WARNING! This article contains MAJOR spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1 and George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based.

A smith named Hugh petitions King Aegon II Targaryen in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1, but that moment in court is just the beginning of his massive story in the Dance of the Dragons. After spending season 1 focusing on the complex succession and escalating feud of King Viserys I Targaryen’s heirs, several important new characters in House of the Dragon season 2 are being introduced as the onset of war looms over both Targaryen factions. Consequently, like with the perhaps seemingly one-off introduction of Hugh, it’s important not to discount the small appearances of any new character this season.

As the Blacks and Greens are still reeling in the aftermath of House of the Dragon season 1’s tragic ending, Aegon takes up his duties on the Iron Throne, which includes hearing the petitions of the smallfolk. One of these petitioners is a smith named Hugh (Kieran Bew), who asks Aegon for an advance on the crown’s coin in order to pay for increased iron costs. Aegon agrees as he acknowledges the need for the smiths’ swords and weapons in the upcoming war, with Hugh thanking him before departing. However, this is far from the last time that House of the Dragon season 2 will feature Hugh Hammer.

Hugh Is A Dragonseed Who Claims Vermithor In Fire & Blood

Hugh is a bastard with Targaryen blood who becomes a dragonrider

Perhaps those who haven’t read George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book have already suspected that Hugh Hammer will play a deeper role in House of the Dragon due to his silver hair. House of the Dragon already established that there are numerous silver-haired citizens of King’s Landing due to the infidelities of various Targaryen rulers over the past century, such as the subtle introduction of one of Aegon II Targaryen’s bastard sons in season 1. This happens to be the case for Hugh Hammer, who is the son of a blacksmith with some illegitimate Targaryen ancestry.

This will likely come into play relatively soon in House of the Dragon season 2, as Fire & Bloood reveals that Prince Jacaerys Velaryon will call for “dragonseeds,” Targaryen and Velaryon bastards, to attempt to claim the Blacks’ riderless dragons on Dragonstone. Hugh is one of several who takes up this call in the “Sowing of the Seeds,” and is among the small group of “dragonseeds” who successfully bond with a dragon. The smith Hugh ultimately claims the dragon Vermithor, who was introduced at the end of season 1 as the former dragon of the late King Jaehaerys I Targaryen.

Alongside Hugh, the Targaryens’ dragons claimed by the dragonseeds include Laenor’s dragon Seasmoke by Addam of Hull, Queen Alysanne’s Silverwing by Ulf White, and Sheepstealer by Nettles. However, it’s unclear if the latter-most character will actually be featured in House of the Dragon. At the end of the Sowing, two wild dragons remain unclaimed: The Cannibal and Grey Ghost. With Hugh claiming Vermithor, Rhaenyra’s army is given a massive boost of strength ahead of some notoriously bloody battles in Fire & Blood.

Hugh Will Be An Important Part Of Team Black & Team Green In House Of The Dragon

Hugh begins the war on Team Black before defecting to Team Green

While Hugh Hammer begins his dragonriding fame as a member of Team Black, this won’t always be the case. Hugh becomes an important part of Rhaenyra’s army in the Battle of the Gullet, which takes the lives of two massive Targaryen figures from the Blacks, as well as the First Battle of Tumbleton. Eventually, however, Hugh becomes arrogant with his dragonpower and strength, so he turns on Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen alongside Ulf White and briefly joins Team Green instead. Once Hugh and Vermithor betray Queen Rhaenyra, the Greens’ dragon power is greatly restored after a series of tragedies suffered by Aegon’s Party.

After the First Battle of Tumbleton, Hugh and Ulf become known as the Two Betrayers, according to Fire & Blood. While serving under King Aegon II Targaryen for the Greens, Hugh makes matters worse by calling himself “Lord Hammer” and declaring his wishes to become king. At the same time, Hugh gains support for his cause due to a prophecy that suggested a new king would emerge when a hammer fell upon a dragon, though this caused a rift in his position with the Greens and Alicent’s son Prince Daeron Targaryen. Unsurprisingly, that’s when Hugh’s importance as a member of either Team Black or Team Green concludes.

What Happens To Hugh In The Dance Of The Dragons

Hugh Hammer doesn’t survive the Dance of the Dragons

Following Prince Daeron’s confrontation with Hugh about his plans to become king, several members of the Greens’ army conspire to have him and Ulf White killed. However, Seasmoke and his rider Addam Velaryon’s arrival kicks off the Second Battle of Tumbleton and interrupts the Greens’ plans. Still, the Greens decide to go through with their scheme and kill Hugh, leading Ser Jon Roxton to kill Hugh with Orphan-Maker, a Valyrian steel sword, while getting ready for the battle.

While Hugh Hammer dies before the end of the Dance of the Dragons, his treachery has an important impact on the paranoia of the Greens and the Blacks. His defection had led to Rhaenyra mistrusting the remaining dragonseeds on her side, with Aegon quickly using the Blacks’ vulnerability to kill Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Little may be known of his life before joining the Blacks in Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon, but Hugh Hammer ultimately becomes infamous for being one of many eventual bastard Targaryen pretenders to call themselves king.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.