House of the Dragon returned with a great hour of television. In the premiere of the second season, the HBO series fulfilled all the objectives expected from a first episode after a long absence: it located its characters geographically and emotionally, reminded us of what is at stake, surprised us, left memorable moments, and introduced characters that will be crucial in future events.

We have already talked about Cregan Stark, about Alyn of Hull, and in this text, we will review the story of Hugh Hammer, the most unnoticed character among the three, who may be the most important in the future due to the role he will play in the Dance of the Dragons.

It is completely understandable that viewers unfamiliar with the history of Fire and Blood have overlooked the character in question, as the first time he appears in the series he is a simple blacksmith in the scene where the people of King's Landing are presenting their requests to King Aegon II.

Aegon II

During his turn to speak, he asks the king to pay him and his team for advancing the construction of the Scorpions used to defend themselves from dragons and the necessary weapons for war, as the cost of iron has increased.

Although his name is not mentioned in the episode, being a blacksmith and the actor who portrays him, Kieran Bew, being credited as Hugh, has quickly led fans to connect the dots and conclude that it cannot be a coincidence, because nothing in this series is.

From hereon, continue reading at your own risk because there are spoilers from the book Fire and Blood and possible future events in the series.

Who is Hugh Hammer

Kieran Bew in 'The House of the Dragon' 2x01

In Fire and Blood by George R.R. Martin, Hugh is a 'dragon seed,' a bastard with Valyrian heritage, who becomes a crucial piece in the Dance of Dragons when war erupts in Westeros.

His heritage will be tested when Rhaenyra's faction begins the search for riders for the unclaimed dragons in Dragonmont, saying that they are willing to knight anyone who can ride a dragon and support their claim to the throne against the Greens.

This process of offering anyone with Targaryen blood to the unclaimed dragons will be known as the Harvest Feast due to the high number of corpses, but Hugh not only successfully claims one but also manages to ride Vermithor, the legendary dragon approached by Daemon in the season finale, the dragon of Viserys's grandfather, King Jaehaerys.

This achievement is already impressive enough, but that is just his origin story. Hugh will participate in several important battles and will also be involved in a plot where he and his companion Ulf will go down in history with another name, which we will not reveal until the crucial moment arrives, to keep a bit of mystery even for the most curious who couldn't resist continuing to read despite the spoilers.