House of the Dragon showrunner teases season 3: "You don't want to end up in that place where you're doing the same thing again and again"

House of the Dragon season 3 hasn't been given the official greenlight from HBO just yet, but it is being written.

Now, considering the House of the Dragon season 1 finale came to a shocking, Westeros-shaking conclusion when Aemond Targaryen accidentally murdered his nephew Lucerys Velaryon, escalating the brewing conflict to a dramatic degree, we were curious if House of the Dragon season 2 would involve a similarly gasp-worthy conclusion to set up the third installment. 

So, when we sat down with showrunner Ryan Condal, we asked for an update on season 3 – and if we can expect the second season to build to a big finish that would set up the future. 

"Well, we'll have to see," Condal teases. "Yes, there's a rhythm to all this, these kinds of stories as you tell them. And we're trying to find satisfying arcs within the season structure. So, hopefully you start with a bang, and then you build to another bang through the series, but you're really trying to arc out the characters, so that each season is a different experience for all of them. And then you leave them off all in a place where you can pick up with them next year, and then take them in a new direction, because you don't want to end up in that place where you're doing the same thing again and again. 

"So, that's actually the biggest challenge, and then the narrative flare ups or the narrative explosions that come along with that are part and parcel with telling those stories," he explains. 

House of the Dragon season 2 launches on Sky and NOW on Monday 17 June in the UK, and HBO and Max on Sunday 16 June in the US. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming new TV shows to get excited about. 

For more from Condal, check out our pieces on:

• House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner on why Blood and Cheese is nothing like Game of Thrones' Red Wedding
• House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner doesn't feel the pressure of following the controversial Game of Thrones season 8: "Our challenge comes from within"
• House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner breaks down the complicated relationship between Daemon and Rhaenyra: "Conflict is the order of the day"
• House of the Dragon season 2 showrunner says Rhaenyra and Alicent's bond is still the heart of the show: "We understand that these two women are connected"