What happens to Ulf The White as House of the Dragon boss compares to nuclear bomb

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for Fire & Blood*

Ulf the White finally gets knighted in House of the Dragon season three episode three, and he’s as snarky as ever. But does he get too big for his boots? George R.R. Martin’s books have the answer. 

He was first introduced in season two of the Game of Thrones prequel as one of the bastard Targaryens Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) enlists to claim riderless dragons to join their army.

Ulf (Tom Bennett) successfully claims Silverwing, alongside the more serious Hugh Hammer (Kieran Bew). 

During a press conference for season three, attended by The Nerds of Color, showrunner Ryan Condal opened up about the importance of flawed characters, at which point he discussed the dragonseeds. 

“Having flawed characters is the recipe for making what Game of Thrones is, and what A Song of Ice and Fire is,” he said. 

“We didn’t want our show to be any different. I think, frankly, it would be boring if you had a character that everybody was singularly rooting for to be on the throne… Are there good guys? 

“Rhaenyra has done this thing that everybody applauds, but she’s put three strangers [Ulf, Hugh, and Addam] in charge of nuclear weapons. 

“Ulf sitting on Silverwing reminds me a lot of Slim Pickens on the nuclear bomb at the end of Dr. Strangelove. Is that really a thing that we want? 

“I think that micro-story of the dragon seeds is a story of desperation and the lengths that people will go to, and the compromises, both ethical and moral, that people will make to win.”

Condal went on to say that while some fans may want to see Rhaenyra on the throne, what are the consequences of that and what does that mean? 

“Those are things that are yet to play out in the show,” he said. The same goes for Ulf’s story… 

What happens to Ulf the White?

Although he initially fights for Rhaenyra and the Blacks, Ulf later defects to the Greens in the books. Ultimately, the power gets to his head and he is eventually poisoned. The upside of his death is that it’s peaceful, as he passes in his sleep. 

If House of the Dragon follows the same plotline as the book, his betrayal may be coming sooner than we think. You see, in Fire & Blood, Ulf, Hugh, and their dragons – Silverwing and Vermithor – are sent to Tumbleton to defend it from Lord Ormund Hightower.

It’s during this battle that they switch over to the Greens, believing their dragons make them powerful enough to demand far greater rewards. If you’ve watched the season three episode four trailer, you’ll know that it will see Ormund and his men attack Tumbleton. 

Maybe Ulf at the very least will jump over to the other side (although that’s pure speculation at this stage). 

In the books, Ulf gets way too egotistical, so much so that when Daeron Targaryen names him Lord of Bitterbridge, he believes he can do better. Ulf reportedly goes on a rampage during this time, raping multiple maidens and even having his dragon eat anyone who doesn’t cater to his desires. 

This comes back to bite him in the butt, especially when he starts telling those around him he should be king. In the second Battle of Tumbleton, during which Hugh is killed, Ulf drunkenly declares his intentions to claim the Iron Throne. 

To put a stop to him, Ser Hobert Hightower poisons his wine and the rest, as they say, is history. 

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Featured image credit: HBO