Summary
House of the Dragonseason 2 hasintroduced several awesome new dragons, but the absence of one of the most terrifying is still disappointing to me. Withseason 2, episode 7’s endingfinally showing the Sowing of the Seeds, I was thrilled to see some clearer images of Vermithor and a first glimpse of Silverwing. Not to mention, with Sunfyre and Moondancer appearing earlier in the season with brilliant designs, this season has truly been a treat, with HBO delivering on its promise of a vibrant cast of dragons.
Still, as a huge fan ofGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Firenovelsand, by extension,Fire & Blood, it’s always the elements that don’t make it to the television medium that leaves me disappointed.House of the Dragonseason 2 has done a terrific job at including as much of the book’s contents as possible,but I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mentionone of the fascinating dragons in Martin’s world, which raises discussion points about dragon nature in the Game of Thrones universe.
The Cannibal In Fire & Blood Explained
The Cannibal Is One Of The Largest Dragons In Fire & Blood
The Cannibal is one of thelargest dragons inGame of Throneshistory, who existed during the time of the Dance of the Dragons. The book suggests the possibility that the Cannibal may have even lived there before Aegon’s Conquestandbefore the Targaryen family even settled on Dragonstone. This would make him older than Vhagar, andhe’s believed to be larger than Vermithor in the source material text. He earned his name by eating the corpses of other dragons, dragon eggs, and newborn dragons.
Why House Of The Dragon Seems To Have Cut The Cannibal & Why It’s Disappointing
The Sowing Of The Seeds Would’ve Been The Opportunity To Introduce Cannibal
Rhaenyra states that Vermithor is the second-largest dragon in the world in the show. With this in mind, Cannibal probably won’t be appearing onHouse of the Dragon.The opportunity to introduce Cannibal would have been during the Sowing. In the book version of the event, many of the potential riders try to claim Cannibal, but he leaves a trail of human corpses behind him. To me, these variables in the Sowing are so important to the story Martin is trying to tell, and I was disappointed by the show drastically simplifying the event with just Vermithor and Silverwing.
Vermithor and Silverwing are on the easier side for humans to bond with, as they’ve had previous riders. Cannibal, on the other hand, has gone centuries as a wild dragon and is virtually impossible to claim. He’s highly resistant to humans. Having this in the story is vital to showing the complexities of dragons. They’re not all just mounts for those with Valyrian blood to claim;dragons have different personalities and that autonomy is crucial to their role in the story. I hopeHouse of the Dragonamends this by showing the wild dragon Sheepstealer’s resistance to a human rider.
House of the Dragon
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.
