Warning: Spoilers forward for “Home of the Dragon” season two, episode seven, and the “Hearth and Blood” novel.
Hugh Hammer casually drops a large bombshell within the newest episode of “Home of the Dragon,” which can have sophisticated the Targaryen family tree even additional.
Within the newest episode, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) tries to recruit Targaryen and Velaryon bastards as dragon riders for her military, as a result of solely individuals with Valyrian blood can bond with a dragon.
After the lack of their daughter, Hugh (Kieran Bew) tells his spouse that he desires to go to Dragonstone to say a dragon in order that he can have extra energy to guard their household.
Hugh explains that his mom was a prostitute who was profitable as a result of she had the Targaryen’s signature silver hair colour.
“She used to inform me I used to be no completely different to her brother’s boys, Viserys and Daemon,” Hugh says, seemingly referring to the previous king, Viserys I, and his brother, Daemon Targaryen.
Hugh by no means specifies his mom’s identify, implying that she was simply one other illegitimate baby of Baerlon the Courageous, Viserys, and Daemon’s guardian.
This declare is strengthened later within the episode when Hugh turns into the one one who is ready to bond with Vermithor, the second-largest dragon within the land.
If what Hugh says is true, it’s a main departure from “Fire and Blood,” the novel that “Home of the Dragon” is predicated on, because it makes Hugh a direct relative of the Targaryen royal household.
Hugh shouldn’t be straight associated to the Targaryens in ‘Hearth and Blood’
Theo Whiteman / HBO
In “Hearth and Blood,” Hugh is the bastard of an unnamed blacksmith from Dragonstone. Although it’s later revealed he has Valryian blood when he claims the dragon Vermithor, there’s by no means a direct hyperlink between him and the Targaryens.
Within the guide, Baerlon solely has three recognized sisters: Alyssa, who he marries; Daenerys, who dies of illness; and Maegelle, who joined the non secular group, the religion of the seven.
This isn’t the primary time that “Home of the Dragon” has modified the “Hearth and Blood” storyline. Followers have praised a few of these adjustments, whereas others have left plot holes, making the story extra complicated.
Hugh’s addition to the Targaryens makes an already puzzling household tree much more sophisticated. It additionally appears to trace that the present will adapt one other main a part of the civil struggle in “Hearth and Blood.”
In “Hearth and Blood,” Hugh betrays Rhaenyra and finally tries to grab the Iron Throne for himself in order that he can rule as king.
Hugh shouldn’t be a part of the royal succession in Westeros within the TV sequence, however the truth that he’s associated to the royal household and has one of many greatest dragons may give him a real declare to the throne. It isn’t just like the Targaryens have not omitted generations earlier than.
We’ll probably discover out Hugh’s ambitions together with his dragon in subsequent week’s season two finale.
“Home of the Dragon” season two airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and is streaming on Max.
