How HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Changed ‘The Red Sowing’ From the Book

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As a dragon historian and avid fan of all things Targaryen, I’ve spent countless hours poring over the pages of “Fire & Blood” and other historical texts to piece together the tales of these legendary rulers and their fearsome dragons. But let me tell you, nothing could have prepared me for the gruesome spectacle that was the “Red Sowing” in HBO’s “House of the Dragon.”

Queen Rhaenyra’s power is backed by her dragon riders. However, numerous Targaryen bastards who sought the throne met their ends on Dragonstone, an incident infamously referred to as “The Red Sowing” in “Fire & Blood.” Though the TV show “House of the Dragons” deviated significantly from George R.R. Martin’s book, the end result remains consistent: the Blacks have grown more powerful than ever. Notably, there are intriguing new dragon riders introduced in the series that fans should watch out for.

What Did House of the Dragon Change about “The Sowing of the Seeds” From the Book?

The “House of the Dragon” production team introduced significant alterations to the “Sowing of the Seeds” storyline prior to the second season’s second-last episode.

The “House of the Dragon” initiated the search for new dragonriders by having Ser Steffon Darklyn attempt to tame a dragon alone. This innovative approach, devised by the House, significantly altered the historical account of the Sowing. Rhaenyra sought Steffon’s trial after discovering an old family secret inspired by her son Jace. The lineage of Steffon’s grandmother’s grandmother was traced back to the Targaryen dynasty. In both narratives, Steffon met his end amidst dragonfire during the taming process.

In “House of the Dragon,” Rhaenyra considered reaching out to the Targaryen bastards, or dragonseed descendants, following a significant shift from “Fire & Blood.” On the television series, Seasmoke compelled Addam of Hull to become his mount’s rider.

In Martin’s fictional account, Jace, Martin’s son, didn’t fret about illegitimate claimants attempting to rule dragons in his world. Instead, he devised a solution: anyone could try and earn the title of dragonlord. He granted knighthoods, land, and wealth as rewards to any male (not females) who successfully rode a dragon.

In “Fire & Blood,” an occurrence took place on a solitary day, referred to as “the Red Sowing.” During this event, Steffon and Addam tried their luck, along with dragonseed participants, unlike in “House of the Dragon” where they were Targaryen bastards from King’s Landing. Instead, they were dragonseeds residing on Dragonstone. Mysaria orchestrated a recruitment scheme discreetly in the capital, which differed significantly from the portrayal on the show.

In “Fire & Blood,” sixteen men met their end during the dragon seeding process. Dragons inflicted harm on three times that number, leaving some with severe injuries such as amputated limbs. This is why they are called “red” dragons. Alyn of Hull was among those who were burned in a failed attempt. In contrast, on “House of the Dragon,” Alyn didn’t even make an effort to ride a dragon, despite his brother’s success.

In the HBO adaptation, Rhaenyra faced attempts from only a few individuals to ride her dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing. Contrastingly, in the novel, numerous individuals dared to mount three wild dragons, leading to widespread chaos and fatalities. The uncontrollable beasts would mercilessly attack people, with one particularly ferocious dragon causing some of the most gory scenes of violence and death. (In comparison, only Vermithor provoked danger on House of the Dragon>.)

In “Fire & Blood,” it’s mentioned that a character who appears to be excluded from the show’s narrative has allegedly tamed one of Dragonstone’s wild dragons during the Sowing (for those unfamiliar with spoilers, more information can be found here. If you’ve been following this episode closely, you may have already guessed what could transpire.).

House of the Dragon Turned “The Red Sowing” Into a Horror Film

In place of an excruciatingly long day where individuals faced a dragon one by one, the “Red Sowing” episode from “House of the Dragon” was characterized by swift chaos and mainly unfruitful outcomes.

