House of the Dragon season 3 episode 6 delivered a tense installment filled with simmering plotlines rather than explosive battles. While several characters faced significant moments, the ending left many viewers questioning the fate of Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, portrayed by Steve Toussaint.
The episode saw Corlys grappling with his legacy, particularly after the death of his wife, Rhaenys Targaryen, in season 2. He had been advocating for Rhaenyra Targaryen to legitimize his sons, Alyn and Addam, as his heirs, a plea that was met with refusal from the queen. This underlying tension played a role in the episode's concluding events.
Early in the episode, Ser Criston Cole met a swift, unceremonious end via a volley of arrows from a distance, a stark contrast to the more drawn-out drama surrounding Corlys. The narrative then shifted to King's Landing, where Alyn of Hull stepped into a more prominent role. With many of the gold cloaks having resigned, Alyn proposed using Velaryon troops as a temporary city watch, requesting Corlys' assistance.
Corlys, who had been fending off Triarchy raids, agreed to the request but remained frustrated by Rhaenyra's unwillingness to legitimize Addam and Alyn. Alyn pointedly asked Corlys how long it took him to acknowledge them, highlighting the strained relationship.
Towards the episode's close, in what appeared to be a response to Rhaenyra dispatching assassins disguised as Baratheon soldiers to Tumbleton, a cryptic message was delivered: "Kick this dog and it will bite your hand." The scene then cut to Corlys' camp, where he delivered a speech to his soldiers, admitting his prolonged absence from the city. He was then accosted by a stranger, identified as one of Ormund's personal guards, and seemingly strangled. The sequence was deliberately ambiguous, with assassins also attacking his troops in the surrounding woods.
However, the fate of Corlys Velaryon is not definitively sealed within the episode. The source material, George R.R. Martin's "Fire & Blood," is presented as a collection of historical accounts, often lacking precise details of private moments and secret assassinations. The show frequently takes liberties to expand upon these finer points.
While it is possible Corlys was killed, the visual evidence is not conclusive. Unlike Criston Cole's direct confrontation with arrows, Corlys' apparent demise is shown from a distance as he struggles against unseen attackers. Given his survival of a near-fatal situation earlier in the season, and his crucial role in the ongoing civil war, it is more probable that he was captured by assassins sent by Ormund Hightower. The Battle of Tumbleton is a pivotal event in the Dance of the Dragons, and Corlys remains an important political figure throughout the conflict. His death at this juncture would represent a significant departure from the books. Therefore, it is likely that Corlys Velaryon is alive, albeit captured, for the time being. The character is played by Steve Toussaint.
House of the Dragon airs weekly on HBO and HBO Max.