Sunday night’s episode of House of the Dragon is the penultimate episode of Season 2. We have just one more episode left before another long—agonizingly long—wait while they cook up Season 3.
The tension is high as dragons prepare for battle, ready to fight each other and ultimately perish. This period, known as the Dance of Dragons, explains why no dragons remained when Game of Thrones began. It’s a tragic, bloody saga unfolding before our eyes.
As Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) flew off after receiving news that Seasmoke was seen with a new rider, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) quickly bent the knee to Team Black, becoming the new rider of Laenor’s old dragon.
After learning that dragonseeds need not necessarily be highborn, Rhaenyra put out a call in King’s Landing for all bastards with Valyrian blood to come to Dragonstone and attempt to bond with one of the remaining dragons. Those who came faced a bloody affair—until finally, the queen had some luck.
Vermithor and Silverwing had been sitting in Dragonmont unridden for years, but both finally found riders worthy of their backs. The episode ended with Rhaenyra feeling more powerful now that she has three more dragons ready to enter the Dance.
The Sowing of the Seeds
The Sowing of the Seeds is what Jace’s plan to find more riders becomes known as in history.
In the books, Jace puts out a call and promises a knighthood, lands, and riches to any dragonseed who successfully claims one of the dragons. Despite many dragonseeds, it’s a particularly bloody affair with many losing their lives in the attempt to bond with a dragon.
Successful Dragonseeds
Image Credit: HBO
Addam of Hull
Addam (Clinton Liberty) is Alyn’s older brother. He’s also a bastard of Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) but is chosen by Seasmoke. We’d seen Addam earlier in the season watching the dragon roam around Driftmark, but apparently, the dragon had also been watching him. He was quick to bend the knee to Rhaenyra when confronted and looks to have found himself some purpose fighting for Team Black, despite clearly still having a chip on his shoulder for dear old dad.
Ulf the White
Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) is one of the few dragonseeds who proudly boasts his lineage. He claimed early in Season 2 that his grandfather was Jaehaerys the Conciliator — the king before Viserys (Paddy Considine) in Season 1.
When it came time to go to Dragonstone on Rhaenyra’s call, Ulf seemed a bit hesitant and worried that his boasts were for naught. He ended up going and fleeing from Vermithor only to find and bond with Silverwing deeper in Dragonmont, the dragon flown by Jaehaerys’ wife.
Hugh Hammer
Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew) appeared briefly at the beginning of Season 2, appealing to Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) for help funding more of their dragon-killing weapons.
The lack of food in King’s Landing under Team Green’s leadership leads Hugh to Dragonstone. He struggles through the chaos of Vermithor’s entrance but clearly makes an impression on the Bronze Fury when he steps up to protect a female dragonseed about to be killed by the old dragon. Doing so earned Hugh the respect of one of the oldest dragons in Westeros.
The Dragons
The dragons we see in this episode—one for the first time ever—have been riderless for some time. Here’s what we know about them.
Seasmoke
Seasmoke is a silver-grey dragon who was hatched to Rhaenyra’s thought-dead first husband Laenor Velaryon. Both the dragon and rider participated in the War for the Stepstones before Seasmoke fought in the Dance.
Seasmoke clearly took as much of a liking to Addam as the rider did the dragon. After rejecting Steffon Darklyn as a rider, Seasmoke sought out Addam on his own aggressively.
Vermithor
Vermithor—also called the “Bronze Fury”—was previously ridden by Jaehaerys the Conciliator. He hasn’t been claimed since the Old King’s death and resided deep in Dragonmont until won over by Hugh. Vermithor is mated to Silverwing, who was ridden by Jaehaerys’ wife Queen Alysanne.
Silverwing
Silverwing is mated to Vermithor and last ridden by King Jaehaerys’ wife Alysanne. Ulf stumbled upon her and her egg clutches deep in Dragonmont but luckily won her over.
This is the first time the show has seen Silverwing, though she has been mentioned a few times, most notably when Cregan mentions to Jace that Jaehaerys and Alysanne visited the North during the Old King’s reign and both Vermithor and Silverwing refused to fly beyond the Wall.
Daemon’s Duty
“Do you still want it?” That’s the question Daemon (Matt Smith) faces throughout the season. After securing the Riverlands through clever maneuvering with young Oscar Tully, Daemon must come to terms with his actions through two critical encounters. To secure the Riverlands, he is tasked with killing Lord Blackwood. Though wielding a sword is no issue for Daemon, this moment symbolizes his broader character arc.
Daemon’s conversation with Alys last week and another visit from Viserys clarify his stance. The crown is offered to him once more, tempting him like the ring in The Lord of the Rings. In a week where many seek power, Daemon’s potential rejection of it speaks volumes about his character.
Alicent’s Sorrow
Meanwhile, Team Green is not faring well. Their defenses of King’s Landing are weak, allowing ships carrying Rhaenyra’s spies easy access to Blackwater Bay. Despite Aemond recently ordering the city closed, local Dragonseeds have no trouble leaving by ship. Larys Strong, the Master of Whisperers, is not up to the task, and Aegon is forced to seek out Vhagar.
Alicent (Olivia Cooke) is perhaps the unhappiest of all the characters except for the maimed Aegon. She leaves the city and retreats to the forest, with only one knight as her guard. This mirrors Rhaenyra’s own adventure during her father’s hunt when young Ser Criston Cole became her sole companion. Alicent, once a pawn of her father, is now cast aside by her son and his advisors.
Conclusion
This episode of House of the Dragon is outstanding, combining intense action, character development, and stunning visuals. The stakes are higher than ever, with shifting alliances and the future of Westeros hanging in the balance. As we approach the season finale, the tension and drama are at their peak, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating what comes next.
By Andrej Kovacevic
Updated on 29th July 2024