With one comparatively transient monologue, delivered fantastically from Tom Bennett, Ulf abruptly turns into one of many extra compelling characters on Home of the Dragon and a way more layered model than the one introduced in George R.R. Martin’s supply materials Hearth & Blood. As has been well-established, Martin’s e-book is introduced as a historic tome written by “modern-day” Westerosi maesters and due to this fact provides little concerning the true motivations of the key gamers of the period, not to mention the B-teamers like Ulf and firm.
Not solely does this tragic account of Ulf’s upbringing assist clarify a few of his cynical mindset and self-destructive behaviors, it additionally ties him in additional carefully to the Sport of Thrones canon. The priest he mentions is undoubtedly a pink priest of R’hllor a.ok.a. the sect of crimson sorcerers that Melisandre of Asshai belongs to. In hindsight, Ulf’s backstory feels so integral to his character that it might appear not possible to painting the boorish dragonseed with out gaining access to it.
Fortunately, Bennett had all of the entry he wanted. That’s as a result of, earlier than taking pictures his first scene on Home of the Dragon‘s “Cock Inn” tavern set again in season 2, Bennett was approached by collection showrunner Ryan Condal with a revealing doc.
“Ryan took a sheet out of his folder and gave it to me,” Bennett tells Den of Geek and different shops throughout a press roundtable. “He mentioned ‘I’ve already written this, however I feel it may be helpful to you now. It’s sort of a monologue of yours.’ I learn it and was like that’s so beneficiant, as a result of this actually does inform every part. Like this right here is your origin story. Now I can dangle every part else off that.”
Bennett’s early data of Ulf’s childhood imbues the second with a gravitas that his scene companions had been joyful to play off of.
“It was helpful for me as properly as a result of inside that scene he’s revealing a lot and being so sincere, after which he asks Hugh about himself and Hugh chooses to not inform him something,” Bew says.
