House of the Dragon just used 3 words Game of Thrones fans didn’t want to hear

House of the Dragon Season 2 is now over, and the finale didn’t waste the opportunity to include one of George R.R. Martin’s most famous lines.

Much of Season 2 has been spend with Daemon inHarrenhal, with suspicions high that he might prove disloyal toRhaenyra. But inEpisode 8, he cemented his vow to his queen and raised an army on her behalf, but not before saying the three words nobody was expecting.

Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen and Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra

When Rhaenyra arrived at Harrenhal to confront him, Daemon revealed what he’d seen in hisvision, telling her trouble was ahead. Specifically, he said: “Winter is coming.”

Any Game of Thrones fan will be familiar with this particular phrase, which was plastered all over the original show’s marketing. It was the promise of what was to come in the fantasy world, even if it didn’t quite work out that way.

House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 7 recap: Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra on the beach with a dragon behind her

“Winter is coming.”#HouseOfTheDragonpic.twitter.com/3T1F2uLvgC

Inserting this dialog in the prequel series might have seemed like a smart way to earn some nostalgia-based respect fromHouse of the Dragon viewers, but the opposite seems to have happened.

Rick and Chelsea embrace on a beach in The White Lotus Season 3

In fact, many are horrified that the show would try to include one of Game of Thrones’ most iconic pieces of dialog. For one, it’s only a reminder that the original show ended on a sour note.

“Daemon seeing Dany and the Night King’s army and saying ‘winter is coming’ just for Bran Stark to wind up on the throne……… all of this for Jon Snow to end up being a Targaryen for nothing… I can’t believe what they took from us,”one X userwrote.

House of the Dragon Season 3: Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, standing on a hill with dragons behind her

House of the Dragon’s Emmys flop ends staggering Game of Thrones record

How The White Lotus’ A Wall of Ocean book set up Season 3’s biggest twist

House of the Dragon Season 3: Everything we know

“Respectfully, why did they make him say that,” wroteanother.

One commentsaid: “Nostalgia baiting for an ending we all hated, ugh what the f**k are the writers doing.”

“Which has nothing to do with this series. NOTHING,” another usersaidof the phrase.

Winter is coming, and so isHouse of the Dragon Season 3. Learn more about that andA Knight of the Seven Kingdomswith our guide, and check out our list of theshows like House of the Dragon to watch while you wait.