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TL;DR: Learning can be fun with this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok, on sale now for $59.99 (MSRP $250) during Deal Days, our answer to Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pok Pok Pok Pok: Lifetime Subscription $59.99
$250 Save $190.01   Get Deal

Not all screen time is created equal. If you have a little one at home, you know the struggles of balancing screens. Pok Pok offers a guilt-free, educational option for kids ages 2 to 8. It’s based on Montessori-style learning, so they can navigate the app independently.

Right now, you can lock in major savings and secure a lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for just $59.99 during Deal Days, our answer to Prime Day.

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Screens don’t have to be filled with addictive, mindless content for kids. Pok Pok is an award-winning app that offers kids a fun, educational experience.

With guidance from early childhood experts, Pok Pok was built to provide an enriching and supportive experience grounded in the Montessori approach to learning. This method ensures kids can navigate everything solo — there’s no winning or losing, and no rules, levels, or objectives.

Kids can open the app, tap a toy, and get going in categories like space, dinosaurs, numbers, shapes, and dress-up. This open-ended play setup that Pok Pok offers can grow with your kiddos, so they can enjoy playing for years.

The hand-drawn animations and in-house-made sound effects create a low-stimulation, calming environment. And Pok Pok is ad-free, COPPA-certified, and GDPR-compliant, so you can rest easy knowing your little ones won’t be tricked into making a purchase.

A lifetime subscription gives you access to regular updates, so there’s always something new to explore. You’ll also receive a gift mailed directly to your door with your subscription.

Snag this lifetime subscription to Pok Pok for just $59.99 during Deal Days, our answer to Prime Day, now through June 28.

StackSocial prices are subject to change.

TL;DR: Get all the perks of an Apple Watch for a fraction of the price with this deal on an Apple Watch Series 11, now only $339.99 (reg. $529) while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Cellular Professor, Inc Apple Watch Series 11 (Refurbished) $339.99
$529 Save $189.01   Get Deal

Whether you’re on a fitness journey, trying to track your health metrics, or simply want an easier way to stay connected without always keeping your phone in your back pocket, the Apple Watch can tackle it all and more. And while this go-to Apple product typically sets you back $529, right now you can secure an Apple Watch Series 11 for just $339.99 while supplies last.

The Apple Watch comes with plenty of perks, but it also typically comes with a hefty price tag. This deal on an Apple Watch Series 11 lets you secure all the best features — from health and wellness tracking to training and activity tools — for nearly $200 less.

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This lightweight Apple Watch Series 11 features an always-on Retina display, so it’s bright and easy to see all day. It recharges quickly and is scratch-resistant, water-resistant up to 50 meters, and has IP6X dust resistance.

Get a better understanding of your body simply by wearing a watch with this Apple Watch Series 11. It monitors factors like sleep quality, heart rate, and other health metrics, so you can stay informed about your health.

If you’re on a fitness journey, this Apple Watch Series 11 includes three months of Apple Fitness+ for eligible users. There are also advanced workout metrics to track your performance, and tools like heart rate zones, training load, and pacer features. Workout Buddy Integration is also available and works with Apple Intelligence via nearby iPhones.

You’re scoring a deep discount thanks to this Apple Watch Series 11’s Grade A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive in near-mint condition, with no scratches or screen burn.

Score major savings on this refurbished Apple Watch Series 11, now only $339.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Hookup apps are fun and all, but there are real privacy concerns, from the nuances of data collection to the plain fact that you'll be sharing your face far and wide on an app designed for short-term fun. You have a responsibility to take your privacy into your own hands, and that means knowing how the companies you're interacting with value discretion. 

If you have a shared bank account or if, for whatever reason, it's likely that other people might get a glimpse of your credit card statement, you may want to know how various hookup sites and apps will charge your card, and how those charges may appear to a third party. 

To help give you peace of mind, we dug up the billing practices of four of the most common hookup platforms, so you can better understand the risk you're taking if you decide to pay for a membership:

AdultFriendFinder bank statement

Because AdultFriendFinder is the only web-based dating platform on this list, it cannot disguise its payment processing through an app store, which means you are going to get a telltale billing statement, either directly in your bank account or on your credit card statement. Thankfully, however, AFF has opted for a relatively discreet option: the charges will come from FFNHelp.com*FRIENDF.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2026: I swiped until my thumb hurt

If even that garbled assemblage of letters is too revealing for your peace of mind, there are ways to bypass the billing statement entirely, if you're clever about it. 

Tinder billing statement

Unlike AdultFriendFinder, which operates exclusively as a website, Tinder operates exclusively as an app, which means all of its charges, whether for subscriptions or Super Likes and Boosts, are routed through your smartphone's app store, either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

There is an exception, though: if you purchase a subscription on the Tinder website, not the app, your bank or credit card statement will show a charge from either TINDER.COM or MATCH GROUP, depending on where you live.

