George RR Martin blasts HBO’s changes in season 2 and is afraid of what’s to come in season 3

George R.R. Martinthe legendary author of Fire & Bloodexpressed his dissatisfaction with the 2nd season of The House of the Dragon. On his blog, he pointed out several changes in the adaptation of the series that, according to him, could compromise the future of the plot. Although the audience has remained stable, the showrunner’s creative decisions Ryan Condal and the exclusion of important characters were criticized by both Martin and part of the public.

Changes in the Sequence of Blood and Cheese

One of the main points of criticism from Martin was the adaptation of the violent sequence from “Blood and Cheese”. In the series, Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith, hires assassins to avenge the death of Luke Velaryon. However, the execution of the scene differs significantly from what was described in the book. Fire & Blood. In the series, Helaena Targaryen is forced to identify her son Jaehaerys, who ends up being killed. In the book, the scene is much more complex and disturbing, with Helaena being forced to choose which of her children should die.

Differences from the Book

In the book, Daemon’s plan involves a go-between who hires a former Gold Cloak and a rat-killer to infiltrate the Red Keep. The scene culminates dramatically with Helaena being forced to choose between her two sons, Maelor and Jaehaerys. Helaena’s choice and Jaehaerys’ execution have a profound impact, both emotionally and narratively. In the series, Maelor’s absence from this sequence altered the dynamics of events.

Maelor’s Exclusion and the Controversy

Martin was particularly vocal about the exclusion of Prince Maelor, a key character in the book. According to the author, the prince’s absence compromised the emotional and narrative impact of the plot. Ryan Condal justified the decision with practical reasons, such as avoiding the need to cast a very young child for filming. However, for Martin, this change weakened the sequel and had important consequences for the development of future events.

Impact on Future Plot

Maelor’s absence also directly affects the outcome of the sequel to “Blood and Cheese“In the book, Maelor’s death at Bitterbridge is a high point of horror and heroism. Without this scene, the series misses an opportunity to deeply explore the motivations of Helaena and other characters, weakening the construction of their stories as the plot progresses.

Season 3 Spoilers

In addition to criticizing season 2, Martin also revealed spoilers about season 3. He mentioned that Helaena Targaryen’s suicide will be handled differently than in the original narrative. In the book, suicide is a direct consequence of traumatic events, but in the series, according to Martin, the character’s death has no clear motivation. He regrets that this change takes away from the emotional weight of the plot.

Negative Fan Reactions

Martin’s public criticism generated a great deal of backlash andamong the fans of The House of the Dragon. On Reddit and other social media, many criticized the author for exposing the behind-the-scenes in such a direct way, which some considered unprofessional. In addition, the spoilers released by Martin were seen as damaging to the showrunner’s work. Ryan Condal. The controversy was so great that Martin ended up deleting the blog post.

Season 3 Production

The production of the 3rd season of The House of the Dragon is scheduled to begin only in 2025, with the launch scheduled for 2026. In the meantime, fans will be able to rewatch the first two seasons, available on the Max platform, while they eagerly await the new chapters of the saga.

Summary for those in a hurry:

• George RR Martin criticized changes in the adaptation of season 2 of The House of the Dragon.
• The exclusion of Prince Maelor was one of the main points criticized by Martin.
• The sequence of “Blood and Cheese” in the series was very different from the book version Fire & Blood.
• Martin revealed spoilers about Helaena’s fate in season 3, which generated negative repercussions.
• Fans criticized Martin for revealing behind-the-scenes details and giving spoilers, leading the author to delete his post.
• The 3rd season of The House of the Dragon will begin filming in 2025 and will be released in 2026.