WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 3 of Netflix's The Dragon Prince, streaming now.
Season 3 of Netflix's The Dragon Prince continues Viren's vendetta against the magical realm of Xadia, made even worse by the evil Startouch elf, Aaravos, who's been whispering in his ear. Both villains want to drain Xadia of its mystical essence, attacking the Sunfire elves and even overthrowing King Ezran of Katolis as head of the human alliance as part of their endgame.
However, by the time the season concludes, there's a new, destructive villain on the scene and it's none other than Viren's mage daughter, Claudia -- who began the show as a hero trying to do right by her kingdom.
CLAUDIA'S FALL FROM GRACE
Last season, Claudia and Soren were tasked by their dad to hunt down Ezran, his brother Callum, the Moonshadow elf Rayla and the Dragon Prince, Zym. They failed and returned to Katolis as prisoners at the start of Season 3, with Ezran on the throne and Viren being thrown into jail. They're given a second chance by Ezran, though, who believes they were misguided.
Soren wants to make the best of it and is regretful when he speaks to his father over how he was goaded into almost killing Ezran. Viren doesn't want to expose his corruption by Aaravos and gaslights his children into thinking Soren misunderstood his orders. Soren, however, knows his dad is lost to the darkness, but Claudia keeps making excuses for him. It's clear she's ready to ignore Viren's lust for power because her she's clamored is approval as his magical protege for her entire life.
THE TURNING POINT
When Aaravos' poisonous tongue turns the other kingdoms on Katolis in the alliance, Ezran is displaced by Viren. The boy escapes the citadel and reunites with Callum, Zym and Co. at Xadia, where Zym finally meets his mom, the Dragon Queen. But this actually in favor of Viren as Aaravos' spirit has empowered him, allowing Viren to transform the human army into mutants for war against Xadia.
They're now equipped to drain the dragons and elves of all their magic, which would allow Viren to use the Sunfire staff he stole from the Lux Aurean elves to finally bring Aaravos back to the real world. Viren's legion fails, though, and at the end of the fracas, he finds Ezran on the battlefield. He's bitter and is about to kill him, only for Soren to complete his Jaime Lannister-like arc as the King's Guard by impaling his dad. Claudia sees this but reveals this was merely a distraction so her dad to get to Zym and his mom. However, seeing Soren ready to murder Viren tips her over the edge.
THE MAGE QUEEN RISES
Viren tries to drain Zym atop the Storm Spire mountain but is tackled off the cliff to his death by Rayla. Callum shockingly jumps after her and uses elven magic to sprout wings as taught by the Skywing elf Ibis, saving the love of his life. But in the final scene, while all the enemies have been defeated and Ezran forms a new partnership between man, elf and dragon, there's a startling revelation over Claudia's role moving forward.
Viren is seen bruised and battered in a cave, free from Aaravos' corruption. Claudia admits he was dead and she brought him back to life using dark magic, which is why her hair has gotten more grey. Just like how she used an animal's life and sucked its magic out to heal her brother last season, it seems she's done the same to resurrect her dad, except with soldiers from their army. This means Claudia's much stronger and could become Aaravos' consort as she points to a cocoon he's hatching from after spending this season as a magical caterpillar.
It's unclear what role she played in this metamorphosis or what Aaravos promised her in terms of power as he deemed her an "asset" earlier this season. But seeing as Claudia actually wielded the Sunfire staff to near-perfection in the battle of Xadia, it's apparent the elf knew she'd be important later down the line and is indeed on course to become his mage queen.
Netflix's The Dragon Prince Season 3 is now streaming. It stars the voices of Jack DeSena as Callum, Sasha Rojen as Ezran, Paula Burrows as Rayla, Jesse Inocalla as Soren, Racquel Belmonte as Claudia, Luc Roderique as King Harrow of Katolis and Jason Simpson as Viren.