television spectacle that ranks among the most ambitious action sequences ever attempted within the Game of Thrones franchise.

Spanning nearly thirty minutes, the battle is a breathtaking display of chaos and carnage. Blood mixes with seawater, ships splinter apart, and bodies crash across burning decks as Corlys and Lohar wage war with relentless fury. Toussaint and Thorn are exceptional throughout, delivering commanding performances amid the destruction.

Add dragonfire, shocking twists and devastating losses into the mix, and the Battle of the Gullet becomes an unforgettable centrepiece that will leave audiences utterly exhilarated.

Verdict: Fire and Blood Reigns

‘Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood’ is a thunderous opening salvo for Season Three of House of the Dragon. Running just over 72 minutes, it feels less like a television episode and more like a major event. By the time the smoke clears and the fires begin to fade, the true cost of this war is finally revealed.

And in the battle for fire and blood, no one is spared.

House of the Dragon is now streaming on HBO MAX.

Image: HBO MAX.