his is a moment of suspense from the final episode of House of the Dragon, Season 2.

Helaena speaks of something that will happen in the future as if it has already happened. She prophesies her brother will drown in the God’s Eye lake in an upcoming battle, and Aegon will win the throne once again.

It may seem counterintuitive to spoil the rest of the show in the middle of it, but the reason this technique works so well is that it creates a sense of inevitability. The dramatic tension comes from wondering how it will happen instead of wondering what will happen; it grants the audience a God-like omniscience, as you witness the characters fight against what feels like sealed fate.

When you blur the lines between the past, present, and future, the text transcends the rigid pathway of linear storytelling. The weight of fate, the illusion of free will, and the eerie poetry of prophecies can add a complex, ominous feel to your story.