House of the Dragon Season 2 Recap: Episode 7 - The Red Sowing

Ash Walker • 29 Jul 2024 Features

“Come on!”

SPOILERS AHEAD!

To the surprise of no one (except Rhaenyra maybe), it was indeed Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) who bonded with the dragon Seasmoke at the end of last week’s episode. And after a brief confrontation on the beach, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) realises what this really means - she can cast a much wider net in her search for new dragonriders.

And so begins a recruitment drive, as Rhaenyra’s spies spread the word across Westeros that Team Black is looking for anyone of Valyrian descent, legitimate or not, no matter the circumstances of their birth, to make them into dragonriders.

It’s a very enticing prospect, and it peaks the interest of the two commoners we’ve been getting glimpses of all season - Ulf (Tom Bennett) and Hugh (Kieran Bew) - although for very different reasons. Hugh is driven by a need to avenge the death of his daughter, who succumbed to disease and malnutrition thanks to the worsening conditions in King’s Landing, and Ulf… well, Ulf just doesn’t want to look bad in front of his mates.

The two of them make the journey to Dragonstone to test their mettle and, following a fun series of misadventures in the dragon pits, end up bonding with Silverwing (Ulf) and the gigantic Vermithor (Hugh). Nice work, boys!

For anyone keeping score, that means Team Black now has seven riders (including Daemon, who is still faffing around in the Riverlands), compared to Team Green’s measly handful. While the Greens might have the stronger armies, they’re starting to look hopelessly outmatched in the air - even with Aemond and his mighty Vhagar.

Meanwhile, still(!) stuck in gloomy Harrenhal, Daemon (Matt Smith) meets with the new lord paramount of the region, Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes), expecting the kid to be a pushover and planning to quickly bully him into finally delivering his united army. Unfortunately for Daemon, young Oscar proves to be made of sterner stuff.

Oscar publicly rakes the preening price over the coals, and demands that he execute one of his own loyal men to make up for all the horror they’ve inflicted in recent weeks. Astonishingly, Daemon bows his head and does as he is told.

It’s hard to imagine Daemon bowing to this kid’s demands before his trip to the haunted hallways of Harrenhal - even if he does really like chopping off heads. Those witchy hallucinations have really done a number on him. He’s not exactly humble now, but he seems to be starting to come to terms with his place in the world, and to realise that maybe he doesn’t want a crown, actually.

Finally, in a fun scene that brings to mind that bit in Dr Strangelove where the pilot rides the bomb, Ulf swoops in over King’s Landing, whooping and hollering and generally causing a panic. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) responds, hopping on Vhagar and giving chase, only to turn back at the last second.

It’s a trap, of course, and Aemond isn’t stupid enough to blunder right into it. Because Ulf flies straight to the hills of Dragonstone, where a whole host of fire-breathing beasties are waiting, with murder on their minds.

Death Count: None to speak of this week, except a whole load of unfortunate Targaryen bastards, charbroiled by Vermithor.

Shout-Outs:

• Alicent (Olivia Cooke) didn’t have much to do this week, except mope around the woods and take a dip in a pond. She says she may never go back to King’s Landing, and I sort of hope she means it. She should get out of that whole mess and go find some adventure somewhere!
• Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) is still on the trail of that wild dragon that’s been terrorising the vale. It seems pretty likely that she’ll end up being yet another rider in the ranks of Team Black. Good for her.
• House of the Dragon is - by design - so focussed on the Targaryens that it’s always nice to see other perspectives, especially those of the common folk. I’m super interested to see what happens now that a bunch of rowdy peasants have been suddenly elevated to the status of gods on dragonback. How will they deal with their newfound power? My guess is not particularly well - especially in the case of Ulf.

Verdict: The war took a pretty fun turn this week with the introduction of a couple of low-born dragonriders, and the stage is certainly set for an interesting season finale next week.

House of the Dragon airs every Monday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic, and can be streamed from 2am the same day.