It's also worth noting that Tinder subscriptions automatically renew, not just during your allotted subscription period but also after it, so you need to manually cancel your subscription when you want to stop using the app. Do not just delete the app, as this will keep your subscription running.

Pure billing statement

As an app, Pure also enjoys the benefits of being able to route its charges to you through an app store, so you won't have to worry about anything revealing appearing on your bank or credit card statement, but Pure also allows users to use their website to purchase a membership (at a discount, no less!), in which case you will get a billing statement. 

What exactly appears on your bill will vary by where you live, but it will usually be some variation of PURE, without the words "app" or "hookup" appearing.

SEE ALSO: Is AdultFriendFinder safe to use? What a cybersecurity expert says.

And like many hookup apps, Pure automatically renews your subscription, so if you want to end your membership, you will have to manually cancel your subscription at least 24 hours before the renewal date.

Grindr billing statement

Like Pure and Tinder, Grindr enables discretion by running its billing through whichever app store you used to download and pay for the app, so you won't have to worry about an identifiable charge appearing on your bank or credit card statement each month. 

You should know, however, that Grindr's subscriptions are all set to automatically renew, so if you're intending to stop using the app, you need to manually cancel your subscription by navigating to your profile, selecting Payments (iOS) or Payments & Subscriptions (Android), and then choosing Cancel Subscription. , This will likely help to discourage the low-effort, ghosting culture that so many over-40 daters are running away from. 

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition.

The first round of group-stage games is done. The story the tournament so far? Cape Verde drawing with Spain and Uruguay is tough to beat. Messi's hattrick against Algeria was special. And England's 4-2 win over Croatia was arguably the most entertaining clash of the competition. We're hoping for more of the same from the second round of fixtures.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Best early Prime Day Apple Watch deals: Best Apple Watch Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS) $279 (Save $120) Get Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm) Deal Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm, GPS) $309 (Save $120) Get Deal Best Apple Watch SE 3 Deal Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) $199 (Save $50) Get Deal

Warmer weather means more time outside, and when you're in the great outdoors, a fitness tracker or smartwatch helps track all of that activity. Whether you're headed out on a European vacation or have a list of summer hikes to tackle, an Apple Watch is one of our favorite ways to stay connected and track activity, and with Prime Day on the horizon, we're hunting for deals on the smartwatch.

Amazon's biggest sale of the year, which spans four days from June 23 to 26, is almost here. Early deals are already dropping, and Apple Watches are among them. Just a day before the sale event's start, we've spotted the Series 11 at a new low price at the retailer, but that's not all. We've gathered up even more early Apple Watch deals below that deserve a look before Prime Day's kickoff tomorrow.

SEE ALSO: A Prime Day Apple deals primer: How low prices will go on AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks Best early Prime Day Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS) $279 at Amazon
$399 Save $120   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch Series 11 has dropped to $279 ahead of Prime Day. According to camelcamelcamel, this marks a new all-time low price. After sitting at $299 for several months now, this is a welcome price cut the day before Prime Day.

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Series 11's $279 price saves you $120 off its $399 price tag. We rate it our favorite smartwatch for fitness tracking, and it has an impressive battery. With improved battery life compared to the Series 10, you don't need to charge the watch midday for battery life to last you all night. So if you've been thinking about upgrading, grab it now for its lowest price ever.

More early Prime Day Apple Watch dealsApple Watch Series 11 deals

• Apple Watch Series 11 (46mm, GPS) — $309 $429 (save $120)

Apple Watch SE deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS) — $229 $279 (save $50)

• Apple Watch SE 3 (44mm, GPS + Cellular) — $249 $329 (save $80)

Apple Watch Ultra 3 deals

• Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS + Cellular) — $649 $799 (save $150)

This isn't going to end well, is it?

After an opening episode that finally gave us the Battle of the Gullet (and the requisite number of dead bodies), HBO has dropped its "weeks ahead" trailer for House of the Dragon Season 3.

The two-minute clip shows Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) struggling to hold onto power, while seemingly everyone around her is intent on taking it away. We also get some more battle shots, and plenty more dragon fire. Eep.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Want more of the latest entertainment news, reviews, trailers, and interviews? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know shoes.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Partial teams

• Green: Baseball playing locations

• Blue: Championship teammates

• Purple: Same brand

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: First words of World Cup countries, in English

• Green: MLB stadiums

• Blue: LeBron-era Heat Stars

• Purple: Adidas shoes

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #637 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• First words of World Cup countries, in English: BOSNIA, IVORY, SOUTH, UNITED

• MLB stadiums: COMERICA, KAUFFMAN, NATIONALS, WRIGLEY

• LeBron-era Heat stars: ALLEN, BOSH, JAMES, WADE

• Adidas shoes: SAMBA, STAN SMITH, SUPERSTAR, ULTRABOOST

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

SAVE $150: Apple AirPods Max 2 are down to a new record-low price ahead of Prime Day — buy for under $400.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max 2 $399 at Amazon
$549 Save $150   Get Deal

Prime Day officially starts on June 23, but Apple deals are going live early. The best of the bunch? It's hard to look past the latest price drop on the Apple AirPods Max 2. In fact, we're going to cut to the chase with this deal, because we don't expect it to last long.

Apple AirPods Max 2 are down to a new record-low price ahead of Prime Day. These popular headphones are on sale for $399 at Amazon. That's $150 off the list price. This deal is not likely to last long, so if you're scoping out the best opportunity to score these headphones for less, you don't need to wait. This is the time to strike.

We took a close look at these headphones earlier this year. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said: "They sound pretty good, play nice with Apple hardware, they look great, and they're very comfy." We also recommended that shoppers "wait for them to go on sale" before buying. That time is now. You know what to do.

Score the best-ever price on the Apple AirPods Max 2 at Amazon.

Go behind the scenes with Force of Nature, the world's fastest steam-powered rocketbike.

It’s finally here: the long-awaited Casa Amor episode of Love Island USA just aired in Season 8, Episode 17, and the internet is going crazy for the drama.

SEE ALSO: Why Millie dumping Charlie on ‘Love Island: All Stars' is actually iconic

Casa Amor takes place around the halfway mark of each season of Love Island, and, as its name implies, puts the Islanders to the ultimate test of temptation. Either the boys’ section or the girls’ section of the villa are told to pack their bags and head to Casa Amor, where they will meet and mingle with a new set of bombshells of the other gender.

However, this season of Casa Amor looked a little different. This time, the girls (Aniya, Jen, Kayda, Kenzie, Melanie, and Trinity) were able to watch the boys (KC, Caleb, Zach, Corbin, and Bryce) meet the new bombshells at Casa Amor through a flatscreen TV. It was chaotic, juicy, and at times hard to watch — and social media users were here for the drama.

People said that the girls being able to watch the boys was not only a much-needed boost for an otherwise quiet season of Love Island USA, but also something that the girls needed to see to test their connections.

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Unsurprisingly, connections were immediately put to the test, with the boys receiving lap dances and kisses from the six new bombshells (Amora, Parmida, Jaiden, Tierra, Alannah, and Sydney). The girls who remained back at the villa were rethinking their current connections — and so were viewers after watching the boys at Casa Amor.

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The boys who stirred the most drama were KC, who is coupled with Aniya, and Corbin, who is coupled with Kenzie. 

While some people were fuming for Aniya after watching how enthusiastic KC was with the new bombshells, others were also glad that she was able to rethink her connection.

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As for Corbin, he left Kenzie (and the rest of us) stunned when he turned to one of the guys and said that he was going back to the villa with "somebody different." Kenzie and Corbin had just recoupled after writing love letters to each other in Season 8, Episode 13, so the comment felt especially out-of-pocket.

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Melanie was left rethinking her connection with Sincere, who she had also just recoupled with in Season 8, Episode 13. Prior to Casa Amor, she was just telling Aniya how much she liked Sincere and that she thought they were headed towards closing off their connection to others. 

People are anticipating that she might act differently towards Sincere once he’s back from Casa Amor…

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However, it doesn’t look like all is hope is lost for our girls back at the villa. A preview for the next episode revealed that while KC, Caleb, Zach, Corbin, and Bryce would be getting to know the new bombshells at Casa Amor for the next few days, Aniya, Jen, Kayda, Kenzie, Melanie, and Trinity would be meeting not one, not two, but 12 new bombshells.

There might be trouble in paradise, but at least we can expect some new romance (and potentially new connections) on the island soon.

New episodes premiere daily except Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on Peacock.

This week we’re sharing Management Tips based on HBR Executive Live events from the past year. Learn more about the HBR Executive subscription here.   In a recent panel discussion, three CHROs—Daisy Auger-Domínguez of Digital Asset, Monique Herena of American Express, and Daniela Seabrook of the Adecco Group—discussed how successful AI transformation depends less on technology and more on how leaders […]

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To pull.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

WREST

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A crystal.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for June 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

TOPAZ

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Intoxicated.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 22 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for June 22, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DRUNK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Shine.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GLEAN

Final Hurdle hint

To write.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

PRINT

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Now that the First Quarter has passed, the Moon is more than half illuminated and will continue to grow brighter each night. This will happen until we reach the Full Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, June 21, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Tonight, 64%% of the moon will be be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

With just your naked eye, tonight you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis, Serenitatis and Tranquillitatis. With binoculars, you'll also catch a glimpse of the Archimedes Crater, Posidonius Crater, and the Mare Nectaris. If you have a telescope, this will help you see all this plus the Caucasus Mountains, the Descartes Highlands, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on June 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth in about 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it travels around Earth. As a result, we see the Moon appear in different shapes over the course of a month, from slender crescents and half moons to a bright Full Moon. This repeating sequence of phases is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

House of the Dragon left us on a brutal cliffhanger at the end of Season 2, but Season 3 has quickly made up for that with a big battle and a mountain of bodies.

