'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 7 Ending Explained: Why Aemond didn't attack dragonrider
Contains Spoilers for 'House of the Dragon'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 7 aired on HBO on July 28. The intriguing episode had a mind-blowing turn of events that would tilt the scales in favor of the Blacks as Rhaenyra Targaryen's (Emma D'Arcy) brave step helped her recruit Dragonriders to serve the realm.
The episode was centered around the Blacks and their quest for dragonriders as they looked for the illegitimate children of Targaryens to be the dragonriders who could assist them in the war.
Claiming a dragon however is easier said than done especially if you're talking about Vermithor who is the second-largest dragon in the seven kingdoms after Vhagar. Will Rhaenyra find what she is looking for? How will Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) react? Here we explain the end to 'House of the Dragon' Season 2 Episode 7.
Hugh and Ulf claim Vermithor and Silverwing
As people with Targaryen blood gather on Dragonstone, Rhaenyra takes them to Vermithor, a vicious dragon who could be the hardest one to control. As people step up to Vermithor, he is agitated and burns down almost everyone.
When everyone else runs helter-skelter trying to save themselves from the dragon's ferocity, Hugh (Kieran Bew) steps up to Vermithor and claims he is ready. The dragons as we have already seen with Aemond when he claimed Vhagar, appreciate bravery. Hugh has the blood of Targaryens and is brave enough to step up to Vermithor who surrenders to him.
Skipping away from Vermithor's fury, Ulf (Tom Bennett) finds himself escaping to another dragon Silverwing who has been unclaimed for a long time. Ulf too has the blood of the dragon and while initially skeptical, Silverwing takes a liking to Ulf and allows himself to be taken by Ulf.
With Ulf claiming Silverwing, Hugh claiming Vermithor, and Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty) having Seasmoke, the Blacks now have a distinct advantage in terms of dragons with Syrax, Vermax, and Moondancer already with them and Caraxes there at Harrenhall.
Aemond backs down for the first time
Ulf rides Silverwing above King's Landing to the surprise of Aemond who immediately rushes towards Vhagar. When Aemond and Vhagar take flight and chase Silverwing down, they do not anticipate what is in store for them.
Vhagar alone is good enough to take on any dragon that the Blacks have but he might have some problem when there is more than one dragon up against it.
Aemond recognizes that it is a setup and Rhaenyra is waiting with her dragons to take on Vhagar and for the first time, he takes a circumspect decision of turning back and not engaging in action.
A moment that slipped under the radar while all the action was happening was the mention of Daeron Targaryen and his dragon Tessarion. The Greens are short on dragons and Tessarion could be a valuable addition to them going forward. In 'Fire and Blood', Daeron and Tessarion become important players as Daeron convinces Ulf and Hugh to betray Rhaenyra. This might take place in the next season.
'House of the Dragon' is streaming on HBO.