The second season of House of the Dragon was filled with intense drama, intricate plot twists, and shocking moments, including brutal betrayals, fiery deaths, and profound awakenings. However, a notable behind-the-scenes controversy stole the spotlight when George R.R. Martin, the author of the source material, expressed his discontent with certain plot changes made in the HBO adaptation. As the production of season three commences, showrunner Bryan Condal was inevitably asked to address the issue.

In July 2024, Martin published a blog post praising a new addition to House of the Dragon, specifically the introduction of a faithful dog to the assassin duo of Blood and Cheese. Although he appreciated this addition, Martin also cautioned that he is not typically a fan of screenwriters adding characters to the original material when adapting a story, especially when the source material is his own work. This sentiment was particularly relevant to the season two premiere, which featured Blood and Cheese killing King Aegon II Targaryen’s toddler-aged heir to the Iron Throne.

However, Martin’s enthusiasm was short-lived, as he took issue with another change made to the same sequence in the show. In August 2024, Martin posted another blog entry, in which he announced his intention to discuss “everything that’s gone wrong with House of the Dragon.” A few days later, in early September, he followed up on this promise with a post that was quickly deleted. In the now-removed post, Martin revealed that he had initially pushed back against the changes, voicing concerns about how altering events in season two would impact the futures of certain characters in subsequent seasons.

Condal responded to Martin’s criticism by defending his creative choices on HBO’s official House of the Dragon! podcast. When Martin was later asked to comment on the situation by the Hollywood Reporter, he chose instead to focus on his enthusiasm for another upcoming HBO adaptation of his work, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The controversy seemed to have died down by mid-September 2024, but it has resurfaced with Condal’s latest interview with Entertainment Weekly.

In the interview, Condal described Martin’s criticism as “disappointing,” while also reiterating his admiration for A Song of Ice and Fire and Martin’s influence on his writing career. Condal emphasized that working on House of the Dragon has been a great privilege, allowing him to combine his passion for science fiction and fantasy with his profession as a writer. He defended the show’s creative decisions, pointing out that Fire & Blood, the source material, is not a traditional novel and requires a significant amount of invention and interpretation to adapt for the screen.

Condal acknowledged that he had made a concerted effort to involve Martin in the adaptation process over the years, and the two had enjoyed a fruitful collaboration. However, he noted that as the production progressed, Martin became increasingly unwilling to acknowledge the practical challenges and limitations of adapting the material for television. As showrunner, Condal emphasized the need to balance his creative vision with the practical realities of producing a show, ensuring that the writing process, as well as the logistical aspects, continue to move forward for the benefit of the crew, cast, and HBO.

Condal expressed his hope that he and Martin can rediscover their former collaborative harmony in the future. For more insights from Condal, including teasers about the upcoming battles and new characters in House of the Dragon season three, visit Entertainment Weekly.

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