sometime after midnight

GLORIA SWANSON watching Queen Kelly (1929) in SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950) dir. Billy Wilder

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S03E07 - "The Dragon In Winter"

(Helaena was holding a horse figurine when Alicent promised that she'd return for her and they'd walk out into the sun together. Then there's a horse in her dreams.)

On the Inside the Episode for 3.07, the writer and producer Philippa Goslett explains the theme of the episode. 'Our characters' deepest wishes, most secret desires and fears all have the potential to come true.' The episode gives us a glimpse into Helaena's mind and her wishes, desires and fears.

In Helaena's first dream sequence she sees a chance to escape the Red Keep. She finds a horse and cart waiting. The gates open. She can walk out into the sun like Alicent promised. There's no one to stop her. Freedom is beckoning. Only for her to be woken by Rhaenyra and pulled back into her prison. There will be no escape.

Second dream sequence: her baby is born only to be taken away from her immediately. He'll be killed or used as a pawn or hostage like Alicent warned. She doesn't see a future where she gets to keep him and he gets to have a happy life.

Third dream sequence: people storm the dragonpit and Helaena commands Dreamfyre to burn them. She told Aemond she wouldn't burn anyone, but here she is burning people without hesitation or pity. She's changed. She's lost herself. She's become what she never wished to be. She's become what she's feared and has fought against so tenaciously. Is this her future? A nightmare? Both?

Fourth dream sequence: she has an idyllic life in the country with her children and the chickens she wants to keep. But this future is clearly false because Jaehaerys is there when he's dead already. And Jaehaera? Does her being there mean she'll be dead too? And then the sun is eclipsed and cold and dark comes for all of them regardless. She sees no future where the sun shines on her and she gets the happy, peaceful life she's dreamed of. There's only doom and death. And death might be the only way she's ever reunited with her children.

you're his little treasure now