Vermithor in House of the Dragon Season 1

House of the Dragon: Who Rides Vermithor in Season 2?

Leon Miller

Published: Jul 29, 2024 12:20 am

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 7. It also includes potential spoilers for future installments of the series.

Vermithor’s Dragon Rider in House of the Dragon Season 2, Explained

Hugh Hammer and Kat in House of the Dragon Season 2

House of the Dragon has been teasing Vermithor’s entry into the Dance of the Dragons civil war since Season 1’s finale, “The Black Queen.” There, Prince Daemon Targaryen roused the hibernating beastie, hinting that his full-blown debut was on the horizon. We wound up waiting a bit longer than expected, though; the Bronze Fury remains off-screen until Season 2, Episode 7. Here, Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen shoves a bunch of lowborn dragonseeds into the same room as Vermithor, in the hopes of finding him a rider. The plan doesn’t exactly go smoothly – a lot of illegitimate Targaryens are charred, chomped, or both – but in the end, Hugh Hammer bonds with Vermithor. Apparently, Hugh’s defiance in the face of certain death won over the overgrown lizard.

Admittedly, we don’t actually see Hugh riding Vermithor in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 7. But, as with Addam of Hull and Seasmoke in Episode 6, it’s pretty obvious Hugh is Vermithor’s new dragon rider. This makes the bastard blacksmith the first person to claim the Bronze Fury since King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, and just his second rider in nearly a century. It also puts him in charge of the second-biggest dragon in Westeros (behind Vhagar), and arguably the fiercest. Not bad for a bloke struggling to put food on the table throughout Season 2’s first six episodes. And as Episode 7’s final scene proves, Hugh’s now a key player in Rhaenyra’s campaign, so expect his star to keep rising!

Does Hugh Hammer Ride Vermithor in the Book, Too?

Yep, Hugh Hammer is Vermithor’s dragon rider in House of the Dragon‘s source text, Fire & Blood, too. What’s more, the pair take part in some of the Dance of the Dragons’ most noteworthy events. Most (if not all) of this material will likely feature in future House of the Dragon episodes, so anyone keen to avoid possible spoilers should check out now.

So, soon after Hugh claims Vermithor in the book, he takes part in the Battle of the Gullet: one of the bloodiest naval slugfests in the Seven Kingdoms’ history. His efforts boost his profile among the Black Targaryen camp; he’s knighted and awarded lands. Unfortunately, there’s also some unpleasantness involving Hugh being turned down as Casterly Rock’s replacement lord. Miffed with Rhaenyra, Hugh later switches sides and fights for the Green Targaryens at the Battle of Tumbleton.

House of the Dragon Season 2 is currently airing on HBO and Max, with new episodes dropping Sundays.

House of the Dragon

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy