The showrunners of House of the Dragon Season 2 have begun establishing its narrative threads by introducing key figures who will significantly impact the story’s later chapters. Among these newcomers is Hugh Hammer, played by Kieran Bew. His brief appearance has sparked the audience’s curiosity about his role and future significance in the Targaryen conflict.
Here is everything you need to know about Hugh Hammer and the role he will play in the coming war in House of the Dragon Season 2.
Who is Hugh Hammer in House of the Dragon Season 2?
Hugh Hammer is a blacksmith and one of the dragon seeds, people who were born out of wedlock on the islands of the Blackwater Bay and are of Valyrian ancestry.
House of the Dragon appears to be deviating from “Fire & Blood” in its portrayal of Hugh. In the source material, Hugh resides on Dragonstone. However, the series places him in King’s Landing, working on weaponry for the Greens as tensions escalate toward war. The Season 2 premiere introduces Hugh at Aegon II‘s court, advocating for higher wages due to wartime iron shortages caused by the Blacks’ blockade.
Furthermore, Episode 2 introduces characters identified by closed captions as Hugh’s wife, “Kat,” and their ailing daughter, as per Forbes. This family unit is absent in the book. The writers’ addition of a wife and daughter likely serves to humanize Hugh, potentially influencing his future choices in the narrative.
Why is Hugh the Blacksmith so important for House of the Dragon Season 2?
The creative liberties taken with Hugh’s character in House of the Dragon make his narrative arc somewhat unpredictable. However, his significance to the narrative remains undeniable, mirroring his critical role in the source material.
In “Fire & Blood,” Hugh answers the call of Prince Jacaerys Velaryon to all Dragonriders and becomes the rider of dragon Vermithor. Rhaenyra later makes him a knight, but his ambition grows as the war progresses. He switches sides and aspires to be a king. The latter eventually becomes the main reason for his undoing.
Given the changes, it will be interesting to see how Hugh’s story turns out in the show.
