‘House of the Dragon’ season 3 sets Rotten Tomatoes record ahead of premiere
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House of the Dragon season three is already making history before its official debut, earning the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of the HBO fantasy series to date.
The upcoming season currently holds a 97% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes based on early reviews, surpassing the show's previous highs and setting a new record for the Game of Thrones prequel.
The score marks a significant jump from season one's 90% rating and season two's 84%, suggesting critics believe the latest instalment is the strongest chapter of the series so far.
The 97% rating also places season three alongside some of the most acclaimed seasons of Game of Thrones. Forbes noted that the score matches the ratings achieved by seasons two and four of the original HBO series, which featured fan-favourite episodes such as “Blackwater” and “The Mountain and the Viper.”
Early reviews have praised the season's larger-scale action, faster pacing and character development, with several critics describing it as the closest the franchise has come to recapturing the magic of peak Game of Thrones. Reviewers have also singled out Emma D'Arcy's performance as Rhaenyra Targaryen for particular acclaim.
Much of the excitement centres on the season's opening episodes, which reportedly begin with the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet, one of the most significant conflicts in George R R Martin's Fire and Blood. Critics have highlighted the sequence as one of the most ambitious action set pieces the franchise has attempted.
Season three continues the story of the Dance of the Dragons, the brutal Targaryen civil war that has divided Westeros between supporters of Rhaenyra Targaryen and Aegon II Targaryen. The new episodes are expected to move the conflict closer to its conclusion, with HBO already planning a fourth and final season.
House of the Dragon season three premieres in the United States on June 21, 2026, before launching internationally on June 22, 2026. While Rotten Tomatoes scores can fluctuate as more reviews are added, the early reaction suggests the series may have delivered its most acclaimed season yet.