The Red Sowing

"The Red Sowing"
House of the Dragonepisode
Episodeno.	Season 2 Episode 7
Directed by	Loni Peristere
Written by	David Hancock
Featured music	Ramin Djawadi
Cinematography by	Vanja Cernjul
Editing by	Katie Weiland
Original air date	July 28, 2024(2024-07-28)
Running time	64 minutes
Guest appearance
Paddy ConsidineasViserys I Targaryen(uncredited)

"The Red Sowing"is the seventh andpenultimateepisode of the second season of thefantasydramatelevision seriesHouse of the Dragon,a prequel toGame of Thrones.The title refers to the bloody fate of many Targaryen bastards, who are called "dragon seeds", trying to claim dragons. The episode was written by David Hancock and directed byLoni Peristere.It first aired onHBOandMaxon July 28, 2024.

In the United States, the episode gained a viewership of 1.2 million during its premiere night on linear television alone. It received critical acclaim, with praise for the claiming ofVermithorandSilverwing,visual effects, cinematography, musical score, and cast performances (especiallyEmma D'Arcy,Olivia Cooke,Harry Collett,andArchie Barnes).

Plot

On Driftmark

Rhaenyra confronts Addam of Hull, who is now Seasmoke's rider. Addam kneels and pledges his fealty to Rhaenyra. When asked about his parentage, Addam withholds telling her that Corlys Velaryon is his father to conceal his potential Valyrian bloodline. He follows Rhaenyra to Dragonstone on Seasmoke.

In King's Landing and the Kingswood

Grand Maester Orwyle treats Alicent's superficial arm wound, received during the recent riot. Despondent after being removed from the Small Council, Alicent seeks solace in the Kingswood, taking one Kingsguard, Ser Rickard Thorne, for protection and assistance. They make camp, and, when asked, Alicent says she may not return to King's Landing. She spends time riding her horse in the woods and floating in a lake, reflecting on her current status.

In the courtyard, Larys observes as Aemond sentences two Kingsguards to lifetime servitude at the Wall, ostensibly for fomenting the riots. Lord Jasper Wylde approaches Larys and says that Seasmoke has a new, unknown rider. Considering it an unverified rumor, Larys suggests they withhold telling Aemond. Against Orwyle's advice, Larys pushes him to accelerate Aegon's recovery, despite the physical exertion causing Aegon extreme pain.

In the Vale

Rhaena escorts Rhaenyra's sons as they depart from the Eyrie to travel to Pentos, but she secretly leaves the group to track the wild dragon.

At Harrenhal

Oscar Tully, the new Lord Paramount of the Trident, arrives with the Riverlords. He proclaims his intention to honor his late grandfather's oath of loyalty to Rhaenyra as Viserys' heir and offers Daemon his allegiance. The Riverlords doubt young Oscar's leadership ability and despise Daemon for allowing the Blackwoods' war atrocities against House Bracken.

To appease the other lords, Oscar condemns Ser Willem Blackwood's savagery, though Willem claims he was doing Daemon's bidding. Oscar dismisses Willem's excuse and declares he must be held accountable. Oscar demands that Daemon prove himself worthy of the Riverlords' banners by showing contrition for his earlier actions and dispensing justice. Daemon agrees and executes Willem. Later, Daemon experiences another vision of Viserys, who says he never wanted the crown and that it crushes whoever wears it. He asks if Daemon still wants it.

At Dragonstone

Rhaenyra returns with Addam and Seasmoke. Ignoring her council's concerns about a low-born dragonrider, she instructs that Addam be trained in dragonriding and tutored in High Valyrian. She is optimistic that other dragonriders can be found. Mysaria says that rather than researching noble houses for Targaryen descendants, to instead search King's Landing for dragonseeds with thicker blood ties. Rhaenyra concurs, but Jacaerys challenges her plan, arguing that bastard dragonriders could threaten Targaryen legitimacy and his own succession, revealing that he knows Ser Harwin Strong was his biological father. Rhaenyra says the dragonseed riders deserve respect.

Corlys privately meets with Addam and, praising him, grants his request to be released as his shipwright to become a dragonrider. Later, Corlys tasks Alyn with delivering a message to Elinda in King's Landing and procuring boats with reliable captains and crews. Corlys asks if Alyn would want to claim a dragon like his brother, but Alyn declines, saying he is "salt and sea".

In King's Landing, cont.

Elinda receives Mysaria's instructions on where to find Targaryen bastards, and word quickly spreads throughout the city. In a tavern, Ulf, who often boasted he has Targaryen ancestry, is urged to join the other dragonseeds heading to Dragonstone. Ulf is reluctant, claiming a leg injury, but he also harbors doubts regarding his real ancestry. Hugh, grieving his daughter's recent death, tells his wife, Kat, that his prostitute mother was a Targaryen and that he desires to go to Dragonstone and claim a dragon, saying it will better their lives.

A few dozen dragonseeds board boats organized by Alyn and set sail for Dragonstone.

At Dragonstone, cont.

As Rhaenyra greets the dragonseeds, the dragonkeepers denounce her decision to entrust smallfolk with dragons and exit the dragonpit. Rhaenyra summons Vermithor, the largest living dragon after Vhagar, and steps aside to test the dragonseeds. A dragonseed named Silver Denys steps forth to try and claim Vermithor, but the dragon immediately rejects him and burns him to death before unleashing a furious attack; killing dozens more in a fiery rampage. Initially avoiding dragonfire, Hugh confronts Vermithor, stopping him from killing a woman dragonseed and offering his life. Responding to Hugh's boldness, Vermithor instantly accepts him as his new rider. Meanwhile, Ulf evades Vermithor's attack and escapes into the caverns; entering a dragon lair and awakening Silverwing who is docile and accepts him as her new rider without hesitance.