So many bodies, in fact, that it's probably worth a recap. Who are all the named characters that have died so far in the first episode of Season 3?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2 Ser Tyland Lannister Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Poor old Ser Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall) has been out of his depth ever since he met with Triarchy captain Admiral Lohar (Abigail Thorn) back in Season 2. He looks particularly out of his depth on her ship cruising into the Battle of the Gullet, but he manages to hold his own up to a point — that point being when Lohar unceremoniously tosses him over the side to stop him weighing her boat down.

Ser Jason Lannister Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

The Lannisters have a rough time of it in episode 1, with not one but two key members of the house slain. The other victim? Head of Casterly Rock and twin brother to Tyland, Jason Lannister, who is killed off-screen and has his severed head presented to Daemon (Matt Smith) on the battlefield. Still, it does give Jefferson Hall the impressive accolade of getting to die twice in one episode.

Featured Video For You 'House of the Dragon': Everything you need to remember about Season 2 in 60 seconds Admiral Lohar Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

For a character that was only in a few episodes, Admiral Lohar (Abigail Thorn) certainly makes a big impression. She racks up an impressive body count in episode 1 — possibly including her sworn nemesis, Lord Corlys (more on that later) — before ultimately meeting her match in Corlys' bastard son, Alyn. Their sword fight is bloody and brutal, ending overboard in the water, where Lohar ultimately meets her maker.

Jacaerys Velaryon Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Oh dear. Jace (Harry Collett) makes the questionable decision to lock his mother up so that he can go to battle in her place, presumably thinking he'll be relatively safe on Vermax's scaly back. Unfortunately, what he doesn't account for is the anti-dragon weaponry aboard the Triarchy's ships. Baela (Bethany Antonia) manages to save him the first time he gets snared, but the second time she's too late. Jace gets dragged underwater, resurfaces, then gets multiple arrows in the neck.

Lord Corlys Velaryon? Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

There's a question mark over this one because we don't know for certain whether Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) is dead or not. He goes over the side of the ship while fighting Lohar and doesn't appear to resurface, but that doesn't mean we can count out the Velaryon lord just yet.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

In House of the Dragon's Season 2 finale, Lysene Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn) declared that the Triarchy's fleet was headed to the Gullet, a stretch of water blockaded by Corlys Velaryon's (Steve Toussaint) forces, "on the morrow."

Well, "the morrow" stretched into a two-year wait for House of the Dragon viewers, but in the show's Season 3 premiere, that fated day finally comes. And with the morrow comes the incredible set piece that is the Battle of the Gullet.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2

In both House of the Dragon and its source material, George R.R. Martin's Targaryen history Fire and Blood, the Battle of the Gullet marks a huge turning point in the Dance of the Dragons. It annihilates Team Green's attempted power move with the Triarchy, and it also sees the death of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett). Both of these key events carry over from the book to the show, which follows the Battle of the Gullet's broad strokes. However, the show also changes several key aspects of how the Battle of the Gullet plays out.

From a Sheepstealer surprise to Lohar's demise, here are all the biggest differences between House of the Dragon and Fire and Blood's Battle of the Gullet.

House of the Dragon's Battle of the Gullet leaves out a subplot about Rhaenyra's sons Viserys and Aegon. Abubakar Salim in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

In Fire and Blood, Jace isn't the only one of Queen Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) sons in mortal peril at the Battle of the Gullet. Her two youngest sons with Daemon (Matt Smith), Aegon and Viserys, are also present. They're onboard the Gay Abandon, a cog taking them to Pentos for safety. Unfortunately, safety is the complete opposite of what they find, as they get caught up in the naval clash. Aegon escapes on his young dragon Stormcloud. He makes it back to Dragonstone, but Stormcloud is fatally wounded in the process. Meanwhile, Viserys hides his own dragon egg and disguises himself as a ship boy onboard in a Lysene crew. He's soon discovered and becomes the captive of Lohar.

None of this happens in House of the Dragon. Strangely, Season 2 did hint at the boys' upcoming involvement in the battle, with Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) namedropping the Gay Abandon as she sent the boys off to Pentos.

The show not adapting Aegon and especially Viserys' storylines has broader implications for the future of Westeros. However, House of the Dragon most likely isn't progressing that far into Targaryen history, so leaving out the the brothers' horrible jaunt at sea helps streamline the battle.

