Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 6.As House of the Dragon weaves the epic story of the Dance of the Dragons, the series is unafraid to take its own path. Though George R.R. Martin‘s Fire & Blood provides an outline, the HBO series has made more than a few changes, like altering Alicent (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) dynamic and, more recently, changing the timing of Helaena’s (Phia Saban) pregnancy. And as the story unfolds, there are even more examples. Season 3’s latest dramatic twist highlights House of the Dragon‘s willingness to take risks as the series pushes Corlys Velaryon’s (Steve Toussaint) story in a drastically different direction.
Throughout Season 3, Corlys’ plot has been unlike Fire & Blood. His anger at Rhaenyra and absence from King’s Landing are invented for the series, but certainly make sense for the proud character. However, Episode 6 takes this even further with the cliffhanger of Corlys getting captured by Ormund Hightower’s (James Norton) man. With no comparable storyline in the source material, it’s unclear how this will turn out for the Sea Snake, placing the character in serious danger. However, whatever happens, Corlys’ Fire & Blood story can continue, as his disappearance will allow House of the Dragon to highlight Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and Baela (Bethany Antonia). While the series has taken a major risk with Corlys, the departure from the source material could make his storyline even more compelling.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Gives Corlys a Storyline That Isn’t in ‘Fire & Blood’
While it’s not surprising for House of the Dragon to change a few things, Corlys’ story in Season 3 is unrecognizable from his Fire & Blood role, and Episode 6 takes that even further. While it starts with Alyn’s efforts to convince Corlys to return to help Rhaenyra, the ending takes a dark turn. Despite his lingering resentment for Rhaenyra, Corlys announces his intention to return to King’s Landing, allowing his men to reinforce the city, but his plan is interrupted when Jon Roxton (Joplin Sibtain), Ormund Hightower’s right-hand man, appears. Angered by Rhaenyra’s assassination attempt, the Hightower forces capture Corlys and attack his men in retaliation. This conflict leaves Corlys’ fate unclear, and with Ormund’s volatile nature, things don’t look good for the Sea Snake.
Not only is this a tense cliffhanger, but even those who read Fire & Blood have no idea what might happen to Corlys next. The differences in Corlys’ storyline started small, initially only extending his appeal for Alyn and Addam (Clinton Liberty) to be legitimized and creating a rift between him and Rhaenyra over the subject. But with Episode 6’s twist, House of the Dragon has moved even further from the source material. Instead of hunting the Triarchy in Westeros, the novel shows him staying in King’s Landing and advising Rhaenyra. Corlys spends much of the war trying to curb her more vicious impulses as he argues for calm, rational action, but his advice is often ignored. Their relationship eventually falls apart when Rhaenyra sends her people after the dragonseed, including Addam, despite Corlys’ protests. He warns Addam, allowing the dragonrider to flee to safety, but Corlys is named a traitor for it. Rather than taking the character down this path, House of the Dragon has interrupted the story with Corlys’ capture, placing him in the middle of the conflict with Ormund with this shocking twist.
‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Can Highlight Baela and Alyn in Corlys’ Place
Corlys’ story may not follow his Fire & Blood trajectory, but this change has already provided one benefit because it allows the show to highlight another member of his family. Alyn has begun to take over Corlys’ King’s Landing storyline as he sits on the small council and advises patience and restraint. Already he is gaining her trust and earning his place as Corlys’ heir, though Rhaenyra has yet to grant it. Especially with Corlys missing, Alyn can take over his role, leading House Velaryon and advising Rhaenyra. This will give him a more significant role than in Fire & Blood, where he stays with the Velaryon fleet that has already played its part.
Yet, Alyn isn’t the only one able to step up in Corlys’ absence. Baela remains an important part of Rhaenyra’s forces, being one of her dragonriders. Though Fire & Blood gives her little to do at this point in the story, House of the Dragon‘s twist allows her a new challenge. Not only does Corlys’ disappearance leave a void, but it is a reason for both Alyn and Baela to fight. They both care for Corlys, with Alyn finally getting to know his father and Baela having lost most of her family already, potentially making rescuing him a priority. Already, House of the Dragon has begun exploring a romance between them, and now Baela and Alyn will be thrown together even more as they fear for Corlys and lead the Velaryon House in his absence. While whatever happens to Corlys while Ormund has him is sure to be terrible (this is Westeros, after all), at least he has two capable descendants to continue his work in King’s Landing.
House of the Dragon Season 3 is streaming on HBO Max with new episodes on Sundays.
