Caraxes the dragon in “House of the Dragon.” HBO
Warning: Major spoilers ahead for “House of the Dragon” season two, episode five.
The Dance of Dragons has finally begun in “House of the Dragon,” and it’s about to get even more dramatic as Rhaenyra Targaryen attempts to recruit new dragonriders for her army.
Things kicked off at the end of episode four when Vhagar, Meleys, and Sunfyre all battled in the sky above Rook’s Rest.
Rhaenys Targaryen and Meleys were killed in the fight, while King Aegon Targaryen and Sunfyre were critically injured. This is war, after all.
In episode five, Rhaenyra is left in a vulnerable position without the fury of Rhaenys and Meleys to bolster her forces, which leads her to make a controversial decision.
At the end of the episode, she decides to look for illegitimate Targaryen heirs in the hope that they can bond with some of the dragons still living underneath Dragonstone.
So, here are all the new dragonriders that might appear in “House of the Dragon” season two.
Ulf the White: Silverwing
Tom Bennett as Ulf the White in season two, episode three of “House of the Dragon.” Ollie Upton/HBO
Ulf the White has already popped up a few times. He witnessed the hanging of the ratcatchers after the murder of Targaryen toddler, Jaecaerys, and he was also in the bar when Aegon took his new Kingsguard knights out for a drink.
During the boozy night, Ulf quietly explains to the table that his father was Baelon the Brave, which makes him the illegitimate brother of Daemon and Viserys Targaryen.
Should the show continue to be faithful to “Fire & Blood,” Ulf will bond with a dragon called Silverwing. In the book, Ulf rides the dragon with the Blacks to win a huge fight at sea called the Battle of the Gullet.
However, he later defects to the Greens during the Hightowers’ siege of Tumbleton.
Hugh Hammer: Vermithor
Hugh Hammer was introduced in the first episode of “House of the Dragon” season two. HBO
Hugh Hammer is another dragonrider who audiences have already met. He’s the blacksmith whose daughter is suffering from an illness in the first few episodes of season two.
Unlike Ulf, Hugh hasn’t spoken about his Targaryen lineage in the show, and it isn’t clear who he’s descended from.
His role in the series so far has been to shine a light on the smallfolk, and to show how normal people are affected by the war. But things will change for Hugh he becomes a dragonrider.
In the book, he’s able to ride Vermithor, the large dragon that Daemon attempted to bond with back in the first season.
Like Ulf, Hugh eventually betrays the Blacks in “Fire and Blood” and sides with the Greens during the battle of Tumbleton.
Addam of Hull: Seasmoke
In season two, the show developed Corlys Velaryon as a character by introducing two brothers, Addam and Alyn of Hull, who are two shipwrights in the Velaryon army.
They are Corlys’ bastard children, although he hasn’t confirmed that yet.
When the call goes out for dragonriders, Addam bonds with Seasmoke — the dragon who was previously owned by Laenor Velaryon (John MacMillan).
Rhaenyra also legitimizes Addam, which makes him the heir to Driftmark.
Alyn of Hull: Rejected
Alyn of Hull was introduced in the season two premiere after he saved his father, Corlys, from drowning. Ollie Upton/HBO
In the book, Alyn of Hull is not as fortunate as his brother. It details how he attempted to bond to Sheepstealer, but the dragon rejects and burns him.
Although Alyn doesn’t get to ride a dragon into battle, like his brother, his story doesn’t end there.
Corlys recognizes the brothers as rightful Velaryons, and Alyn is given control of the Velaryon fleet.
Nettles: Sheepstealer
Rhaenyra discovers the remains of Arrax, her son Lucerys’ dragon, in the season two premiere of “House of the Dragon.” Theo Whiteman/HBO
After Sheepstealer rejected Alyn, a young girl called Nettles eventually charmed the dragon by killing sheep and leaving their bodies for it to eat. It’s not explained whether she has Targaryen blood, or if she’s just clever enough to use the unconventional tactic.
Nettles hasn’t appeared in “House of the Dragon” yet, which is strange since it has already introduced the other potential dragonriders.
It’s unclear whether showrunner Ryan Condal will bring her in at the last minute to fill out the dragon ranks.
“House of the Dragon” might exclude her completely, and it wouldn’t be the first time important characters from the books have been left out. Prince Daeron Targaryen and Maelor Targaryen are absent from the series.
To be fair, it’s tricky balancing so many characters, action, dragons, and political intrigue, so it would be understandable if the show decided not to introduce Nettles.