Jace goes rogue in House of the Dragon, but not Fire and Blood. Bethany Antonia and Harry Collett in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Throughout Season 2, Jace challenged Rhaenyra's decisions, especially her plan to recruit the dragonseeds. (In the book, it was his idea.) However, in the Season 3 premiere, he defies her outright, locking her in Dragonstone to prevent her from flying out to the Battle of the Gullet herself. He claims it's a protective move, but there's a bit of a glory-hunting streak in there as well. He tells Baela (Bethany Antonia) that it's their purpose to win the war for Rhaenyra. But maybe they could do that without being reckless teenagers, right?

SEE ALSO: The ickiest moment from 'House of the Dragon's Season 3 premiere isn't even in the book

Jace's move against his mother is a new addition to the show, but it does provide an interesting justification as to why Rhaenyra doesn't fly to the Gullet herself in Fire and Blood. In Martin's work, Rhaenyra doesn't actually engage in combat much, instead commanding from Dragonstone. But the show's version of her wants desperately to be in the field, meaning they have to keep coming up with new ways to keep her away. Jace's defiance is the culmination of the tension between the two, and it also makes his death that much more painful for Rhaenyra. The last interaction she ever had with her eldest son was him keeping her from protecting him.

Did somebody order a beef between Lohar and Corlys? Steve Toussaint in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Fire and Blood is written like a historical text, so some characters are fairly flat on the page. One such character is Sharako Lohar. We know he's a formidable admiral, and not too much else.

House of the Dragon seeks to flesh Lohar out further, with both the gender-bending established in the Season 2 finale, as well as her hatred of Corlys Velaryon, revealed in the Season 3 premiere to be the true reason she signed a contract with Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall). That motivation brings an extra layer of vitriol to Lohar's decision to sack High Tide. Plus, it leads to that incredibly suspenseful ship chase through a narrow pass, so I'm not complaining.

Tyland Lannister's death is an anti-armor PSA — and new to House of the Dragon. Jefferson Hall in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

RIP Tyland Lannister, who does not die in the Battle of the Gullet in Fire and Blood. By this point in the book, he's still abroad in Myr. House of the Dragon won't be adapting far enough into Fire and Blood for his return to Westeros to be relevant, so he's perfect cannon fodder for the Gullet. And what a way to go, shoved overboard by Lohar to lighten her ship's load. Sorry Tyland, but let this be a lesson to all other sailors that you should always choose a life vest over armor.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' Season 3, episode 1: Is Lord Corlys dead? Which dragons are involved in the Battle of the Gullet? Harry Collett in "House of the Dragon." Credit: HBO

The Battle of the Gullet is the unholy lovechild of naval warfare and dragon warfare, but the particular dragons vary between Fire and Blood and House of the Dragon.

In Fire and Blood, Jace leads the attack on the Triarchy fleet with his dragon Vermax. He's joined by the dragonseeds and their dragons: Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) on Silverwing, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) on Seasmoke, Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) on Vermithor, and lowborn Driftmark resident Nettles on Sheepstealer.

House of the Dragon makes several switches to this lineup. In: Baela on Moondancer. Out: the three male dragonseeds, who are camping out near Harrenhal until further notice. Nettles has also been cut from House of the Dragon entirely. Her storyline has been looped in with Rhaena's (Phoebe Campbell), who takes control of Sheepstealer. Speaking of...

Rhaena doesn't crash the Battle of the Gullet in Fire and Blood. Phoebe Campbell in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Theo Whiteman / HBO

Rhaena claiming Sheepstealer in the Season 3 premiere is already a massive deviation from Fire and Blood. (RIP Nettles, we never knew you.) But what happens next is even more of a deviation. Instead of aiding Rhaenyra's side, Sheepstealer unleashes friendly dragon fire on the Velaryon ships and attacks Vermax and Moondancer. That's not quite how you train your wild dragon, Rhaena.

Rhaena's unwitting involvement in Jace's demise sets up a remix of a key arc in Fire and Blood: Rhaenyra's hatred of Sheepstealer's rider. Obviously, there's no Nettles to hate in the show, so House of the Dragon is retooling. Instead of Rhaenyra despising Nettles for her closeness to Daemon, she'll likely wind up hating Rhaena for the role she played in Jace's death. Yet another Targaryen family tragedy to add to the tally.

Sharako Lohar dies in House of the Dragon, but lives on in Fire and Blood. Abigail Thorn in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Sharako Lohar joins Jace, Tyland, and Rhaena's mental health as a casualty of the Battle of the Gullet. Corlys' bastard son Alyn of Hull (Abubakar Salim) has the honor of taking her out in a brutal one-on-one brawl.

However, Sharako lives well past the Battle of the Gullet in Fire and Blood. He remains the captor of young Prince Viserys, eventually selling him off. His murder down the line sparks a larger war within the destabilized Triarchy. Again, since House of the Dragon won't adapt that far into the future, killing Lohar off is another streamlining move. We'll always have "to the Gullet on the morrow," though, even if that morrow has finally passed.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

After a slightly frustrating end to Season 2, Season 3 of House of the Dragon has come out swinging.

