Dragons and Drama: ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2, Episode 7 Highlights

In this week's penultimate episode of “House of the Dragon”, the dragon pit was unleashed, and the main rule was clear: Claim a dragon or risk becoming its charbroiled meal.

Unlike some, Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) was unexpectedly chosen by the dragon Seasmoke as its new rider, a development that puzzled Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy).

On Driftmark’s shores, Addam, with his dragon by his side, expressed his desire to “learn the way of dragonriders” and aligned himself with Team Black. However, he kept his true identity as Corlys Valeryon’s (Steven Toussaint) illegitimate son a secret.

With Seasmoke now claimed, Rhaenyra still needed to secure two more dragons to stand a chance against Vhagar and Team Green. Mysaria spread word in King’s Landing about Rhaenyra’s search for “lowborn” individuals who might have Targaryen blood to try their luck at Dragonstone.

Despite Rhaenyra’s efforts to gather a new army of potential dragonriders, most of them were incinerated by Vermithor, the second-largest dragon in Westeros. Nevertheless, the attempt wasn’t in vain as two new dragonriders emerged from the chaos: Hugh (Tom Bennett), a blacksmith from King’s Landing, who claimed Vermithor, and Ulf (Kieran Bew), who managed to claim Silverwing.

Rhaenyra now commands at least five dragons, excluding Daemon’s Caraxes, who remains at Harrenhal.

In a separate development, Daemon appeared to win the support of the River Lords after summoning them to Harrenhal. Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), Lord Paramount of the Riverlands, declared House Tully’s support for Rhaenyra as their queen, although he recognized the River Lords’ resentment towards Daemon due to the atrocities committed by Ser Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones) under Daemon’s orders. Daemon was ordered to kill Willem as a form of atonement.

Daemon was haunted by a vision of his brother, King Viserys (Paddy Considine), who lamented the pain caused by wearing the crown and questioned if Daemon still desired it.

Elsewhere in Westeros:

• Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) and Rhaenyra’s children sought refuge, with Rhaena searching for a wild dragon.
• Alicent (Olivia Cooke) secretly fled King’s Landing with Ser Rickard (Vincent Regan) and expressed uncertainty about returning.
• Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) learned that his brother Daeron’s dragon, Tessarion, is preparing to join the fight in Oldtown.
• Aemond, who pursued Silverwing back to Dragonstone, saw Rhaenyra’s new dragon contingent and retreated, showing a rare look of fear.