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Warning: Contains spoilers from season 2, episode 5 of “House of the Dragon,” and the book “Fire and Blood.”
House of the Dragon continues to keep us glued to the screen with Season 2. The first episode gave us a brief introduction to a key character from George R.R. Martin’s Fire and Blood novel. Now, a few episodes in, we’re starting to get to know him a bit better.
In the Season 2 premiere, Aegon II Targaryen hears petitions from the common people, with one petitioner more important than the others: Hugh (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith who asks Aegon for an advance payment for weapons.
For those of you who don’t recognize Hugh’s face in the extended close-ups, here’s a PSA: Remember his face. Assuming he’s the same Hugh from Fire and Blood, which House of the Dragon is based on, you’ll be seeing more of him in the future.
Hugh is portrayed as a father in House of the Dragon
In Season 2, Episode 2, Hugh and his wife discuss food costs while caring for their sick daughter at home. Hugh assures his wife that Aegon has promised to pay in advance, but she is skeptical.
By episode five, the funds have not been paid. Aegon is seriously injured in a clash with Rhaenys, Aemond, and their dragons Merys and Vhagar, and his brother Aemond rules in his place. As unrest falls in King’s Landing, Hugh’s wife urges him to leave for Tumbleton, where her brother lives. Hugh is reluctant, but the couple and their daughter decide to leave the city.
Unfortunately, they fail and are held up by Aemond’s orders to close the gates, but at the end of episode five, Rhaenyra’s son Jacaerys comes up with the idea to find a Targaryen bloodline who can ride dragons – an idea that could potentially attract Hugh to join them.
In Fire and Blood, Hugh is a dragon rider.
During the Dance of Dragons, as recounted in “Fire and Blood,” Jacaerys decided to recruit potential dragon riders from among the bastard sons of House Targaryen. He recruited new recruits, promising knighthood, lands, and glory to anyone who could successfully ride a dragon.
Not everyone was successful. According to Fire and Blood, Grand Maester Munkun (one of the historical sources) states that 16 men died during the trial and dozens were injured. Hugh, the “Forge Spawn,” a man of incredible physical strength, rode the dragon Vermithor. Others were successful, riding the dragons Silverwing, Seasmoke, and Sheepstealer.
Vermithoor — we know him, right?
That’s right: House of the Dragons viewers encountered Vermithor in Season 1. It was the former mount of Viserys’ predecessor, King Jaehaerys, and had been riderless since his death.
In the season 1 finale, Daemon Targaryen has a brief encounter with Vermithor while searching for him below Dragonstone. Daemon, singing in High Valyrian, doesn’t seem to get on too well with Vermithor, but it’s not scorching enough to make it a win overall.
Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen, stands in front of Vermithor. HBO
Vermithor is not the largest dragon in House of the Dragon – that honor goes to Aemond’s large and beautiful daughter, Vergar – but he is still quite large.
Now, if you want potential Major spoilers ahead For the show…
What happens to Hugh in the book?
The fictional history of Westeros tells how Hugh fought in the wars as a dragon rider. In one battle, Rhaenyra’s forces clashed with the naval fleet of the Triumvirate, allied with Otto Hightower. During the battle, Hugh and Vermithor fought alongside the dragons Silverwing, Sheepstealer, and Seasmoke, along with their rider, Jacaeris, and his dragon, Vermax.
However, Silverwing’s riders Hugh and Wolf White defected later in the war at the Battle of Tumbleton, although historical records leave their motives in dispute, and their betrayal led to the city falling to the forces of Ormund Hightower, accompanied by Prince Daeron Targaryen, as well as Hugh and Wolf themselves.
Hugh eventually claimed the Iron Throne for himself, and the lords under Daeron plotted to kill him, but Adam Velaryon, allied with Raynor Velaryon’s former dragon Seasmoke, attacked the city, and Hugh was killed in the ensuing Second Battle of Tumbleton.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 airs Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and is available to stream. Max.