House of the Dragon, Season 2, Episode 7: Did Rhaenyra know Vermithor would go on a murderous spree?

No one hosts barbecues like Vermithor.

in House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 7: After learning that Seasmoke’s new rider is Adam of Hal, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma Darcy) decides to double down on her dragonrider recruitment strategy and recruit as many low-status Targaryens to her cause as possible.

What happens next is probably best described as follows: Mixed resultsHowever, this was an undeniable victory for Team Black’s war effort.

The question is, did Rhaenyra know what was coming when she led her dragonrider aspirants into the cave to face Vermithor?

What happens to Vermithor at the end of episode 7?

After inviting all potential Targaryen bloods to descend on Dragonstone for a chance to claim the dragons, Rhaenyra gathers those who have responded and gives them a speech emphasizing the importance and danger of the task they are undertaking.

“You have given up your life to answer this call — a life you may never get back,” she said.

“If you survive, you will be transformed. Men and women can face dragons and they are forced to change. Some would welcome the prospect of change, if they had the choice. Even death. Misery, hunger, war. This is our purpose. To end these sufferings. For you, for your kin, for the whole kingdom. With these two dragons added to our ranks, our enemies will have no choice but to succumb.”

But once he descends into the caverns, Vermithor quickly chooses violence: the giant dragon incinerates and chomps at the heart of most of the seething Targaryen bastards until Hugh Hamer (Kieran Bew) finally manages to subdue him, while the White Wolf (Tom Bennett) escapes and accidentally befriends Silverwing.

How to Train Your Dragon.
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

At this point the bloodshed stops, but Vermithor leaves many of the lesser people dead and eaten. So the question is, did Rhaenyra know this was going to happen? I wanted Could this then enable him to defeat other bastard Targaryen sons who might one day threaten his son Jacaerys Velaryon’s (Harry Collett) claim to the Iron Throne?

Does Rhaenyra know what’s going to happen?

Well, it’s hard to imagine that they wouldn’t have at least considered that possibility: Rhaenyra witnessed firsthand what happened when Ser Stefon Darklyn (Anthony Flanagan) tried to recruit Seasmoke, so she was likely aware that Vermithor would kill anyone who tried to tame someone he didn’t like.

Rhaenyra’s speech also suggests that those who fail to recruit the dragon may die, though she understates the danger.

Best guess? Rhaenyra knows that some or even most of the people she has gathered before Vermithor will die, but sees it simply as a necessary sacrifice. Her main goal is the war effort and increasing the number of dragons. She really want Are they going to kill the Targaryen bastards? We can’t say for sure until we see what happens to the survivors in the next episode, but this feels like a step too far. Rhaenyra can be assertive, but so far she’s always been a ruler who followed the values ​​of her father, Viserys, and valued peace over cruelty. I don’t think she’s going to risk angering the commoners with unnecessary deaths.

New Episodes House of the Dragon It airs Sundays at 9pm ET on HBO and Max.