House of the Dragon season 2: who are the new dragon riders?

Now, Black has more dragons than Green. A sign of victory?

The second season of House of the Dragon is coming to an end. At the end of episode 7 of this season, Aemond was surprised to discover that his enemy's army has grown. In addition to the land hosts commandeered by Daemon in the Riverlands, Rhaenyra can now count on the support of Addam of Hull and Seasmoke, and two new dragon riders. The latter flew to the gates of King's Landing as a warning: the Black side has more dragons than the Green side. But who are the latest arrivals and what are their links to the Targaryen family? We take stock.

When Addam (Clinton Liberty) successfully tames Seasmoke, the news doesn't bring everyone joy. On the contrary, it sows confusion in the bloodlines: illegitimate children, without pure dragon blood, can claim one of these creatures. For Jacaerys, this calls into question his legitimacy to take the throne – after all, he too is an illegitimate child, just like Addam and others. But with no other options, Rhaenyra relents and issues a call – a sort of general mobilization – for anyone claiming Targaryen ancestry to come to Dragonstone and try to claim the last two winged beasts: Vermithor and Silverwing.

This leads many unfortunates to lose their lives in excruciating pain – all burned or devoured. But among the crowd of men and women, two suitors stand out and achieve the unimaginable. One of them has a special bond with Daemon…

Ulf the White and Silverwing

The audience may have forgotten this face, but Ulf – called the White because of his hair – is not at his first appearance on screen. It is he who, in episode 3, loudly proclaims (and very drunk) his support for Rhaenyra and even claims to be her uncle. He claims to be the illegitimate son of Baelon the Brave, making him the brother of Daemon and Viserys:

“The blood of the dragon runs through his veins. And yes, men would cut off my head for that.”

He is interrupted by Aegon's arrival. Was it just empty talk to impress his friends and brag? Or was it the truth?

The events of Episode 7 seem to prove the truth of his claim in any case. The one who is also named in the book Fire and BloodUlf the Licheur due to his penchant for alcohol, is played in the series by Tom Bennett. Uneasy about proving his words by answering Rhaenyra's call, the latter manages to escape the flames and comes face to face with another dragon buried underground: Silverwing, the dragon of Good Queen Alysanne, Rhaenyra's great-grandmother. More docile, the beast lets Ulf approach him and agrees to take him as a master.

Hugh the Hammer and Vemithor

Another recurring character, but whose presence ultimately turned out not to be a simple choice by the writers to fill in the plot holes. In the first episode of season two, this humble blacksmith had come to present a request to the king. Later, we discover that his daughter is ill, and that he is desperately looking for something to eat. While he and his wife try to flee the capital, they find themselves trapped when Alicent decides to lower the gates at the entrance to King's Landing, locking in its starving population.

Played by Kieran Bew, Hugh the Hammer is a man whose readers Fire and Blood know little about him. However, in the series, the showrunners gave him a noble origin and not the least, making him a close relative of Rhaenyra and Daemon. Watch out, twist!

While his daughter has died, Hugh, having heard of the call from Queen Targaryen, intends to join her at Dragonstone to try his luck. His wife tries to dissuade him. The latter then reveals his past to her. His mother worked in a brothel:

“She had more freedom because of who she was. She was paid more for her silver hair. She used to tell me that I wasn't so different from her brothers: Viserys and Daemon.”

So, Hugh's mother would be the sister of Viserys and Daemon, making him their cousin. For fans, it doesn't take more information to know the exact identity of this sister. This is Saera Targaryen, the ninth child of King Jaeherys and Queen Alysanne. An emblematic character and well known for her story full of twists and turns.

As explained in the first volume of Fire and BloodSaera was a rebellious child who was far from the behavior expected of her. One day, a scandal broke out at court: the princess was caught in a brothel in the city having intimate relations with squires (and some of her ladies-in-waiting). Her father then called her a girl of joy, and to punish her sent her to Oldtown to become Septa and atone for her sins. Without ever giving in, she ended up running away to Lys in Essos, where she ended up in a brothel. She would have had several children… including, according to the series, this famous Hugh.

So it is he, grandson of Jaeherys, who manages to master Vermithor, his grandfather's fearsome dragon.

Now, if we follow the books, there is still one more dragon to tame… And it is most likely in the Vale. In the last episode, Rhaena decides to go looking for it – all indications are that she will be the one to ride it.

The last episode of season 2 of House of the Dragon will be broadcast next Monday, and will certainly bring us the answer. With it, a battle that promises to be terrible for both camps…

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