{"id":5567,"date":"2026-06-22T14:10:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T13:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=5567"},"modified":"2026-06-22T14:10:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T13:10:33","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-season-3-episode-1-most-tragic-detail-jace-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/06\/22\/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-episode-1-most-tragic-detail-jace-death\/","title":{"rendered":"House of the Dragon star reveals the most tragic detail about Jace’s season 3 death"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season 3 episode 1*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

House of the Dragon has returned with its season three premiere, which culminated with the Battle of the Gullet and the shocking (but expected) death of Jacaerys \u2018Jace\u2019 Velaryon.<\/span><\/p>\n

Readers of George R.R. Martin\u2019s<\/a> fantasy novels will have been well aware that Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen\u2019s (Emma D\u2019Arcy) firstborn son was set for an untimely death, but that doesn\u2019t make it any less horrific.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The scene unfolds amid the battle between the Velaryon ships and the Triarchy. After ordering for Rhaenyra to be locked in her chambers, Jace jumps on his dragon Vermax and heads to the scene to support the Sea Snakes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But it all goes south (quite literally) when Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) rocks up on her wild dragon Sheepstealer<\/a>, which swiftly starts attacking both sides of the fight – and the other dragons.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rhaena
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amid the chaos, Vermax flies too low and gets hit by one of the Triarchy\u2019s ballista bolts, causing him to fall into the sea, with Jace still on his back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Jace manages to break free and hold onto some driftwood, only for him to be struck by multiple arrows from a nearby ship, plunging him to his watery death.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only is this another blow to the Blacks, but it\u2019s also a turning point in Rhaenyra\u2019s mindset. Having lost two of her sons, it\u2019s time for her to go full scorched earth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The sad truth behind Jace\u2019s death in House of the Dragon season 3<\/h2>\n
\"Jace
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the release of House of the Dragon<\/a> season three episode one, Jace actor Harry Collett has now spoken about his character\u2019s death and what was going through his head. Tragically, he was scared and wanted his mum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to <\/span>Esquire<\/span><\/a>, he explained, \u201cI know how brutal it sounds, but Loni [Peristere, director of House of the Dragon] wanted to do it by arrow. The first arrow is in his back, and we wanted him to feel confused and, because of the adrenaline, not a lot of pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, he obviously turns around and sees the archers and then the second one goes in. Ultimately what he felt was, \u2018I don’t want to die, I just want my mum\u2019. He felt very young and vulnerable in that moment and regretted his decision to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople forget he’s 16. He’s struggling to breathe at that point, and then that last one just finishes him off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Sad it may be, Collett explained why Jace had to die at that moment in time. \u201cThere\u2019s no way Jace couldn’t have died. He had to for the future of the realm,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt changes Rhaenyra’s mindset, so it’s all a great sacrifice. Some people say to me, \u2018I’m so sorry they killed you off\u2019, and I’m like, \u2018I haven’t been fired! I knew this was going to happen in Season 1\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jace
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an absolute joy and I’ve met friends for life on here. I feel like there’s no better way to go out than season 3 episode 1<\/a>. For me, that was the perfect death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The actor also commented on the difficulty of holding this spoiler in, having known for the past five years. If you remember, the season three premiere was originally going to be the season two finale, making the wait even longer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was in the season 2 finale, obviously that would have been great for season 2, but for me, I wouldn’t have been able to speak about it all of last year,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I get to bang on about it and I don’t have to stress out about spoilers all the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Harry Collett thanks fans for accepting him as their Jace<\/h2>\n

Collett also took to TikTok to thank his fans for their support (after a massive spoiler warning) and for accepting him as their Jace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
@harry.collett<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n

\u266c original sound – harrycollett<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n