House of the Dragon Season 2: Who was Seasmoke’s original rider? History explored

House of the Dragon Season 2 returned with a new episode on July 21, 2024, bringing another hour-long saga packed with drama and excitement. Though it did not really have any battle sequences or assassination attempts, which have already become a staple of the second season, the new episode had plenty of dragon action as Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) engaged in the quest to find new riders for the unclaimed dragons.

This gave us our first meeting this season with Seasmoke, a feared dragon, who resides in Dragonstone and was unclaimed till the end of House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6. Along with Vermithor and Dreamfyre, Seasmoke remained one of the biggest dragons to have no owner. The dragon originally belonged to Laenor Velaryon, who bonded with the dragon from the very start.

After Laenor Velaryon's apparent death in the first season, the dragon remained riderless for years. Even at the start of the latest episode of House of the Dragon, the dragon was riderless and it finally found a new owner at the end of the episode.

Though the series did not explicitly disclose who took the dragon, those who have read Fire and Blood will have a good idea of who this new rider is.

Warning- This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6

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House of the Dragon Season 2: Everything to know about Seasmoke

As described in the novel, Seasmoke is a pale silver-grey dragon, who is fighting size by the time the services of the dragon are called upon in the Dance of the Dragons. He is by no means as big or fearsome as Vermithor, who may play a key part in Rhaenyra's side when the war commences, but is still bigger than most of the younger dragons and is experienced too.

From a young age, Seasmoke was bonded to Laenor Velaryon and possessed similar traits to the prince. After Laenor's death, which occurred in 120 AC, according to Fire and Blood, Seasmoke retreated into Dragonmount and remained riderless for about a decade before Addam of Hull became his new rider during the red sowing.

As revealed in the previous episode, the first attempt to mount and bond with Seasmoke was a huge failure as the dragon refused to accept Ser Steffon Darklyn, and burned him to death.

After this, the dragon flew out and encountered Addam of Hull in the wild. While House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 left out how exactly Addam bonded with the dragon after the latter cornered him in the forest, it was revealed at the end of the episode that someone had mounted the dragon.

This came as a caution to Rhaenyra, who assumed that the enemy had gotten their hands on the dragon. She flew out before the episode ended to confront Seasmoke and Addam of Hull.

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Why did Seasmoke bond with Addam of Hull?

Though the method of Seasmoke bonding with Addam of Hull was rather offbeat in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6, one could connect the dots as to why Seasmoke chose Addam of Hull and burned down Ser Steffon Darklyn. With the dragon considering Laenor Velaryon as its primary owner, it could possibly sense Addam's close relationship with its former master.

Moreover, as teased in the show, Addam is perhaps also the bastard son of Corlys Velaryon, but that leaves a logical flaw as to how he had Targaryen blood in him. The book had revealed that Addam and Allyn were the bastards of Laenor himself, who was half-Targaryen, but the rumors of Corlys fathering the children remained.

Anyhow, both Addam and Allyn of Hull have a deep-rooted Targaryen connection, which may be explained in the coming episodes, that helped them claim the dragons for themselves and play a key part in the battle to come.

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House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 is now streaming on Max.