Major spoilers forHouse of the DragonandFire & Bloodahead.
Ulf White is a character newly introduced inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 and his story in the show is only just beginning.Season 2 ofHouse of the Dragonbrought in many new charactersand plenty of new dragons as the “Dance of Dragons” got officially underway. “Dragon math” became a real consideration for the Greens and Blacks in season 2, with the leaders of each faction realizing that the flying beasts would decide the wars between men. Criston Cole (Fabian Frankel) saw this firsthand at the battle of Rook’s Rest.
With the death of Rhaenys (Eve Best) and Meleys, and the damage done to Sunfyre, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) realizes that her dragons alone will not be able to stop Vhagar if she and Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) decide to attack. So begins the Sowing, a series of violent introductions ofthe unclaimed dragons of House Targaryento the nobles and peasants of Westeros. Though many people perish,Rhaenyra and the Blacks end season 2 with three new dragon riders(four ifRhaena ends up claiming Sheepstealer). One, Ulf White, has a larger story still to play.
7 Important House of the Dragon Characters To Expect In Season 3 (& How They Connect)
House of the Dragon season 3 still has more characters to introduce. Here are some key figures from the books that still need to appear on the show.
Ulf White Is A Dragonseed
Ulf Claims To Be The Half Brother Of Viserys I And Daemon
Ulf White is a dragonseed.Dragonseeds are bastards of House Targaryen, often noted for their silvery or white hair. Ulf has a much larger introduction inHouse of the Dragon, whereas, inFire & Blood, he simply shows up along with the other dragonseeds to try and claim one of the dragons. He first appears in season 2, episode 2, “Rhaenyra the Cruel”. Ulf steals a potato from a basket and then wanders into the area where King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) has hung the rat catchers, a sight that clearly upsets him.
He’s next found in a tavern, where he’s asked by his friends to recount the story of his parentage, to Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew).Ulf claims that he is the bastard son of Prince Baelon Targaryen, the father of Daemon (Matt Smith) and Viserys I (Paddy Considine), which would make Ulf their half-brother. While Ulf ends up admitting he’s not sure if the story is true, he doesn’t tell it to gain plaudits from his drunken friends. He’s holding onto this idea as a hopeful wish for a better life.
George R. R. Martin’s book only states that Ulf was a man-at-arms in King’s Landing.
Notably, this is all information new to the character. George R. R. Martin’s book only states that Ulf was a man-at-arms in King’s Landing. It’s an unimpressive title but one that paints him as having some bit of a military background.
Ulf Claims Silverwing During The Sowing
Ulf Was Nearly Killed By Vermithor
InFire & Blood, it’s simply said that Ulf claimed the dragonSilverwing around the same time Hugh claimed Vermithor. InHouse of the Dragon, Ulf learns that Rhaenyra is asking dragonseeds to come to Dragonstone for the Sowing. It’s the offer of a lifetime and though initially fearful, acknowledging his story may not be true, Ulf is eventually galvanized into going. During the Sowing in season 2, episode 7, “The Red Sowing”, Ulf is among the many dragonseeds brought before Vermithor. When the dragon rejects his suitors and massacres those present, Ulf is knocked into the pit.
Silverwing and Vermithor were very fond of one another, according toFire & Blood.
There, he flees deeper into the cave system, away from the rampaging Vermithor. As he steps into a large hollowed-out tunnel, he doesn’t notice the massive animal raising her head behind him. Silverwing is one of the largest living dragons, though she is also considered one of the more even-tempered. Ulf accepts his fate as the dragon bumps him to the ground, but the dragon does not attack, andUlf White claims the mighty Silverwing.
He’s next seen flying the dragon over King’s Landing, yelping, and laughing at the incredible experience of flying on the back of the legendary beast. It’s also a lure for Aemond and Vhagar, and when the larger dragon gives chase, Ulf brings him back to Dragonstone. There, Aemond is confronted by Vermithor, Seasmoke, Syrax, and Silverwing, forcing Aemond to turn tail.
The Blacks Grants Ulf Titles And Land For His Actions
Daemon Nearly Grants Ulf Storm’s End
This is whereHouse of the Dragonends andFire & Bloodpicks up. It’s hinted that amajor battle will openHouse of the Dragonseason 3. In the Battle in the Gullet, the Black fleet meets the Green fleet and their Triarchy allies in the Gullet that leads to Blackwater Bay and King’s Landing, a strategically critical location.This brutal battle sees the death of some key charactersand the near destruction of the Velaryon fleet. It’s the arrival of Ulf, Hugh, Addam Velaryon (Clinton Liberty), and Nettles on Sheepstealer, that the Blacks save the rest of their ships.
