Making sense of House of the Dragon season 2’s side characters so far

House of the Dragon is absolutely awash in characters, and they can be hard to keep track of even when you see them on screen constantly. And while the war is getting bigger and has started thinning the herd somewhat, the show’s world has continued to expand, bringing in new characters — some of whom we don’t even really know how to fit into the narrative just yet.

[Ed note: This post contains descriptions of characters from the first six episodes of House of the Dragon season 2, but does not have spoilers for anything later in the season.]

This kind of scope-widening is pretty typical for the second season of a TV show — after all, Game of Thrones season 2 was a massive expansion from the first. Of course, we’ll eventually find out a little bit more about some of these new characters and how they fit into the Dance of Dragons. But with Team Black searching for a new crop of dragonriders, it seems safe to say that there’s something important about how all these disparate commonfolk blondes are getting woven into the story. But for now, here’s a brief update on the new faces and what we know about them so far.

Hugh Hammer

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Hugh is the blacksmith who asked Aegon for extra money for the smiths in season 2’s first episode — just after Aegon heard the complaint from the farmer. While he may not have seemed like much of a character then, Hugh showed back up in episode 2, in a scene with his wife, where we get to see the plight of the common people in King’s Landing.

Since then, Hugh and his family has struggled to get by. Ultimately, in episode 6, he coldcocks a man for a bag of food in order to feed his sick kid. While House of the Dragon is certainly making more room to give the audience insight into how the Dance of Dragons is affecting the small folk of Westeros, something about Hugh’s conspicuously silver hair tells us he has a little more to do in this story than just clue us in to the rabble’s discontent.

Alyn of Hull

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

Alyn (Abubakar Salim) is the sailor we see briefly in the first two episodes of the season. He meets with Corlys Velaryon, who thanks him for saving his life and pulling him from the sea after their fleet was ambushed.

As Rhaenys surmises in episode 4, Alyn is one of Corlys’ bastards from his time at sea. Alyn knows this too — though he doesn’t like talking about it. As he discusses with his brother Addam (more on him below) while shaving off his classic Velaryon blonde hair, he doesn’t see the need in being acknowledged by the Lord of Driftmark. He so badly wants to ignore his dad that he attempts to reject his command post (though in fatherly fashion, Corlys forces him to accept).

Addam Hull

Image: HBO

Addam (Clinton Liberty), meanwhile, smarts a bit more at the injustice of their bastard status. He hasn’t had as much to do throughout the season, but: He constantly observes a dragon flying over him while he hunts crabs. And by episode 6, the dragon gets even closer, divebombing him and chasing him across the beach before landing right in front of him. Later on, Rhaenyra and Mysaria learn that someone has been spotted riding Seasmoke. Interesting!

Ulf

Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO

This guy keeps showing up in a King’s Landing tavern. At first we see him claiming to be a bastard Targaryen brother to Viserys and Daemon (and ducking his head when Aegon comes in, so as to not be killed). Though he swears fealty to the crown, episode 6 sees him receiving some of the pro-Rhaenyra propaganda — namely that the palace dines well while the common folk starve. This blonde (though, pointedly it must be said, dirty blonde) Targaryen might be switching allegiances.