'House Of The Dragon's Huge Season 3 Betrayal Explained (And What It Really Means)
House of the Dragon (2022) Season 3 sees Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen take her rightful place on the Iron Throne. But for a second there, in Season 3, Episode 2, there was a real fear that Prince Daemon Targaryen wouldn’t be able to protect Rhaenyra as enemy combatants surrounded them in the Throne Room. In a surprise turn of events (for viewers, at least), the Blacks had an ally, Ser Luthor Largent.
Ser Luthor tells Daemon that the City Watch remembers their commander and acknowledges Rhaenyra as the Queen, leading to the betrayal of the Greens by the City Watch. He also reveals that Daemon was actually the one who gave him his gold cloak 20 years ago. This leads to the last soldiers loyal to the Hightowers laying down their swords, Rhaenyra taking the throne, and Otto Hightower being killed.
But how did we get to this point of such a betrayal in House of the Dragon? And who is Ser Luthor Largent on the show? We break it all down while also covering how the City Watch was transformed into what they are in modern-day Westeros, in case anyone needs a refresher on the complicated lore of this HBO Max show!
Who Is Ser Luthor Largent In ‘House Of The Dragon’?
Ser Luthor Largent is a lowborn knight who serves as the Commander of the City Watch, aka the Gold Cloaks, at the time that Rhaenyra and Daemon arrive in King’s Landing to take the Iron Throne from the Greens. The Greens promoted him during Hightower’s control. But before that, he was part of the City Watch under the command of Daemon and was given his cloak by him.
Luthor didn’t appear in Season 1 or 2 of House of the Dragon. But he was introduced in Season 3, being portrayed by Tom Cullen from The Gold (2023) and Downton Abbey (2010). Before the appearance of Rhaenyra and Daemon, Luthor diligently worked for the Greens. But as we saw in Season 3, Episode 2, Luthor was never truly loyal to them and flipped like nothing when Daemon appeared.
What Happened With The Gold Cloaks In ‘House Of The Dragon’?
The City Watch of King’s Landing, or just the City Watch, is basically the law enforcement of the capital city of the Seven Kingdoms. The Crown pays the City Watch’s salaries, and this law enforcement is akin to a military institution that swears no allegiance except to the King. But this is the modern-day version of the City Watch.
The City Watch we encounter in Season 3 and later on in Game of Thrones wouldn’t be possible without Daemon restructuring it. When the series started, Ser Otto Hightower had advised King Viserys I Targaryen, Daemon’s brother, to appoint Daemon as the commander of the City Watch. It was a strategic move to keep Daemon out of the affairs of the court. (Looking at how this assignment works out for Daemon in Season 3, Episode 2, is karma at its finest.)
Unfortunately for everyone, Daemon took his appointment seriously. He took the ragtag and poorly trained City Watch and trained them. He also equipped them with better armor, thanks to his access to the Royal Treasury. Plus, he introduced the gold cloaks that the City Watch would wear, which led to their nickname. Basically, Daemon gave them purpose, made them respected, and trained them to be a force to be reckoned with. That’s how they became loyal to Daemon.
Should Rhaenyra And Daemon Trust Luthor Largent?
In general, you can’t trust anyone completely in House of the Dragon. But it’s looking good when it comes to Ser Luthor.
At the end of the day, most of us just want to be respected. And that’s what Daemon did when he trained the City Watch. He made them something to be revered, cleaned them up, and made sure they were taken care of. Ser Luthor remembers that even 20 years later. What Daemon did helped him become the man he is today and set him on his path of power.
If we take into consideration what happened in George R. R. Martin’s source material, his loyalty is also proven. In the books, Luthor has a minder, Ser Gwayne Hightower, the son of Otto. After the betrayal of the Greens, Luthor personally kills Gwayne, and Rhaenyra rewards with being ennobled. This means his rank was elevated, and he was allowed to form House Largent. This doesn’t play out the same in the TV series. But it gives hope that Ser Luthor isn’t going to betray the Blacks anytime soon.
