A line in “House of the Dragon” changes an important book character for the better

House of the Dragon Season 2 is slowly building up to a big reveal. First we met Ulf the White, a starving farmer from King’s Landing who is convinced he is a bastard son of King Viserys. Then we were introduced to Addam of Hull, who saved Corlys Velaryon’s life, is his new first mate, and may be his illegitimate son. Finally, we saw the blacksmith Hugh Hammer several times over the course of season 2, and he too may have royal blood in him.

At the end of Season 2, Episode 5, Rhaenyra plans to gather these outcasts of the Targaryen blood to ride dragons, so we will probably see this ragtag group of so-called dragonseeds fighting together before the end of the season. But one of the most important dragonseeds from House of the Dragon Source material is missing and an unremarkable Targaryen could have taken her place.

In George RR Martin’s book Fire & BloodThe fourth dragonseed is a young girl from Driftmark known as Nettles. When she answers Rhaenyra’s call for riders, she does not form a bond with the Targaryen dragons, but with Sheepstealer, a wild dragon who lives near Dragonstone.

There are only two episodes left House of the Dragon Season 2, and there’s still no sign of Nettles, but Episode 6 looks set to put another character in her shoes. Rhaena Targaryen was sent to the Eyrie to look after Rhaenyra’s young sons, but in Season 2 we saw how resentful she was at being sidelined as a glorified babysitter, and this latest episode strives to put her situation front and center.

In Episode 6, when Rhanyra calls Ser Steffon Darklyn to try riding a dragon, he suggests Rhaena as a possible rider. “She’s tried,” Corlys replies, “but the dragons here won’t accept her as a rider.”

In the books, Rhaena doesn’t ride a dragon during the Dance of Dragons. Instead, one of the eggs sent to her for safekeeping hatches and she forms a bond with a dragon she names Morrow.

But it looks like the show has other plans for Rhaena, because while walking near the Eyrie, she sees a burnt field. Rhaena asks Lady Jeyne Arryn about the dragon, who says, “It is large and fearsome, but unfortunately fierce.” Rhaena’s flippant response suggests she is hatching a plan.

Rhaena, it seems, will almost certainly take Nettles’ place; a young girl riding a wild dragon is missing from the story, and another young girl looks like she’s in the process of taming a wild dragon. While Nettles was an interesting character, this would not only consolidate and streamline the source material, but also give Rhaena – the loyal daughter of Laena Targaryen – a chance to prove her worth to herself and her stepmother, Queen Rhaenyra, so don’t be surprised if she suddenly becomes much more than just a babysitter.

House of the Dragon is streamed on Max.