After the tragic death of Princess Rhaenys and her fierce dragon Meleys in Season 2 of House of the Dragon, Team Black struggles to make ground in the war for the throne. In Episode 5, Jacaerys Velaryon suggests finding additional Dragonriders for the unclaimed dragons nesting on Dragonstone. Season 2 has introduced a few characters to set up a new plotline. The audience has met Ulf, supposedly a descendant of King Jaehaerys, and Hugh, a blacksmith, and the brothers Alyn and Addam, connected to Lord Corlys.

Fire & Blood fans are excited about their upcoming role during the war, but one fan-favorite book character has been notably absent: Nettles, a foul-mouthed, brown-skinned girl of low birth who accomplishes the “impossible.” In George R.R. Martin’s novels, she claims the wild dragon Sheepstealer by providing him with freshly slaughtered sheep daily, and eventually, the dragon allows her to mount him. Since Nettles hasn’t been introduced yet, some fear her character might not appear in the show at all.

The Cut of Nettles Might Benefit the TV Show Adaptation

Despite her appeal, the mysterious Nettles is not a major character and much of her storyline in the book is based on speculations. Nettles grew up in Dragonstone. She seems to have no connection to the Targaryen bloodline. However, since she manages to claim a dragon, some believe she might be Daemon’s illegitimate daughter. Nettles only partakes in one battle. After experiencing the horrors of war, she decides to quit. Ultimately, she flies off into the distance on Sheepstealer, never to be seen again.

Showrunner Condal might have merged Nettles’s and Rhaena’s storyline to streamline the narrative. Cutting Nettles would allow the established character Rhaena to play a larger role during the Civil War. Rhaena is one of Daemon’s twin daughters from his marriage to Laena Velarion. Rhaena is still without a dragon because her egg has not hatched. In Episode 5 of Season 2, the audience learns that Rhaena almost died trying to claim a dragon. Condal explained in several interviews that the show will expand the storylines of all the Targaryen children. So far, Rhaena’s plotline has been relatively insignificant, but there is some evidence hinting at an expansion.

An Expanded Character Arc for Rhaena Targaryen

Rhaena’s fate seems foreshadowed as early as in Season 1. Laena tells her daughter in Episode 6 that “there are more ways than one to claim a dragon.” When Rhaena speaks to Rhaenyra and Baela in Season 2, Episode 3 before she leaves for the Vale, the conversations are once again focused on her frustration at not being a dragon rider. Even after Rhaena arrives in the Vale, she expresses to Lady Jeyne Arryn how powerless she feels. Time and time again, the show highlights her frustration with feeling inadequate. It makes very little sense to repeatedly focus on this particular issue if Rhaena ends up with a hatchling (as written in the book) requiring no bravery.

Instead, the writers seem to point at growth for her character, a second chance to claim a dragon. And that dragon might be Sheepstealer. This rumor started months ago when a reliable source posted that Rhaena will “claim a sheep-eating wild dragon” in the new season. Furthermore, the post features a set photo from Season 2, depicting Rhaena in the Vale staring at something with a mixture of fear and admiration. The Vale has plenty of sheep. It would make sense that Sheepstealer would fly there to eat his favorite food. All these factors seem to indicate that there will be a plotline with Rhaena and Sheepstealer. While book fans might not like this change, it could serve the broader audience well. The writers aim to tell the story at a swift but steady pace. Adding another character with very little time to develop her could justify the cut of Nettles.

House of the Dragon Could Still Include Nettles as a Surprise in Season 3

While the Dragonseeds will be further developed in upcoming episodes, Nettles’s appearance could be postponed to Season 3 to surprise book fans. If Sheepstealer is claimed by Rhaena instead, Nettles could potentially claim another dragon. The writers could still incorporate Nettles’s taming tactic, as all dragons eat sheep. But which dragon could Nettles claim instead?

If the adaptation follows the book’s story in some form, Seasmoke, Silverwing, and Vermithor will be claimed by Addam, Ulf, and Hugh. That leaves the wild dragons Grey Ghost and Cannibal riderless. The elusive Grey Ghost has a lighter color, whereas the Cannibal is dark, like Sheepstealer. If the creators chose to make them look similar, they could give the Cannibal to Nettles. Fire & Blood is a fake history book. It deliberately leaves out large parts of the details.

The Cannibal story is told by Archmaester Gyldayn. It could be plausible that Gyldayn confused the two dragons if they looked similar. Cannibal is a unique dragon. He is rumored to be the oldest dragon in Westeros, even older than Vhagar, albeit being smaller. According to legend, Cannibal comes from a different lineage than the Targaryen dragons and feasts on his own kind. Cannibal is known as one of the most dangerous dragons alive. No one has ever even considered claiming him. If Nettles claimed Cannibal instead of Sheepstealer, it would underline her fierceness.

While the omission of Nettles is plausible, it bears the risk of outrage among book fans. Most love her because she is unlike any other character in this world. Nettles has no obvious ties to the Targaryens. She is feisty and brave and had a rough upbringing. Nettles provides a unique insight into the world of the common folk. In the book, she gets close to Daemon. He takes her under his wing, teaching her how to dress and behave in the circles of high society. He seems very affectionate towards this rebellious girl, leaving some wondering if they are more than friends. Nettles is the prime example of a resilient underdog, paving her way in this cruel world. She is an effective contrast to the high-born in this universe.

The Fate of Nettles in the Show Remains a Mystery

It remains to be seen if show creator Ryan Condal decided to cut Nettle’s storyline or perhaps move it to Season 3. The development of Rhaenyra and Daemon’s relationship might also be a factor. In the book, Nettles’s presence is a source of friction, causing new problems in Rhaenyra’s relationship with Daemon. Mysaria, unofficially Rhaenyra’s Mistress of Whisperers, implies to Rhaenyra that Daemon might have an affair with Nettles. Rhaenyra is outraged by these implications. She declares Nettles a traitor and wants her executed by the Lord of Maidenpool. Daemon learns the news from the castle’s Maester Norren, and the next day Nettles leaves. This event creates a deeper wedge between Rhaenyra and Daemon, who will never see each other again. If Condal planned a different ending for Rhaenyra and Daemon’s overall storyline, it could alter how he depicts Nettles if she makes it into the show at all.

So far, the show has stuck to the general storyline, but there are examples where Condal decided to deviate from the source material. Daemon is portrayed as a much darker character. Aemond might have intentionally burned his brother, King Aegon, and his dragon Sunfyre. Alicent and Rhaenyra used to be close friends. Many characters are aged up or down, to name a few examples.

Cutting Nettles might anger book fans, but casual viewers will not care as long as the story is engaging and well-written. While Ryan Condal is a self-proclaimed fanboy of Martin’s works, he faces a difficult task. An adaptation is bound to leave out some storylines to make them easier to follow. A book can add many more details than a visual medium can. The adaptation would benefit from a unique character like Nettles, but at the end of the day, it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. The World of Westeros is large, and so is its fanbase.