Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episodes 1-9 ahead. Like a fan-favorite character once said, the Game of Thrones universe has a soft spot for bastards and broken things. This affinity continues in the prequel series House of the Dragon, which returned for its second season in June 2024 with some surprising new characters in the orbit of its dueling Greens and Blacks. In addition to setting up the early battles of the Targaryen family's civil war known as the Dance of Dragons, the series also introduces some common folk populating King's Landing and Driftmark. While the inclusion may have seemed surprising to some TV fans, readers of author George R. R. Martin's original Fire and Blood book series know that no scene included in this stacked fantasy series is truly random. (Let's keep the final Thrones seasons out of our minds for that.)
While GoT had Jon Snow and Ellaria Sand (we're ignoring Ramsey), HotD has the dragonseeds, many of whom we were already introduced to before season 2, episode 4. These men (and maybe eventually women) are set up to play monumental roles in the fight for the Iron Throne, even if they aren't all introduced within season 2. Read on for a primer on the dragonseeds we've met on House of the Dragon so far, including which dragons they've claimed, and some extra details from Fire and Blood.
What is a dragonseed in 'House of the Dragon?'
In the era of Westeros where dragons roamed the sky and Targaryens were on the throne, "dragonseed" was the term for bastards of Valyrian descent. A dragonseed is fathered or mothered by someone from a dragon-riding Valyrian family, typically a Targaryen or a Velaryon. Not all children of Valyrian descent inherit dragon-riding skills, but a great amount do. Since the ability to ride dragons is passed down through blood (look up "why Valyrians can ride dragons" for a fun yet harrowing time), a dragonseed doesn't need to be officially claimed by their family to be able to ride a dragon, though that is likely the only way they'd get anywhere near one.
Being a dragonseed is dangerous at any time before Robert's Rebellion since the odds are they could become cannon fodder for a potential heir securing his throne. As Ulf says, “A dragonseed must watch his own neck when he has no white cloak guardsman to do it for him.” However, at a time when dragons are the most valuable weapon in a war, there is a chance the dragonseeds could become indispensable.
Let's meet some of them below.
Addam of Hull
Early in season 2, we meet brothers Addam (Clinton Liberty) and Alyn (Abubakar Salim), who grew up in the Driftmark town of Hull. Remember when Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) was thought dead after a battle in the Stepstones? It turns out that Alyn is the one who saved him, and, as his brother Addam hints in episode 2, that's not the only connection the men have to the Sea Snake. In episode 4, Rhaenys (Eve Best) pretty much confirms that Alyn and Addam are the bastard children of Corlys, adding that Corlys should reward Alyn for saving his life. She also mentions that the pair shouldn't have to hide in the shadows, which is some mighty foreshadowing.
In Fire and Blood, Alyn and Addam are confirmed to be of Velaryon blood, though it's unsure whether they are Laenor (John MacMillan) or Corlys's sons. One passage reads, "That Addam and Alyn were dragonseed no man who looked upon them could doubt, though their mother steadfastly refused to name their father." (Judging by Laenor's sexuality, we suspect it's going to be either Corlys or even his late brother Vaemond on the show.) As for their dragonseed heritage, there was a lovely nod in episode 2, where we got a lengthy shot of Addam admiring his half-brother(?) Laenor's dragon, Seasmoke.
In season 2, episode 6, the silver-gray dragon Seasmoke sets off the claiming of the dragonseeds. Seasmoke was originally bonded to Rhaenyra's husband Laenor Velaryon (John Macmillan), but after Laenor faked his death, the dragon roamed wild around Westeros, near Dragonstone and Hull. One afternoon, Seasmoke descends on Addam out of the blue and the pair embark on a fearful chase. Once Seasmoke corners Addam, it becomes clear that the dragon has found her new rider. Though we still don't know of Addam's paternal parentage, it seems as though the dragon somehow senses that he is her old rider's half-brother.
At the start of episode 7, Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy)hears word that Seasmoke has been claimed and confronts the new rider. Addam quickly bends the knee to the queen, and Rhaenyra forms the idea to search for dragonseeds among the bastard Targaryen children of King's Landing.
Ulf the White
Ulf the White (Tom Bennett) is one of the residents of King's Landing, who we first see among the crowds learning of the ratcatchers' untimely deaths after the incident known as Blood and Cheese. In episode 3, we properly meet Ulf at a tavern, where he's regaling his crowd of friends with the story of his parentage. According to Ulf, he's the bastard son of Baelon the Brave, and therefore half-brother to Daemon (Matt Smith) and the late King Viserys (Paddy Considine). (In actuality, Baelon was Jaehaerys' heir to the Iron Thorne, but he died before his father, leading to the Great Council of Harrenhal where Viserys was chosen as king over Rhaenys.)
Ulf's friends do not believe him, as he doesn't have white Targaryen hair, but Ulf points out that Rhaenyra's son Jace (Harry Collett) is a brunette. He also dubs Jace the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, though he quickly toasts Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) once the usurper shows up at the brothel. House of the Dragon has yet to confirm Ulf's parentage, but Fire and Blood fans know that the loudmouth's claim has some truth to it.
In episode 7, Ulf's friends tell him that Rhaenyra is seeking Targaryen bastards to claim dragons. Though Ulf confesses that he doesn't even know if his claims are entirely true, he has gotten free drinks from his white-haired heritage, so he sets off to Dragonstone partly to save fast. As the attempt to find a rider for Vermithor goes sour, Ulf runs off through the mountain Dragonmont and stumbles upon the unclaimed she-dragon Silverwing. They unexpectedly bond, and Ulf even gets the chance to ride his new dragon over King's Landing.
Hugh Hammer
In the first episodes of season 2, one of the common folk we meet is Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew), a blacksmith whose family is struggling through the Velaryon blockade of the Gullet. Upon a first look, he represents the many residents of King's Landing who face starvation, along with his wife Kat (Ellora Torchia) and their ill daughter. However, as you can tell by the uncommon white hair, Hammer has some Velaryon heritage.
Once the recruiting drive for the Blacks begins in King's Landing, Hugh reveals to Kat that he had been hiding the truth of his parentage. He says that his mother was a sex worker with silver hair, who was "granted more freedom than most because of who she was." He also adds, "She used to tell me I was no different to her brother’s boys, Viserys and Daemon, but I was ashamed of her."
In an interview with Decider, Bew confirmed that Hugh's mother is Saera Targaryen, the notoriously sex-positive ninth daughter of King Jaehaerys I (Michael Carter), who fled to become a sex worker in Lys rather than become a Silent Sister. That heritage may have played a part in Hugh claiming Vermithor in the Dragonmont, as the second-largest dragon was previously bonded to the late king. Hugh also impressed the dragon in a show of courage, where he confronted it to give another woman a chance to escape.
Are there any female Dragonseeds?
As of season 2, episode 9, all of the dragonseeds introduced in House of the Dragon have been men. However, the most powerful dragonriders (or at least the most beloved) in the Thrones TV universe have been women—so hopefully there's at least one female dragonseed incoming. Hopefully, they'll make their appearance sooner rather than later.
