Downward angle icon Downward angle icon. Hugh Hammer (right) claims kinship with Daemon Targaryen in the latest episode of “House of the Dragon”. Theo Whitman / HBO / Ollie Upton / HBO Hugh Hammer claims kinship with several of the famous Targaryen families in the latest episode of “House of the Dragon”. In “Fire and Blood”, he is also an illegitimate child, but his parents are not revealed. Here’s how this could change the storyline of future seasons of “House of the Dragon”.
Warning: Contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 2, Episode 7, and the novel “Fire and Blood.”
Hugh Hammer casually dropped a major bombshell in the latest episode of House of the Dragon, which may have made the Targaryen family tree even more complicated.
In the latest episode, Rhaenyra (Emma Darcy) attempts to recruit the bastard sons of House Targaryen and House Velaryon as dragon riders in her army, because only those of Valyrian blood can bond with dragons.
After losing his daughter, Hugh (Kieran Bew) tells his wife that he wants to go to Dragonstone and obtain a dragon to gain more power to protect his family.
Hugh explains that his mother was a successful prostitute because of her Targaryen-like silver hair color.
“My mother told me I was no different from my brother’s sons, Viserys and Daemon,” Hugh said, apparently referring to the former King Viserys I and his brother Daemon Targaryen.
Hugh never reveals his mother’s name, implying that she was merely the bastard daughter of Baelon the Brave, Viserys, and Daemon’s parents.
This assertion is strengthened later in the episode when Hugh becomes the only person able to bond with Vermithor, the second largest dragon in the land.
If what Hugh says is true, it would be a major departure from the Fire and Blood novels that House of the Dragon is based on, as Hugh is a direct relative of the Targaryen royal family.
Hugh is not directly related to House Targaryen in Fire and Blood
In episode 7 of “House of the Dragon,” Rhaenyra (Emma Darcy) recruits new dragonriders. Theo Whiteman/HBO
In “Fire and Blood”, Hugh is the bastard son of an unnamed blacksmith from Dragonstone. He is later revealed to be of Valyrian descent when he claims the dragon Vermithor, but he never has a direct connection to House Targaryen.
In the books, only three of Balon’s sisters are known: Alyssa, who married; Daenerys, who died of an illness; and Maegel, who joined the religious organization “The Faith of the Seven.”
This isn’t the first time that “House of the Dragon” has made changes to the “Fire and Blood” storyline, and while fans have praised some of these changes, others have left holes in the plot and made the story even more confusing.
Hugh’s addition to House Targaryen complicates an already mysterious family tree, and the show also seems to hint that “Fire and Blood” will feature another key moment in the civil war.
In “Fire and Blood,” Hugh betrays Rhaenyra and ultimately attempts to seize the Iron Throne and rule as king.
While Hugh doesn’t have a claim to the throne of Westeros in the TV series, the fact that he’s related to royalty and owns one of the biggest dragons around could give him a legitimate claim to the throne – it’s not like the Targaryens haven’t held the throne for generations before.
Next week’s season two finale is likely to reveal Hugh’s ambitions for the dragon.
“House of the Dragon” Season 2 airs Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and is available to stream on Max.