Episode 1 finally saw the long-awaited Battle of the Gullet, with Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint) and Team Black facing off against Triarchy captain Admiral Lohar (Abigail Thorn) and a nervous Ser Tyland Lannister (Jefferson Hall).

It was an episode with a pretty high body count, even by Game of Thrones standards — but was Corlys himself among them? Is the Velaryon lord dead, or will we be seeing him again?

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2 What happens with Lord Corlys in episode 1?

Lord Corlys and his bastard son, Alyn (Abubakar Salim), are up against it in this episode. Outnumbered by the Triarchy, Corlys decides to lead Admiral Lohar through a narrow gully in an attempt to let the rocks do his dirty work for him. It almost works. Though two of Lohar's ships capsize, she manages to make it through and give chase, ramming his boat and jumping aboard for a good old-fashioned sword fight.

The ensuing matchup is violent and bloody, with injuries on both sides. But just as Lord Corlys is about to strike the killing blow, the ship lurches in the waves, and he's thrown overboard. Alyn looks over the side, but there's no sign of him. We don't see him again.

Is Lord Corlys dead?

Well, it's not exactly looking good, is it? Corlys is thrown overboard in a full suit of armour, which — as we know from Lohar's decision to yeet Ser Tyland over the side earlier on — is pretty heavy. Someone decked out in metal tends to sink rather than float.

On the other hand, it's important to remember that characters in the GoT universe are never dead until we've seen a body (and in some cases they're not dead, even then). When Corlys goes overboard, he's close to the rocks, which could be a bad thing, but it also means dry land may be in reach for him. Going overboard in armour isn't necessarily a death sentence, either. Minutes before Corlys goes in, we see his son Alyn do the same, and he still manages to fight someone off and clamber to safety.

In a nutshell, the jury is still out. Corlys' fate, like his life, will be determined by the fortune of the tides.

House of the Dragon Season 3 premieres June 21 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max, with a new episode every Sunday.

Major spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 1. Beware.

As Lord Corlys Velaryon says, "Rough seas lie ahead," especially for the major players in House of the Dragon's long-awaited, colossal naval contest, the Battle of the Gullet.

We've known this was coming for two seasons, with the all-important blockade omnipresent in civil war strategy meetings on both sides of Team Black and Team Green. And in Season 3, episode 1, the Triarchy finally takes on the mighty Sea Serpent's fleet in one of the most bloody, shocking, devastating, and nail-biting sequences in the series yet.

Mashable unpacked the House of the Dragon battle with cast members Steve Toussaint, Abubakar Salim, Abigail Thorn, Bethany Antonia, Phoebe Campbell, and Harry Collett.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2

Shot over several months in a massive Warner Bros. Studios set in Leavesden, England, the battle is a major turning point, particularly for Corlys Velaryon (Toussaint) and his son Alyn of Hull (Salim).

"The important thing about the whole battle is just the sheer violence of it," Salim tells Mashable in the video above. "That is mainly seen, obviously, through the actual physical nature of it, but also through the people participating in it. That was something that was really important to tell this story of the Gullet, just like, how terrifying and violent it was."

It's a rare moment for Corlys, commanding his fleet in full Sea Snake mode.

"It was a joy, because in a way I've been waiting to show that side of him," said Toussaint. "Other than the Battle of the Stepstones in Season 1, we've not always seen him in action. Most of Season 2 is like, 'My wife's dead and my son doesn't love me.'"

"Other than the Battle of the Stepstones in Season 1, we've not always seen him in action." - Steve Toussaint on Corlys "Sea Snake" Velaryon.

In the other corner, the relentless Sharako Lohar (Thorn), the rugged Triarchy admiral, who Thorn based on Captain Ahab.

"She's a pirate, and historically, in real life, pirates were pretty democratic, and I think she definitely has the inspiration of all her men," said Thorn. "There's a pivotal moment in the script, just after something big happens, where she swears at her men for the first time, and we start to see that style of egalitarian command giving way to something more authoritarian. She starts getting more cavalier about throwing their lives away."

As for the major aerial combat players in the battle? The wild card of the Gullet, undeniably, is Rhaena Targaryen (Phoebe Campbell), whose first run on her dragon Sheepstealer does not go to plan — especially when she comes way too close to her also-flying sister, Baela Targaryen (Bethany Antonia), and spirals out of control in the air.

"Hard relate, you know? Where I go into things thinking I've got this and just... so it wasn't an unfamiliar feeling," said Campbell. "But yeah, that realisation of 'I have no control over this, there's nothing I can do,' I think we can all relate to that in some way."

And then there's Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), the young prince and Queen Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) heir, whose moment of misguided heroism becomes the climactic moment of the episode.

"I had loads of meetings with Loni [Peristere], the director of the episode, and Ryan [Condal, creator and showrunner] just talking about how I can portray feelings while being up in the air and having all this stuff going on around me," Collett said. "We would make up scenarios that would happen with Jace that didn't happen in the show, which really helped me get into character...It was really fun this time around, because I finally get to get out the offices."

