Will Rhaenyra Targaryen Ride Vermithor in 'House of the Dragon'?

Published 07/14/2024, 2:04 AM EDT

The House of the Dragon season 2 has officially reached its midpoint. Episode four has itself hinted at the bloodshed that is in store for the coming episodes, with the show inching closer to the beginning of the first real war of the season. And now, with the fifth episode knocking on the door, fans are about to dive into one of the best parts of the lore. The biggest question that has been teased for episode 5 is whether Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen will get the most badass dragon, Vermithor, to spread its wings over Westeros.

This was teased through a new promo for the upcoming episode 5, and fans have since been trying to unravel the mystery behind the glimpse of Rhaenyra seemingly taming the Bronze Fury in the caves of Dragonstone.

Will Rhaenyra Targaryen add Vermithor to her beast collection?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

It is no secret that Rhaenyra Targaryen needs to expand her dragon army if she wants to match the might of Aemond’s dragon, Vhagar. However, her chances of claiming the ever-unclaimed dragon since Jaehaerys I Targaryen’s death are very slim. The reason being, the second rider of Vermithor in the lore, after the king, Hugh Hammer, has already been introduced in the first episode of House of the Dragon season 2. And from the looks of it, Hammer is becoming a key player in the show’s storyline.

Going by the original texts, Rhaenyra Targaryen already has a dragon, Syrax, and she only rides her throughout the lore, not any other dragon. Considering that there are also many dragonless characters on the show, waiting for their moment in the sun, it cannot be said for sure if Rhaenyra would be the one to ride Vermithor, despite the speculations. However, there is one theory that offers a small glimmer of hope for this speculation.

‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2: Warnings Issued Everywhere for Episode 4 with Wars, Dragons, and Politics Looming

It is a connection between the House of the Dragon and its parent show, Game of Thrones, that brings out an interesting theory about the Targaryen's dragon history.

Can Rhaenyra Targaryen claim more than one dragon?

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

It has been laid out by the lore that Rhaenyra Targaryen has only ever ridden one dragon her entire life, Syrax. However, someone in her clan, her sixth great-granddaughter, Daenerys Targaryen, is known for claiming three dragons, even though she rode only one, Drogon. Nonetheless, many fans believe that Daenerys could have ridden Viserion and Rhaegal too, as they easily followed her lead.

This proves that in the Game of Thrones universe, a dragon chooses its rider, not the other way around. Considering that twisting the original sources in adaptations is no new trend- something even the Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon mastermind has talked about- it is not entirely impossible for the showrunners to introduce a new twist to Rhaenyra Targaryen's arc. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Pride Month: ‘House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith Wins Over Everyone With This Subtle Stand for Co-Star Emma D'Arcy

What do you think about the House of the Dragon tease for Rhaenyra Targaryen and Vermithor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Hriddhi Maitra

1361 articles

Hriddhi Maitra is a Hollywood News reporter at Netflix Junkie. An enthusiastic movie buff, Hriddhi found her true calling when she worked as a Cinema Content Writer at My Cinema Story while analyzing movies objectively, and offering constructive feedback. Coming from a background where she worked in different niches like finance, food, travel, medicines, automobile, and entertainment, we can safely say she is a jack of all trades.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

ADVERTISEMENT

EDITORS' PICK