In King's Landing and Blackwater Bay

During a council meeting, Lord Jasper informs Aemond that Prince Daeron Targaryen and his dragon Tessarion are nearly ready to join the war. The meeting is interrupted by a loud commotion outside—Ulf flying on Silverwing above the city. Aemond rushes out to mount Vhagar and pursues them to Dragonstone. He quickly retreats, however, upon seeing Rhaenyra with Syrax, Vermithor, and Silverwing, all adult dragons now claimed by riders.

Production

Writing and filming

"The Red Sowing" was written by David Hancock and directed by executive producerLoni Peristere.It marks Hancock's second time as writer for the series, following "The Burning Mill",and Peristere's first directorial credit. The title of the episode refers to the event called the Red Sowing during which several lowborn Targaryen bastards (called" dragonseeds ") claimed dragons and joined the Blacks.

Speaking of his character Ulf White and scenes in the episode, actorTom Bennettsaid, as noted by James Hibberd inThe Hollywood Reporter,"He's thinking, 'A lot of these people look more Targaryen than I am.'... My name is Ulf White but it's more salt-and-pepper gray. And panic sets in. There comes a moment where you’ve been spreading this lie for the sake of a free pint of Guinness and now you have to show up and there’s a fucking big dragon there."

Casting

The episode starsMatt Smithas PrinceDaemon Targaryen,Emma D'Arcyas QueenRhaenyra Targaryen,Olivia Cookeas Queen DowagerAlicent Hightower,Steve Toussaintas LordCorlys Velaryon,Sonoya MizunoasMysaria,Matthew Needhamas Lord Larys "Clubfoot" Strong,Tom Glynn-Carneyas KingAegon II Targaryen,Ewan Mitchellas PrinceAemond Targaryen,Harry Collettas PrinceJacaerys Velaryon,Bethany Antoniaas LadyBaela Targaryen,Phoebe Campbellas LadyRhaena Targaryen,Kurt Egyiawan as Grand Maester Orwyle,Abubakar Salimas Alyn of Hull,Clinton Libertyas Addam of Hull,Kieran Bewas Hugh Hammer,Ellora Torchiaas Kat Hammer,Tom Bennettas Ulf White, andSimon Russell Bealeas Ser Simon Strong.

Paddy Considineonce again made an uncredited guest appearance as KingViserys Targaryen,following theprevious episode.The episode marks the final appearance of recurring character Willem Blackwood (Jack Parry-Jones).

Release

"The Red Sowing" was screened early atSan Diego Comic-Confor attendees on July 26, 2024.It was released onHBOandMaxon July 28, 2024.

Reception

Ratings

In the United States, "The Red Sowing" was watched by an estimated 1.2 million viewers during its first broadcast onHBOalone on July 28, 2024. This was a 5.9% decrease from the previous episode.

Critical response

The performances ofEmma D'Arcy,Olivia Cooke,andHarry Collettreceived praise from critics.

"The Red Sowing" was met with acclaim from critics. On thereview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,it holds anapproval ratingof 96% based on 23 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10. The site's critical consensus says, "A new generation of dragon riders takes shape in 'The Red Showing', a fast-paced installment that climaxes with a fiery payoff to the season's careful world-building."

Helen O'HaraofIGNawarded the episode with an "amazing" score of 9 out of 10, praising it as "an episode with momentum, drama, and consequence [that] sets all the pieces in place for a grand finale."Katie Doll ofCBRand Carly Lane ofColliderboth scored it 8 out of 10, with the former describing it as "a fantastic piece of television".Doll also highlighted Larys' character development and the characterization of Oscar Tully as the episode's standout elements.Moreover, Kayleigh Dray ofThe A.V. Clubgraded it with an "A",while Proma Khosla ofIndieWiregave it a "B", commending Djawadi's score, Cernjul's cinematography, and the visual effects.Similarly, Santanu Das ofHindustan Timesechoed Khosla's sentiment, praising the score and cinematography.

The episode also received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from David Crow ofDen of Geek,James Hunt ofScreen Rant,Haley Whitmire White ofTV Fanatic,and Jonathan Wilson ofReady Steady Cut.Hunt considered it "one of the strongest installments of the season, and offers a sense of momentum heading into the end of the season" and praised the payoff of Daemon's story with the Riverlords,while Wilson summarized his review by saying, "A very solid penultimate episode lays the groundwork for an explosive finale."Writing forGamesRadar+,Molly Edwards rated the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote in her verdict: "Not quite as explosive as a traditional penultimate episode, but [it] certainly brings the fire and blood with its brutal dragon action – and sets the board for what should be an epic finale."

The performances of the cast received critical praise, particularly those of D'Arcy,Cooke,Collett,andArchie Barnes.Both James Hunt and Kayleigh Dray called D'Arcy's performance "brilliant", with Hunt also noting, "A lot of praise must also go to Collett, who gives his best performance yet as Jace."Molly Edwards said of Cooke that she was "excellent at subtly portraying Alicent's deeply buried distress."TVLinenamed Barnes as an honorable mention as the "Performer of the Week" for the week of August 3, 2024, for his performance in the episode, calling him a "scene-stealer" and stating that "Barnes imbued his character with both genuine modesty and surprising aplomb, every line reading more deliciously authoritative than the last."

The storyline involving the claiming ofVermithorandSilverwing,as well as their scenes with Ulf and Hugh, received significant praise,with Carly Lane calling it "some of the best scenes in the entire series to date."Additionally, the final shot was also a subject of praise from several critics.

External links

• "The Red Sowing"atHBO
• "The Red Sowing"atIMDb