Everything to Know About the Dragon Rider (Including Who Plays Him in House of the Dragon Season 2)

Major spoilers for House of the Dragon And Fire & Blood Forward.

Ulf White is a character newly introduced in House of the Dragon Season 2 and his story in the show is just beginning. Season 2 of House of the Dragon Bringing in lots of new characters and lots of new dragons as the “Dance of Dragons” is officially underway. “Dragon Mat” became a real consideration for the Greens and Blacks in season 2, with the leaders of each faction realizing that the flying beasts will decide the wars between people. Kristen Cole (Fabian Frankel) saw this firsthand in the battle of Rock’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. Thus begins the Sowing, a series of violent introductions of the unclaimed dragons of House Targaryen to the nobles and peasants of Westeros. Although many people perish, Rhaenyra and the Blacks end season 2 with three new Dragon Riders (Four if Rhaena ends up claiming Sheepstealer). One, Ulf White, has a bigger story yet to play.

Alpha White is a dragonsword

Ulf claims to be the half brother of Viserys I and Daemon

Alpha White is a dragonsword. Dragonseeds are bastards of House TargaryenOften noted for their silvery or white hair. Ulf has a much larger introduction in House of the DragonWhereas, in Fire & BloodHe 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”. Alf steals a potato from a basket and then wanders into the area where King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) hanged the rat-catchers, a sight that clearly upset him.

He is next found in an inn, where he is asked by his friends to tell the story of his parents, to Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bev). Ulf claims 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 that he’s not sure if the story is true, he doesn’t tell it to get shrugs from his drunken friends. He holds on to this idea as a hopeful wish for a better life.

Notably, this is all information new to the character. George RR Martin’s book only states that Alf was a man-at-arms in King’s Landing. It’s an unimpressive title but one that paints him as somewhat of a military background.

Alfa claims silverwing during the sowing

Alpha is nearly killed by Vermithor

in Fire & BloodIt is simply said that Ulf claimed the dragon Silverwing around the same time Ulf claimed Vermithor. in House of the DragonUlf learns that Rhaenyra is asking dragonseeds to come to Dragonstone for the sowing. It’s the offer of a lifetime, and although initially terrifying, realizing his story may not be true, Ulf is eventually galvanized to go. During the Sowing in season 2, episode 7, “The Red Sowing”, Ulf is among the many dragonsids brought before Vermithor. When the dragon rejects his suitors and slaughters those present, Alpha falls into the pit.

There, he flies deeper into the cave system, away from the rampaging Vermithor. When he steps into a large hollowed-out tunnel, he does not notice that the massive animal rears its head behind him. Silverwing is one of the largest living dragons, although she is also considered one of the more even-tempered. Alpha accepts his fate as the dragon bumps him to the ground, but the dragon does not attack, and Alpha White claims the mighty Silverwing.

He is next seen flying the dragon over King’s Landing, yelling and laughing at the incredible experience of flying on the back of the legendary beast. It is also a lure for Aemond and Vhagar, and when the greater dragon gives chase, Ulf brings him back to Dragonstone. There, Aemond is confronted by Vermithor, Seasmoke, Cyrax and Silverwing, forcing Aemond to turn tail.

The Blacks grant Alpha titles and land for his actions

Daemon almost grants the end of Ulf Storm

This is where House of the Dragon Ends and Fire & Blood Pick up. It is hinted that a major battle will open House of the Dragon Season 3. In the Battle of 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 crucial location. This brutal battle sees the death of several key characters and the near destruction of the Velarion fleet. It is the arrival of Ulf, Hugh, Addam Velaryon (Clinton Liberty), and Nettles on Sheepstealer that the Blacks save the rest of their ships.

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 (presumably 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. The victory and others earn Alpha the knighthood he so desperately sought in season 2, episode 8, “The Queen Who Ever Was”. He also gains land along the Driftmark, but he wants more, with Daemon suggesting Rhaenyra grant Ulf Storm’s End.

This is just beyond Alpha’s ambitions, and soon He begins to see how above even RaeniraConsidering that if he has a snake, he should be given all the titles, lands and wealth that those who speak snakes get. It is around this time that Ulf’s discontent grows.

Ulf was a traitor at the first battle of Tumbleton

Yu and Alpha went over to the greens

Late in the conflict, Yu and Alpha are sent to Tumbleton to defend the town from the approaching Hightower boss. For reasons that remain unknown in Fire & Blood, Yu and Alpha suddenly switched sides and turned their dragons on the city They were supposed to protect, start and finish the first battle of Tumbleton. This was another one-sided massacre, and after the capitulation of the city, Alpha began acting as a mini-king, demanding food, gold and women from the inhabitants of what remained of Tumbleton.

While the gathered greens were satisfied with the course of events, the nobles did not want the “self-indulgence” of Alf nor the way he behaved when shooting the town. A group of Lords of the Reach were particularly offended and made a plot to kill the dragonsword.

Alpha White is assassinated by the Caltrops

Nobles of the Reach conspire against Yu and Alpha

The Caltrops were a band of 13 nobles from the Reach who plotted to kill Yu and Alpha after realizing their ambitions for glory and power would eventually hamper the Greens’ own plans for defeating Rhaenyra and the Black. They planned to kill the base-born riders and claim the dragons for the Blacks. Before they could set their plan in motion, Addam on Seasmoke and the Rivermen arrived to kickstart the Second Battle of Tumbleton. During the fighting, one of the Caltrops, Sir John Roxton, killed Hugh before he was killed by Hugh’s men.

Alf was drunk the night before and slept through the battle. The next morning, one of the four surviving Caltrops, Hobert Hightower, meets with Alpha to plan the next course of action. He brought a full barrel of wine with him. Suspicious, Alpha told Hobert to drink first, and so he did. now convinced, Alf 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 into the Reach, becoming wild forever after.

Tom Bennett plays Alpha White in House of the Dragon

Ulf is much more sympathetic in the show

Although it may not be obvious House of the Dragon However, Ulf White plays a crucial role in the dance. He is portrayed by Tom Bennett in the seriesIn an amusing and multidimensional performance. Bennett is an English actor who was originally probably best known for his work on the London stage. However, he has had a few other notable acting performances, including as Miles Leonard in AP Bio And the Nance in Still life. In the film, he appeared in Rocketman like fred mascots Like Owen Golly, Jr., and David Brent: Life on the Road Like Nigel Martin.

Bennett’s performance as Alpha adds layers to a character who, in this book, is quite one-dimensional. Alpha 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. Alpha is rude and awkward, but he’s also lovable and charming. He may make mistakes at a royal dinner, but they’re only because he doesn’t know any better. The end of House of the Dragon Season 2 begins to position Ulf as a troubled individual, but there is still something relatable and human about Ulf White.