The thrilling season finale of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2 showed a major turning point involving Rhaena Targaryen and the wild dragon Sheepstealer. Fans are now wondering if Rhaena will eventually form a bond with this elusive beast, which would add to the already complicated story of dragon riders in Westeros.
DID RHAENA CLAIM SHEEPSTEALER?
The eighth episode of Season 2 of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON has been spoiled.
In the first episodes of Season 2, Phoebe Campbell’s character Rhaena saw signs of a wild dragon near the Vale. The burned ground and sheep bodies showed that Sheepstealer had been there. Sheepstealer is one of Westeros’ three wild dragons that have not been claimed. The other two are Grey Ghost and the Cannibal.
Rhaena, who has had trouble claiming a dragon in the past, was drawn to Sheepstealer’s raw power and mystery. The teased dragon finally showed up in full in the finale, lying regal in the grass. He had been seen in Episodes 6 and 7. Even though Sheepstealer had a reputation for being very mean, Rhaena went up to him and was met with a huge roar.
At the end of the episode, it wasn’t clear if Rhaena was able to claim Sheepstealer. The episode shows Rhaena approaching Sheepstealer, but it ends without confirming whether she managed to bond with him. Fans of George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” which HOUSE OF THE DRAGON is based on, might find clues in the story.
SHEEPSTEALER IN “FIRE & BLOOD”
A young girl named Nettles claimed Sheepstealer during the Sowing of the Seeds in the book. Others tried to claim Sheepstealer by force or the old-fashioned way, but Nettles chose a different path. She earned the dragon’s trust by feeding him sheep over and over again until he let her ride him.
Because he was so wild, Sheepstealer was famous for going unclaimed for so long, which caused more deaths than any other dragon during the Sowing. Silver Denys and Alyn Hull, who is Corlys Velaryon’s jerk son, were two well-known people who tried to claim him but failed.
WHAT WILL RHAENA DO WITH NETTLES’ CHARACTER ARC?
Nettles isn’t in HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, and the show is different from the book in a number of ways, so Rhaena could reasonably take on Nettles’ character arc. Rhaena might become very important in the upcoming fights if she forms a bond with Sheepstealer, siding with her mother Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy), just like Nettles did in the book.
In important battles like the Battle of the Gullet and the Fall of King’s Landing, Nettles fought bravely for Rhaenyra. Her devotion to Rhaenyra and skill as a dragon rider helped her cause a great deal. Rhaena taking on this role could cause dramatic and important events in the future of the show.
But one big difference between the book and the show is that Rhaena has a family relationship with her father, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith). This makes any romantic subplot with Daemon very unlikely, as suggested in the book. Instead, the show could be about Rhaena’s strategic and combative help for the Targaryens.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR BOOK CANON
If Rhaena does claim to be Sheepstealer, it could make the events in the book seem strange. As the story goes on in “Fire & Blood,” Rhaena gets a dragon named Morning from Rhaenyra and lays an egg for her. Where Morning came from and how she fits into the show’s timeline are still unknown, especially if Rhaena’s story arc has anything to do with Sheepstealer.
People keep watching HOUSE OF THE DRAGON because of its complex plots and interesting characters. Fans who can’t wait for Season 3 are even more excited about the idea that Rhaena and Sheepstealer might become close.
Visit tvacute.com often for more HOUSE OF THE DRAGON news, sneak peeks, and reviews. Our coverage will keep you up to date on all the latest changes in Westeros.
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