Spoiler alert: There are potential spoilers for House of the Dragon ahead.The penultimate episode strikes again. As is usual in the world of Westeros, since game of thrones, Dragon HouseThe penultimate part of Season 2 was a major turning point. The Red Seed provided much-needed momentum to the story (even the Harrenhal subplot saw progress!), along with character development for Rhaenyra, Jacaerys, and newcomers like Lord Oscar Tully. And since Rhaenyra's army has a few powerful new dragons in its arsenal, The tide of war seems about to change dramatically..
Most significantly, Rhaenyra made a fateful decision regarding her army, as she was persuaded by Mesaria to recruit the Targaryen illegitimate sons (known as “dragonseed”) as dragon riders, and she promptly recruited two, Ulf the White and Hugh Hammer. While it’s not clear now, this plot development lays the seeds for a major twist later in the Dance of Dragons, which would ultimately prove to be one of the most horrific turns of the war.
Will the Dragon Seed change the direction of the war in the House of the Dragon?
At first, when Rhaenyra recruits dragonseeds and members of other branches of the Targaryens as knights, it seems like a stroke of genius, as Aegon II’s loyalists are vastly outnumbered on the dragon side. Ulf and Hugh Hammer both officially claim to own the dragons Silverwing and Vermithor, respectively. While we have yet to see their effectiveness on the battlefield, given that the creatures at their disposal are some of the most powerful, it seems certain that things will turn in Rhaenyra’s favor.
As described in George R.R. Martin's novel Fire and bloodAt this point, it seems clear that the final episode of season two will depict the Battle of Goulet, which began earlier this year when Corlys Velaeron’s ships besieged King’s Landing and cut off its supplies. In the season’s sixth episode, “Smallfolk,” Aemond Targaryen and a newly re-instated Otto Hightower recruit the Triple Alliance, an alliance of Essos’ Free Cities, to fight Velaeron’s ships.
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Fire and blood The ensuing conflict serves as another turning point in a seemingly endless civil war. Jacaerys and Lord Velaeron lead the Black Team into one of the bloodiest naval battles in Westeros history, and assistance from Ulf, Hugh Hammer, and Adam (Lord Corlys Velaeron's bastard son) helps Rhaenyra secure the victory she so desperately needs. However, this does not come without a cost, as both Jacaerys and his dragon Vermax are killed on the battlefield.
However, a pyrrhic victory is still technically a victory, and Team Black finally gains momentum in the civil war, as Aemond's forces fail to break the siege. This paves the way for Rhaenyra to take King's Landing, and the end of the war is finally in sight. However, despite the important role the dragonseed played in helping Team Black turn the tide, Rhaenyra soon finds herself in conflict with Ulf and Hugh.
Why would the Dragon Seed betray Rhaenyra?
When Rhaenyra began recruiting dragonseeds to her cause, she also promised knighthood and land to anyone who could successfully claim a dragon. But while Hugh Hammer and Ulf were indeed knighted shortly after the Battle of Galate, many of their other promises came with a caveat or were broken entirely. As a reward for their success on the battlefield, Daemon attempts to convince Rhaenyra to give them enough compensation that could help legitimize their newfound power.
First, Daemon proposes that Ulf marry Lord Stocksworth's daughter, give him a seat in the Crownlands, and give Hugh Casterly Rock (the Lannister castle). Rhaenyra rejects this proposal, even after Daemon entertains the idea of giving Ulf Storm's End (held by House Baratheon, one of Westeros' most powerful families), because she feels their ambition is rooted in personal advancement rather than helping the greater good. She grants Ulf and Hugh a small plot of land in Driftmark, but both are offended by her broken promises.
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Meanwhile, while the capture of King's Landing initially looks like a decisive victory for the Black Team, it soon becomes clear that the war is far from over. Lord Ormond Hightower of the Green Team leads an army to retake King's Landing, advancing quickly and forcing Rhaenyra to focus her attention on Templeton, a market town and its last major line of defense. Ulf and Hugh are sent to defend the outpost while Lord Ormond is killed in the fighting. However, the dragonseeds promptly betray Rhaenyra's forces, using their dragons to set the town on fire and reorganize their allegiance to the Green Team; Ulf and Hugh later become infamous as “The Traitors.”
The fallout proves significant, as Rhaenyra grows increasingly paranoid that the other dragonseeds will turn against her as well. Ulf and Hugh's ambitions quickly prove their downfall; while Prince Daeron of the Green Ulf team promises the title of Lord of Bitterbridge, that is not enough for him. Ulf demands control of Highgarden (the seat of House Tyrell), and later, even attempts to become King of Westeros. After Hugh (who also has ambitions to claim the Iron Throne) dies in a second battle at Templeton, Daeron realizes that Ulf is more trouble than he is worth and orders him poisoned to death.
A shocking but inevitable betrayal in House of the Dragon
This devastating blow to the Black Team proved that it Fire and bloodas I feel it is inevitable. A Song of Ice and FireThe series, both in its book and TV versions, deals with the concept of power, the lengths those who wield it will go to use it, what it takes to keep it, and who is most worthy of holding it. This theme is brilliantly illustrated here in subtle detail, as Rhaenyra abuses her power by insulting two of her closest confidants, but Hugh and Ulf’s lust for power also proves to be their downfall.
Considering how awesome it is Dragon House We've been setting up this basic story line this week (one of many that lead to the fall of House Targaryen), focusing primarily on the dragon seed recruitment into the character and theme, and we can't wait to see the payoff, whenever it comes. Dragon House Season 2 is now available on Max.