That sure is one hell of an off-site. You can watch the whole House of the Dragon cast interview in video above.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes every Sunday at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Gone but not forgotten, Claudia comes back in the third episode of The Vampire Lestat, "Toronto." The vicious daughter who took after her maker, Lestat, is remembered in echoes of the past and a doppelgänger in the present. So, what does Sam Reid, who plays Lestat, have to say about how "Toronto" adds a new layer to what father and daughter have in common?

In an interview for Mashable's Say More series, Reid reflected, "They have a mutual understanding, Claudia and Lestat, where, yeah, they're at loggerheads. They sort of hate each other, but they have a lot of mutual respect between the two of them." He noted, "The writers never shy away from making these issues as complex and as truthful as possible."

The complex new truth revealed in "Toronto" is that Claudia and Lestat have both endured brutal violation at the hands of a vampire. In this episode, while Lestat is forced to face his own violent vampire origins at the hands of his maker, Magnus, Louis seeks vengeance on Bruce, the motorcycling bloodsucker who'd preyed on Claudia in Season 1, while she was out on her own.

"They are similar," Reid said in his interview with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko. "They have a shared experience."

Jacob Anderson is Louis in "The Vampire Lestat." Credit: AMC+

To drive this parallel home, The Vampire Lestat shows Louis read the missing pages of Claudia's diary aloud to her abuser, Bruce (before burning him alive undead). But rather than flashbacks of Bruce's assaults on Claudia, "Toronto" cuts to flashbacks of Magnus' assault on Lestat, which turned him into an immortal. Where Claudia expressed her feelings in her diary, Lestat offers his songs, including "Your Biggest Fan." Reid explained to Mashable, this early in the season, Lestat is more interesting in presenting a version of himself he prefers than actually interrogating his life. But maybe Claudia took after him here too.

Of all the things Lestat says Louis and Daniel got wrong in their book, Interview with the Vampire, he's most affronted by the claim that he'd gotten Claudia to come back to their Louisiana home by threatening to rape her on that train out of town. "Never fucking happened," he wrote on the pages, a reaction which caused Daniel to chuckle in episode two.

Reid says of Claudia's account of the train scene, "He's blindsided by that. I think it's a very painful thing." He then teased we'll see Lestat's version of the train scene before the end of the season, saying, "You understand why it's there in the book later on. But he's blindsided about it, because he actually wouldn't do that."

For more from Mashable's interview with Sam Reid, look for our new Say More episode on Friday, June 19.

The Vampire Lestat streams on AMC+, with new episodes weekly.

With "Toronto," the third episode of The Vampire Lestat, the titular bloodsucker reveals how he got the dark gift through a lusty music video. But of course, that's not all there is to that story. So, who better to ask about Lestat as an unreliable narrator than Sam Reid, the critically heralded actor who's brought the Brat Prince to life onscreen and on stage (for one night only)? 

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko sat down with Reid in our Say More studio to dig into "Toronto," and in particular the bad romance ballad that is "Your Biggest Fan."

 "Your Biggest Fan" is about Lestat's maker, Magnus.  Sam Reid plays Lestat de Lioncourt in "The Vampire Lestat." Credit: AMC+

In "Toronto," Lestat's initial telling of how he became a vampire plays out in the music video for "Your Biggest Fan," which echoes the romance and drama of Meatloaf's 1993 music video "I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)." Here, he is a flawless star on stage performing Lélio (not harlequin!), while a greasy, pale ghoul looks on in awe. This is Magnus, a deranged vampire in search of the perfect fledgling. And Lestat, abducted from his bed, smiles as he's forced to a dirty cavern floor and bitten by Magnus without warning. 

"He's got a lot of unpacked baggage," Reid said of Lestat's transformation trauma, "and so the way that he chooses to talk about it in the real world is, 'This guy was obsessed with me, and he's a loser, and here's his little fun ballad, like a Taylor Swift kind of pop song.'" 

SEE ALSO: 'The Vampire Lestat' reveals the Brat Prince's beef with Louis' version of things, as laid out in 'Interview with the Vampire'

Reid continued, "Obviously, the reality of [their relationship] is not a simple at-your-window ballad. It's much more complex... But he's trying to control his narrative at any point in time."

Reid went on to explain,"He very rightfully says to Molloy, like, 'Who wants another sob story?' Like, I'm not going to present you my life as some big abuse narrative. I'm not going to sit here and wallow like Louis did, and just talk about how painful my existence is, and suffer when there are so many positive things about the situation that I'm in." 

So, instead Lestat offers a version that Reid described as, "[Magnus] liberated me, he made me who I am, and look how fantastic I am." 

