&x27;House of the Dragon&x27; kills off acting legend, spikes another icon Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYMon, June 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC 0 Warning: This story contains spoilers from "House of the Dragon" Season 3, Episode 2, now streaming on Max. Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is making his mark on Season 3 of "House of the Dragon." It started with that kiss with his TV mom Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in the June 21 premiere episode. In Episode 2 (now streaming on Max), Aemond makes good on his pledge to Mummy to get out of King&x27;s Landing and head to the creepy castle at Harrenhal.
'House of the Dragon' kills off acting legend, spikes another icon
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAYMon, June 29, 2026 at 2:00 AM UTC
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Warning: This story contains spoilers from "House of the Dragon" Season 3, Episode 2, now streaming on Max.
Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) is making his mark on Season 3 of "House of the Dragon."
It started with that kiss with his TV mom Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) in the June 21 premiere episode. In Episode 2 (now streaming on Max), Aemond makes good on his pledge to Mummy to get out of King's Landing and head to the creepy castle at Harrenhal.
No sooner does Aemond arrive than the silver-white-haired warrior sticks his blade into the smooth-talking Harrenhal caretaker, Ser Simon Strong, played by British thespian Simon Russell Beale.
"To be honest, I was dreading that day," Mitchell tells USA TODAY of the killing. "I even wanted to spend more time with [Beale] making that scene. It all happened so fast."
In Episode 1: Ewan Mitchell explains Aemond's incestuous 'House of the Dragon' kiss
Swing a cat in the "House of the Dragon" Westeros, and you're bound to hit a Ser or two. But the "Game of Thrones" spinoff has (well had) only one real-life Sir: Stage legend Beale was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
The stage actor is probably best known in the U.S. for his role as the Soviet security chief in "The Death of Stalin" and a small Dionysus role in "Thor: Love and Thunder." But he's a U.K. legend. And Beale is perfect as the politically savvy, fine-food-loving Ser Simon, joining in Season 2.
It's a hot-headed killing from the increasingly unhinged Aemond. Ser Simon had been an ally of sorts to Aemond's arch-nemesis, Prince Daemon (Matt Smith). But Ser Simon had to play after Daemon landed his dragon Caraxes on haunted Harrenhal, claiming the massive fortress for his lover, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) in Season 2.
Ser Simon made it clear that he'd work for any side in the civil war, especially the ones who could kill him. And he clearly signals to Aemond that the young prince will find some "satisfaction" now that Daemon has fled town.
Aemond, without his eyepatch and his artificial eye glowing eerily, does find satisfaction. He kills Ser Simon and quickly dispatches both his sons.
"Aemond means war," says Mitchell.
However, Aemond takes a stab to the back through his armor. The prince falls in front of the just-arrived Harrenhal witch, Alys Rivers (Scottish actress Gayle Rankin). His final words are, "Help me."
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Ser Otto Hightower makes an appearance, but we can spike that major character
The bloodshed isn't over. With Aemond gone, Rhaenrya dragon-waltzes into King's Landing, an entry made possible by peace-seeking former foe and childhood bestie Alicent.
"Don't be afraid, I mean to make this right," Rhaenrya hilariously tells the worried King's Landing locals as her dragon lurks nearby. Whatever you say, lady.
But the new ruler of the Iron Throne has to make a power statement. Killing her official opposing claimant to the throne, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney), won't work since he's fled town. A long-forgotten shackled prisoner is brought from the dungeons.
It's Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), 'member him?
Ifans is forever Spike from 1999's "Notting Hill," but was reborn in "House of the Dragon" as the scheming Otto. Prison life hasn't been easy on Otto, who has dungeon hair, sunken eyes and a scraggly beard. He knows that Rhaenrya will have to kill him.
"Just get it over with," he says, resigned.
But Otto is the man who served as Hand of the King to Rhaenrya's father, peaceful King Viserys (Paddy Considine). And obviously, he's Alicent's beloved father.
"If your father had seen what this had come to, he never would have imagined this," Otto seethes at Rhaenyra before asking for Daemon to cut off his neck, since he won't make a mess of it. But it has to be Rhaenyra.
Otto gives up his neck for a clean shot. Rhaenrya does make a mess of it, stabbing into his back painfully. As Otto groans, Rhaenrya pulls back and cleaves off Otto's head. It rolls on the stone floor.
Tellingly, Rhaenrya has to step through the blood to get to the Iron Throne. It gets a little heavy-handed. A shot of the throne reflected through the blood is a little too on-the-nose. But it's a strong symbol.
No sooner does Rhaenrya take the throne than Alicent is ushered in by guards. Alicent looks understandably horrified to see her father's head on the ground away from his body.
Rhaenyra doesn't know what expression to wear when looking at her former childhood friend. But the Queen ends with a firm look from the throne, tears still streaming from her eyes.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'House of the Dragon' kills 2 British icons in Episode 2 – Who died?
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: June 29, 2026 at 01:01AM on Source: PRIME TIME
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