‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3, episode 7 ending, explained: Has Ulf switched to Team Green?

Side-switching isn’t an uncommon occurrence in the world of House of the Dragon, but it’s a bit more important when you’ve got a dragon in tow.

Last season, Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) went to great effort to recruit herself some new dragonriders, but in Season 3 it already looks like one of them may be on the cusp of stabbing her in the back.

So, what exactly happens at the end of episode 7, and what does it mean for Ulf the White (Tom Bennett)?

What happens at the end of House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 7?

The final scene of the episode sees a hilltop conversation between Ulf and the ever-sneaky Lord Ormund (James Norton), where the latter professes his apparent shock to hear that Daemon (Matt Smith) has struck Ulf in the streets of King’s Landing.

“It is obvious Rhaenyra and her ilk regard you only as a tool to be used and reprimanded, whereas I understand who you really are,” Ormund says.

“You said last time that you could gift me a lordship,” responds Ulf. “And a castle. Honeyholt.”

“Honeyholt?” says Ormund with a smile. “Honeyholt is a trifle. It seems that Driftmark itself may soon be without a master. Lord of the Tides. What do you think of that? They will laugh at you no more, when they see you as you are.”

“No,” says Ulf. “They will burn.”

Doesn’t sound great, does it? So, has Ulf really gone over to Team Green? And what could that mean for Rhaenyra if he has?

Has Ulf switched to Team Green?

It seems like the answer is probably a yes. Earlier in the episode, Ormund tells Gwayne (Freddie Fox) that he “has a piece on the board that will bring the bitch to her knees.” Gwayne thinks he’s talking about Lord Corlys (Steve Toussaint), who was kidnapped in the last episode, but now it seems clear he was actually talking about Ulf and his dragon.

Ultimately, Ulf’s main motivation has always been the status a new dragon might bring. He’s longed for a title and a castle. And over the past few episodes, we’ve seen him growing increasingly dissatisfied with his treatment at the hands of Team Black.

Ormund, who is a cunning character, likely spotted this discontentment when he first spoke to Ulf. Since then, he’s promised the dragonrider exactly what he’s always wanted — and as of their latest meeting, it seems that Ulf is more than happy to turn against the people who first lifted him up.

New episodes of House of the Dragon air Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.