Of course, with Lestat's muses unleashed, this pretty lie won't keep the ghosts of his past at bay. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Vampire Lestat': Meet the new vamps, bandmates, and Baby Jenks How does Lestat's story of Magnus differ from Louis'?  Sam Reid plays Lestat de Lioncourt in "The Vampire Lestat." Credit: AMC+

At first, it seems Lestat relished being ripped out of his bed, away from his boyfriend Nicky, and made into an immortal. But in the climax of "Toronto," Magnus appears in Lestat's car, and with his arrival come a flood of more gruesome flashbacks that reveal the terror, pain, and lack of consent of this pivotal moment. 

Asked about this, Reid compared Lestat's look back at his life to Louis' in Season 1 and 2, saying, "Louis is actually actively seeking to get to the center himself [through the recounting of his story]. And Lestat is actively trying to obfuscate the situation and not expose himself. But he has no choice. It's constantly being thrown back in his face, until he's forced to deal with it."

Reid teased this processing will get harder before it gets any easier, not just this season but in seasons beyond. "That's what The Failures is," he said of Lestat's in-show album. "We're now seeing somebody go through something that actually leads us through to future seasons. But when he's had time to process, that's when he can have some more self-reflection, whereas where he is in the story, he doesn't want to have any self-reflection." 

"But actually, he does have a lot of darkness," Reid acknowledged, adding, "He's got two makers. He's got his mother [Gabriella], and he's got Magnus. And both of those figures are very, very influential in what forms him as a character, and [both] are abusive." 

From there, Reid connected Lestat's sultry exhibitionism to what his mother and Magnus valued. "He's a highly sexualized character," Reid said, "because he's been sexualized from the beginning, from whether it's his mother wanting to love him to the point of being with him, because she wants to live vicariously through him, or whether it's his maker wanting that, that he sees on stage, that kind of, that performer, that spark, and kind of eroticizing him and making him this kind of perfect immortal being. It's then all he knows; the only way he knows how to express himself is by thrusting around on stage and writhing around. So we do ask, we ask the audience to come with him on the journey — maybe don't understand it at first, but it's a slow unraveling that he begins to unravel too."

For more from Mashable's interview with Sam Reid, look for our new Say More episode on Friday, June 19.

The Vampire Lestat streams on AMC+, with new episodes weekly.

In Westeros, nothing can be said to be certain except death, Targaryen incest, and weird things happening around Harrenhal.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' review: Season 3 atones for the sins of Season 2

The Seven Kingdoms' most haunted castle and its de facto guardian, witch Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), treated Daemon (Matt Smith) to a barrage of unsettling visions in House of the Dragon Season 2. That strangeness keeps coming in House of the Dragon's Season 3 premiere, but this time, Alys finds a new target: dragonseeds Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty), Ulf the White (Tom Bennett), and Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew).

The trio have been stationed near Harrenhal on Rhaenyra's (Emma D'Arcy) orders. They've made their camp on the edge of the Gods Eye, the largest lake in the Seven Kingdoms. After several days away from the action and unsure of their next moves, the dragonseeds are antsy. It doesn't help that Alys crashes their party with a haunted goat and a large man who appears to have antlers. We only see him for a second, but his identity is connected to the ancient history of Westeros.

The dragonseeds spot one of the Green Men of Westeros.

The antlered man is one of the Green Men, a group that guards the Isle of Faces in the middle of the Gods Eye. Their order was founded 10,000 years before Aegon's conquest of Westeros, when the First Men warred with the magical Children of the Forest.

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' may be hiding Daeron Targaryen in plain sight

The two sides sued for peace on the Isle of Faces, where they signed the pact that decreed that the First Men could control the open lands of Westeros, while the Children could keep the deep forests. Those present carved faces in all the Isle of Faces' trees as a way for the gods to witness the pact, thus giving the island its name. The Green Men were charged with protecting the sacred place. Accounts vary on their appearances: Old tales claim they have green skin and horns, while maesters believe they simply wear green clothing and antler headdresses. House of the Dragon appears to eschew the green clothing and skin visuals in favor of animal pelts.

Are the Green Men in Fire and Blood? Matt Smith in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

The dragonseeds' sighting of a Green Man isn't the first time we've glimpsed this order in House of the Dragon. Daemon also saw one by Harrenhal's weirwood in the Season 2 finale, as a part of his vision quest.

However, these Green Men moments aren't in George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood. The only time they are mentioned is a brief section when Addam of Hull visits them on the Isle of Faces for advice. Perhaps these sightings are building towards that meeting, or perhaps House of the Dragon is hoping to flesh out the Green Men's involvement in the Dance of the Dragons in a larger way. After all, the series has shown them venturing further afield than the Isle of Faces, and both times they've popped up, Alys has been present. Has she partnered with them in some way? And if so, what are their next plans for Harrenhal and the surrounding lands? When Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) arrives there, he may find himself facing down more magic than he'd bargained for.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.