Diksha Sundriyal
Chaos reigns in the finale of HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3, and a lot of that has to do with Ulf the White. He came into the picture when he emerged from the pit of Flea Bottom to unexpectedly claim the dragon, Silverwing, for Rhaenyra Targaryen. He thought being a dragonrider would bring him riches beyond his imagination, but he forgot to encounter the responsibilities that would come with it. Despite the war raging over Westeros, Rhaenyra doesn’t send Ulf to the battlefield. Instead, she keeps him as a guard over Tumbleton. Eventually, however, Ulf does get a taste of war, and it doesn’t turn out well for anyone in his path. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Ulf Yearns to Be Treated as an Equal
While Ulf claims a dragon, respect doesn’t necessarily come with it. He thinks that becoming a dragonrider will earn him a spot within the Targaryen family, falsely believing they will welcome him with open arms. But that misconception is broken pretty soon, and that sows the seed of discontent and hatred in Ulf’s heart. In everyone else’s defense, he isn’t exactly good at his job, which is basically to do as he is told. When sent to Harrenhal, he deserts his post a few days in, though he is not the only one to do so. This angers Daemon, and he hits Ulf. He could have held back his hand and shown some modicum of respect, but it must also be noted that he doesn’t extend the same behavior to Hugh. And there is a good reason for that.
While Hugh may have his complaints with his employer, he is much more patient and better at following orders, especially after messing up at Harrenhal. While he may not entirely believe in Rhaenyra’s cause, he is driven by the desire to receive a castle and riches once the Queen’s position is consolidated. He has the restraint to stay in line by then. Or at least, he did until the Season 3 finale. Ulf, on the other hand, has no cause to fight for. The fact that he managed to bag a dragon is surprising enough. He doesn’t have any personal stake in the war, and for all he cares, he could spend the rest of his days drinking himself to death. But his status as a dragonrider has changed all that.
He resents Rhaenyra when she forbids him from going back to his usual haunts, fearing he may be killed to get back at her. Later, when Daemon catches him in Flea Bottom, he tries to fight back, but instead receives yet another punch from the Rogue Prince. At this point, all Ulf wants from the people around him is respect, and the only ones who do this for him are the people he has grown up with. They are impressed by the fact that one of them is now riding dragons like the Targaryens, while the royal royalty doesn’t seem to care about him. What they want is his dragon, and that frustrates him. Later, Ormund Hightower plays into his insecurities, befriending him and treating him as someone above the station of a commoner if n,ot his equal.
Ulf’s Frustration Over Lack of Respect Leads Him to Burn Tumbleton
When Ormund talks about giving Ulf Driftmark, his ego is inflated, though it does nothing to change his work ethic. The simple thing he has to do is to show up with his dragon at the Battle of Tumbleton, but he drinks too much and passes out in the toilet. This enrages Ormund, who had otherwise managed to keep up a facade of friendship with him. His anger tears down that pretense, and once again humiliated, Ulf realizes Ormund was never his friend either. He, too, wanted Silverwing. This is why, when Ulf finally takes flight, he first burns down Rhaenyra’s army because he is angry with her and Daemon.
But at the same time, he has no loyalty to Ormund, which is why he decides to burn the Hightower host as well. By burning both the Blacks and the Greens, Ulf goes rogue in the truest, fullest sense. He has shown his true colors; he owes allegiance to no one, but remains a lethal force with a dragon by his side. From what happens in George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire and Blood,’ on which the HBO series is based, Ulf will eventually conclude that neither Rhaenyra nor any of her half-brothers is fit to rule the kingdom.
Why should they get all the power and respect when they don’t seem to care for anyone beneath them? His turning of the cloak shows that he not only refuses to serve the conventional rulers but also presents this choice to the public. What if it was time for the commoners to take charge? The exploration of this possibility will play a major role in Season 4, particularly as Tumbleton becomes yet another major piece on the board, changing the course of the war between Rhaenyra and Aegon. Ulf’s part in the story is just beginning.
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