Rhaenyra led the dragonseed collective, comprised of men and women, into the depths of Dragonstone’s caverns. There, she invoked the colossal dragon Vermithor, who was almost as large as Vhagar but more savage in nature. (As the dragonkeepers had abandoned her when they discovered her intention to allow commoners an attempt at taming these sacred creatures – a recent development in this tale.)

When Vermithor responded, only one dragonseed emerged. However, the ex-dragon of King Jaehaerys attacked the entire band. Some panicked and fled, while others retreated down the stairs or were knocked down near the platform. There, Vermithor relentlessly pursued and devoured the remaining dragonseeds, consuming them alive. The “Bronze Fury” continued its rampage until Hugh, the blacksmith, stepped forward to offer his own life as a sacrifice for a woman’s safety.

An infamous Targaryen Princess’s brave son, Hugh, earned himself a dragon when Vermithor acknowledges him as its rider by lowering its head.

Ulf the White, Silverwing’s latest dragonrider, discovered his mount in an unusual manner. Unlike the traditional display of valor or nobility, Ulf blundered through the darkness until he encountered Silverwing. Without performing any remarkable actions or even approaching her, she unexpectedly acknowledged him as her rider. This method bore more resemblance to how Seasmoke chose Addam than how Hugh was chosen by Vermithor.

In spite of their varied plotlines, the conclusions for “House of the Dragon” and “Fire & Blood” ultimately reached the same point.

Who Are the New Dragonriders in House of the Dragon?

Hugh the Blacksmith Claimed the Dragon Vermithor

Hugh the blacksmith, also known as Hugh the Hammer in Fire & Blood, claimed Vermithor.

The “House of the Dragon” series unveiled that Rhaenyra’s mother is none other than Saera Targaryen, the infamous and banished daughter of King Jaehaerys. Her first cousin is Daemon Targaryen, making Rhaenyra a second cousin. Hugh displayed courage in confronting Vermithor, potentially explaining why the formidable dragon acknowledged him.

Ulf the White Claimed the Dragon Silverwing

In contrast to how things unfolded in “Fire & Blood,” Ulf the White didn’t deliberately pursue Silverwing by approaching the she-dragon. Instead, they chanced upon each other, with it appearing that Silverwing had selected Ulf herself. Swiftly seizing the opportunity, Ulf mounted his new steed and took to the skies without further ado. He embarked on a reckless dragon ride over King’s Landing, the city where he has long proclaimed himself as the son of the late Baelon the Brave, Saera’s elder brother.

Ulf had his doubts about his true identity as the bastard brother of Viserys and Daemon before setting off to Dragonstone. These doubts arose when Rhaenyra requested dragonseeds from him. However, his ability to claim Silverwing suggests that he is indeed the offspring of a Targaryen, even if not Baelon.

Addam of Hull Claimed the Dragon Seasmoke

In “Fire & Blood,” Addam wasn’t required to become Seasmoke’s rider during the Sowing event. However, it’s plausible that Seasmoke granted Addam access because of Addam’s Velaryon lineage. The HBO series hinted that Addam’s mother might have been a Targaryen bastard, but it remains uncertain. Another theory is that Seasmoke recognized the Old Valyrian blood in Addam through his father Corlys Velaryon. Yet, Corlys isn’t certain about this connection since historically, House Velaryon hadn’t been dragonriders. However, this will change in “House of the Dragon.”

In simple terms, Queen Rhaenyra isn’t concerned with how Addam obtained Seasmoke or his lowborn background. She values his support above all else, just as in “Fire & Blood” and “House of the Dragon,” she assembles an army of bastards to help secure her claim to the Iron Throne.

As a passionate reader and follower of all things related to the fascinating world of Game of Thrones and its rich history of Targaryen kings, I can wholeheartedly attest to the expertise and dedication of Mikey Walsh. His role as a staff writer at TopMob and self-proclaimed “dragon historian” is not just a title, but a reflection of his deep knowledge and passion for this captivating universe.

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2024-07-29 18:33