While Addam and Nettles (likely Rhaena in the show) feel terrible about the events of the battle, Ulf revels in the victory, unperturbed by the death and Rhaenyra’s personal losses.
This is a major turning point in the war, and many people on Dragonstone begin to resent Rhaenyra after these events. While Addam and Nettles (likely Rhaena in the show) feel terrible about the events of the battle, Ulf revels in the victory, unperturbed by the death and Rhaenyra’s personal losses. This victory and others earn Ulf the knighthood he so rudely sought in season 2, episode 8, “The Queen Who Ever Was”. He also gains land along Driftmark but wants more, egged on by Daemon, who suggests Rhaenyra grant Ulf Storm’s End.
This only heightens Ulf’s ambitions, and soonhe begins to see himself as above even Rhaenyra, considering that if he has a dragon, he should be given all the titles, lands, and riches that those who ride dragons are usually awarded. It’s around this time that Ulf’s discontentment grows.
Ulf Turned Traitor At The First Battle Of Tumbleton
Hugh And Ulf Went Over To The Greens
Late into the conflict, Hugh and Ulf are sent to Tumbleton to defend the city from the approaching Hightower host. For reasons that remain unknown inFire & Blood,Hugh and Ulf suddenly switched sides and turned their dragons on the townthey were supposed to defend, beginning and ending the First Battle of Tumbleton. It was another one-sided massacre and, after the town’s capitulation, Ulf began acting as a mini-king, demanding food, gold, and women from the inhabitants of what remained of Tumbleton.
While the assembled Greens were pleased with the turn of events, the nobles did not approve of Ulf’s “self-coronation” nor how he conducted himself during the sacking of the town.
While the assembled Greens were pleased with the turn of events, the nobles did not approve of Ulf’s “self-coronation” nor how he conducted himself during the sacking of the town. A group of lords from the Reach were particularly offended and hatched a plot to kill the dragonseeds.
Ulf claimed that he wanted Highgarden and Hugh announced his desire to sit atop the Iron Throne.
Ulf White Is Assassinated By The Caltrops
Nobles From The Reach Conspire Against Hugh And Ulf
The Caltrops were a band of 13 nobles from the Reach who plotted to kill Hugh and Ulf after realizing their ambitions for glory and power would eventually hamper the Greens' own plans for defeating Rhaenyra and the Blacks. They planned to kill the base-born riders and claim the dragons for the Blacks. Before they could set their plan into motion, Addam on Seasmoke and the Rivermen arrived to kickstart the Second Battle of Tumbleton. During the fighting, one of the Caltrops, Ser John Roxton, slew Hugh before he was killed by Hugh’s men.
Silverwing, the only surviving dragon of Tumbleton, became one of the few surviving dragons of the Dance, and flew off the Red Lake in the Reach, becoming feral forever after.
Ulf was drunk the night before and slept through the battle. The next morning, one of the four surviving Caltrops, Hobert Hightower, met with Ulf to plan the next course of action. He brought a poisoned cask of wine with him. Suspicious, Ulf told Hobert to drink first, and so he did. Now convinced,Ulf helped himself to three glasses of wine before he fell asleep and died. Silverwing, the only surviving dragon of Tumbleton, became one of the few surviving dragons of the Dance, and flew off the Red Lake in the Reach, becoming feral forever after.
Tom Bennett Plays Ulf White In House Of The Dragon
Ulf Is Much More Sympathetic In The Show
Though it may not be obvious inHouse of the Dragonyet, Ulf White plays a critical role in the Dance.He’s portrayed by Tom Bennett in the series, in an amusing and multidimensional performance. Bennett is an English actor who originally was probably best known for his work on the London stage. However, he has had a few other notable acting performances, including as Miles Leonard inA.P. Bioand The Nonce inAfter Life. In film, he appeared inRocketmanas Fred,Mascotsas Owen Golly, Jr., andDavid Brent: Life on the Roadas Nigel Martin.
After Life(2020-2022)
The Nonce
Bennett’s performance asUlf adds layers to a character, who, in the book, is fairly one-dimensional. Ulf is a braggart, but he is also wounded by his station in life. He doesn’t just want to be a Targaryen for fame, he wants meaning. Ulf is rude and uncouth, but he’s also beloved and charming. He may make mistakes at a royal dinner, but they are only because he doesn’t know any better. The end ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2 begins to position Ulf as a troublesome individual, but there’s still something relatable and human about Ulf White.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
