Where is Nettles in House of the Dragon?

As a seasoned critic with a penchant for fantasy epics and a soft spot for strong female characters, I must say that House of the Dragon continues to captivate me with its intricate plotlines and engaging performances. However, the apparent absence of the beloved Nettles leaves a void in my heart that even Daemon’s devilish charm can’t quite fill.


*Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 7 and Fire & Blood.*

In the seventh episode of House of the Dragon’s second season, the Dance of Dragons intensifies, and it seems a beloved character may have been eliminated from the series.

In the most recent installment of the series, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen summons individuals with dragon blood (dragonseeds or Targaryen offspring) to present themselves. These individuals may have a claim to the dragons residing at Dragonstone.

In our observations, it’s Hugh Hammer and Ulf White who have managed to tame two dragons, Vermithor and Silverwing respectively. However, a vital figure is yet to make an appearance – Nettles.

Here’s what we know so far.

Where is Nettles in House of the Dragon?

It appears that Nettles’s story is instead being written for Princess Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell).

In the novel, when Nettles turned sixteen, she responded to the summons for dragonseeds. She managed to subdue the untamed dragon Sheepstealer by providing it with a newly butchered sheep every morning as food.

In the book, Nettles goes on to fight valiantly for Queen Rhaenyra.

If any of it seems reminiscent, it’s likely due to its strong resemblance to the tale of Princess Rhaena unfolding in House of the Dragon’s second season.

To date, Rhaena – currently residing with Lady Jeyne Arryn in the Vale – has uncovered signs of the Sheepstealer and, in the most recent episode, we witnessed her darting off to locate the dragon. It appears quite plausible that, in the final episode of this season, Rhaena will succeed in taming the Sheepstealer.

Supporters are split about removing Nettles from the show, given that she’s a beloved character from the original novels among fans.

Who is Sheepstealer?

Sheepstealer is the wild dragon in the Vale. In recent episodes of House of the Dragon, Princess Rhaena has found evidence of the dragon and confronted Lady Jeyne Arryn (Amanda Collin) about it.

Sheepstealer would hunt between Driftmark and Wendwater before being tamed and, as his name suggests, has a taste for mutton.

He’s often referred to as having a rather unattractive “muddy-brown” hue, and it’s suggested that he was supposedly around fifty years old when Nettles acquired him.

What happened to Nettles?

In the tale “Fire and Blood,” following her seizure of Sheepstealer, Nettles stood by Queen Rhaenyra and assisted Daemon in tracking down Aemond (as penned by Ewan Mitchell).

According to Mushroom’s testimony in the book, she becomes a paramour for Daemon.

Following Hugh and Ulf’s switch to the Green party, Rhaenyra’s suspicion towards Nettles intensifies. This is further fueled by whispers about her alleged connection with Daemon.

The most recent instance where Nettles was seen occurred when Lord Robert Rowan led an imperial army towards the Vale of Arryn to aid Ser Joffrey Arryn. In a cave, they came across Nettles, resulting in the deaths of 16 soldiers.

As Rhaneyra commands Nettles’ execution, Daemon learns of this and aids Nettles in escaping, accompanied by Sheepstealer. Though she vanished from Westeros, tales persisted about a “fire witch,” said to dwell secretly in the mountains.

“In the UK, you can catch House of the Dragon’s second season on Sky Atlantic and NOW. Here’s a guide to help you subscribe to Sky TV for more details.”

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2024-07-31 17:34