Game of Thrones had a fondness for combat. The small-scale battles were often enjoyable, like the Hound facing off against Brienne of Tarth, but the huge melees were usually top performers. But one thing that was always missing from the show was the in-between. Glad to have already given us the Game of Thrones franchises first great medium-sized battle in just three episodes.
[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon.]
Daemon Targaryen gets to show off why he is one of the most popular warriors in the Seven Kingdoms. After the two receive news from Daemons brother, King Viserys, that the crown is sending help, both men devise an all-or-nothing strategy that is hidden from both the enemy and the House of the Dragon audience.
House of the Dragons' first big fight has something that was previously unknown: a dragon.
Corlys and Daemon may lead the Stepstones' final battle, but Laenor Velaryon's horse, Seasmoke, wins the game for the first time. It also gives us a glimpse into how much larger the House of the Dragons is compared to its predecessor.
The sight of a dragon soaring onto the battlefield and the scorching waves of Targaryen adversaries would have been one of the most significant events in Game of Thrones' eight-season run. Everyone except the poor Crabfeeder is expected to perform it, may he rest in peace.
The majority of Game of Thrones' biggest battles were separated into their own episodes. Things like the Wildling assault on Castle Black, Hardhome, the defense of Kings Landing, and the Battle of the Bastards all received the majority of an hour dedicated exclusively to them. However, none of them lived up to the standards of previous conflicts, and were easily overshadowed by House of the Dragons' first open combat attempt.
While those conflicts often felt half-baked and like they were slashed (possibly due to the cost of the many dragon visual effects that were often included in them), the Stepstones battle seems to be the ideal length to both demonstrate Daemons' unadvised bravery and the dominance of dragons on the battlefield.
House of the Dragons' first battle demonstrates that due to the show's substantial budget, massive battles may be planned at any time. This allows the show to have more spontaneity and unpredictability throughout the program. And, as you might expect from the premise, the possibility to pull off some surprising big battles will come later on.