House of the Dragon featured another significant death in the second episode of its third season, which aired Sunday night. The demise of a prominent character follows multiple unexpected deaths in the season's premiere and comes after the events of the Battle of Gullet.
Following the battle, Rhaenyra is set to return to King's Landing to claim the Iron Throne. To solidify her claim, she engaged in a brutal display for her subjects. Alicent, whose loyalty has wavered throughout the series, aligned herself with Rhaenyra. She began ingratiating herself with the Gold Cloaks to secure control of the Red Keep for Rhaenyra and Daemon upon their arrival.
Daemon's inclination towards violence led him to suggest that Rhaenyra execute a respected figure who had previously held authority. This action, however, threatened her already fragile alliance with Alicent.
Hightower's Execution
Alicent arrived to reunite with Rhaenyra shortly after the newly appointed queen had executed her own father, Otto Hightower. Rhys Ifans's character had been absent for much of the previous season before reappearing late in season two, revealing he was alive and imprisoned. Daemon, pleased by Otto's capture, encouraged Rhaenyra to make an example of him to demonstrate her lack of leniency.
In a graphic scene, Rhaenyra was tasked with beheading Otto herself, but she initially failed to deliver a fatal blow. A second attempt was necessary to fully decapitate him. Moments later, Alicent arrived to discover her father's headless body on the ground, with Rhaenyra standing over him, sword in hand. ![Alicent arrived to reconnect with Rhaenyra just after the newly installed queen had executed her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), at the urging of her husband, Daemon (Matt Smith; pictured)]( "Alicent arrived to reconnect with Rhaenyra just after the newly installed queen had executed her father, Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans), at the urging of her husband, Daemon (Matt Smith; pictured))
Fans expressed their reactions on social media, with many commiserating over Otto's death. Some viewers criticized the show for keeping his character in the background for a significant portion of the prior season. One fan noted on social media, "rip otto hightower you deserved to die but you were a legend for delivering this banger," recalling a sharp retort Otto made to Aegon during a confrontation.
