Warning: This article contains major spoilers for House of the Dragon and reader discretion is advised.
House of the Dragon season 2 has viewers on the edge of their seats. It's approaching the final episode showcasing the ultimate saga between the Greens and the Blacks. However, many fans are concerned about the HBO series as George R. R. Martin's previous thoughts about adapting House of the Dragon have started making sense.
In one of his Not A Blog posts, George R. R. Martin stated that writers often try to "improve" original stories while adapting a great book. However, this approach of modifying source material never helps in improving a story but leads to unfavorable outcomes. Martin added:
"No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and “improve” on it. "The book is the book, the film is the film", they will tell you....They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse."
His statement suggests that changes from Fire & Blood conflict with the core elements of an original story. In Season 2, episode 6, fans didn't seem to enjoy the sudden change of atmosphere during a conversation between Rhaenyra and Mysaria. It took place when they were discussing their struggles and ended up kissing each other.
Interestingly, Martin's Fire & Blood has no such intimate moments between Rhaenyra and Mysaria. Moreover, there was no buildup for the emotions we saw in the episode, as the scene was improvised by Emma D'Arcy.
Another change that many viewers have noticed is how the dragons are portrayed in the HBO series. In Fire & Blood, Martin crafted the creatures with two legs and wings, and wished to see them portrayed as realistically as possible on screen.
However, if you look closely, House of the Dragon portrays the Targaryen family's dragons with four legs which points to a major shift from the original material. In another blog, the writer clearly stated:
"Fantasy needs to be grounded. It is not simply a license to do anything you like."
Following such changes in House of the Dragon, fans shared their opinion on the internet, as one user commented on YouTube:
Another user also mentioned that the intimate scene between Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and Mysaria didn't feel right:
A user who felt that the writers were deviating from George R. R. Martin's book wrote:
Another user stated:
Since these deviations have upset many fans and viewers, one user even commented that:
The ongoing season has reached the finale with lower ratings as compared to season one. One of the major reasons being unexpected deviations from the fan-adored book.
In Fire & Blood, Martin has described a significant age difference between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower to highlight the societal norms and character dynamics in the book. However, in the HBO series the writers altered their age gap, shifting the focus to their personal rivalry and more complicated relationship.
Fans believe that writers changing core elements have significantly affected the historical enigma and complexity crafted in George R. R. Martin's book.
George R. R. Martin points out the changes in House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon took no time to become a massive hit on HBO, thanks to the well-established Game of Thrones fanbase. However, George R. R. Martin didn't seem to be happy with how the Targaryen sigils are portrayed on the screen.
In his Not A Blog post, the writer of Fire & Blood talked about creating those majestic and formidable creatures with care, and added:
"I designed my dragons with a lot of care. They fly and breathe fire, yes, those traits seemed essential to me. They have two legs (not four, never four) and two wings."
It isn't just about the civil war over the Iron Throne or the epic dragon battles, but also about the attention to deal that has undeniably contributed to the show's success. And as the writer previously mentioned, even fantasy stories need to follow rules to keep it grounded.
The ending of the Blood and Cheese storyline in House of the Dragon was different from Fire & Blood
George R. R. Martin was able to figure out which part of House of the Dragon season 2 would likely draw criticism. While the writer spoke highly of the sets and how the story is being developed, he also mentioned that the conclusion of the Blood and Cheese storyline might upset fans who love the book. Martin wrote:
"The only part of the show that is drawing criticism is the conclusion of the Blood and Cheese storyline. Which ending was powerful, I thought… a gut punch, especially for viewers who had never read FIRE & BLOOD. For those who had read the book, however…"
In Fire & Blood, Martin only mentions "An eye for an eye, a son for a son" highlighting the vague order given to the killers in the story. But in House of the Dragon, fans see Daemon explicitly commanding Blood and Cheese to eliminate Aemond Targaryen.
Additionally, the execution of Jaehaerys took place in Alicent Hightower's room in the book, whereas, in the show, it shifted to Helaena's room. Such deviations from the source material results in different emotional impacts on viewers and readers while altering the story in significant ways.
Deviations from the source material in adapting highly acclaimed series has never sat well with fans.
What will happen in House of the Dragon season 2 finale?
The long-awaited last episode of House of the Dragon season 2 airs on August 4, 2024. This final battle before the season closes out holds immense significance due to the extensive bloodshed and tragic deaths.
Fans are eager to find out if the ending of the episode will reveal Prince Daeron arriving in time to save his allies.
As you wait for the final showdown, other episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 are available on HBO.
Stay tuned for regular entertainment!
