Warning! This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2 and George R. R. Martin’s Fire and Blood.
Summary
After seeing the culmination ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, I am shocked that several aspects had been removed from the source material.House of the Dragonseason 2’s endingis causing quite a stir online, with many disappointed in how the season went overall. While aspects of the show, likeHouse of the Dragon’s castand its overall visual look, are receiving continuous praise, the lack of forward plot progression, the slower pace, and the shorter, eight-episode season are being targeted as lesser elements of the HBO show.
For the most part, I admittedly disagree with many of the criticismsHouse of the Dragonseason 2 is receiving. I think those criticizing the show for slower pacing and the lack of big, action-driven spectacle are forgetting whatGame of Thrones' earlier - and best - seasons were like. After all, rushing through storytelling and character moments in favor of showcasing giant battles is what caused the incredibly negative reaction toGame of Thrones' ending. This is not to sayHouse of the Dragonseason 2 does not have its issues.
While I stand by that the plotting, scheming, and character development are integral to makingHouse of the Dragon’s Targaryen Civil Warfeel consequential, there are ways season 2 could have found a better balance between the former and the latter. One of the ways it could have done this is by including more elements from George R. R. Martin’sFire and Blood, the book on which the show is based. In the source material,several important moments are key to the war, and I am shocked many of them were missing fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2.
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10Team Green’s Reaction To Aemond Killing Lucerys
Lucerys' Death Was Somewhat Brushed Over
The ending ofHouse of the Dragonseason 1 saw Aemond and Vhagar kill Lucerys Velaryon, Rhaenyra’s second child with Harwin Strong. This served as the catalyst for Rhaenyra going to war inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, with his death hanging like a shadow over the premiere regarding Team Black. However,House of the Dragonseason 2 brushed over the Greens' reaction to this. There were some cutting remarks in the Small Council chamber from Alicent, and she also lit a candle at the Sept in Lucerys' honor.
InFire and Blood, however, there is a more direct account of the Greens' reaction. Alicent scolds Aemond and prays to the gods that they be forgiven, while Otto chastises Aemond stating"You only lost one eye, how could you be so blind?“King Aegon praises Aemond, even throwing him a feast and telling his brother that he has the true blood of the dragon. With more episodes,House of the Dragonseason 2 could have showcased these reactions.
9Maelor Targaryen
An Entire Character Was Removed In House Of The Dragon Season 2
One of the more drastic changes made betweenHouse of the DragonandFire and Bloodinvolved the character of Maelor. In the latter, Maelor is the youngest son of Helaena and Aegon. When the two assassins named Blood and Cheese enter the Red Keep, they force Helaena to choose whether Maelor or Jaehaerys will die. Helaena chooses Maelor as he is younger, leading Blood and Cheese to tell the child his mother wanted him dead before killing Jaeaherys.
Maelor makes Blood and Cheese all the more horrifying and is integral toFire and Blood’s Blood and Cheese sequence, contributing to my shock that he was completely absent…
InHouse of the Dragon’s Blood and Cheese sequence, Maelor is nowhere to be found. In fact,Maelor is not inHouse of the Dragonat all. Helaena and Aegon only have two children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. In the show, Helaena is forced to tell Blood and Cheese which of the twins is male, rather than pick between her two sons. Maelor makes Blood and Cheese all the more horrifying and is integral toFire and Blood’s Blood and Cheese sequence, contributing to my shock that he was completely absent from the adaptation.
8Jacaerys Velaryon’s Time In Winterfell
Jacaerys Spent Much Longer In Winterfell Than House Of The Dragon Suggested
InHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 1, Jacaerys travels to Winterfell to convince Cregan Stark to aid Rhaenyra’s cause. Cregan agrees after showing Jacaerys the Wall, with the latter leaving upon hearing of the death of his brother. Their relationship is incredibly short inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, which I could not believe given how their brotherhood is depicted inFire and Blood.
The book also claims that Jacaerys found a lover in Winterfell, a bastard girl by the name of Sara Snow.
The book mentions that Jacaerys stays in Winterfell for a while and that he and Cregan bond thoroughly. The two apparently hunt, fight, and drink together over many days, with Cregan warming to Jace as he reminds him of his younger brother who passed away. They even form a marriage pact, stating that Cregan’s son will marry Jacaerys' daughter when they come of age in the future. None of this is included in theStark story ofHouse of the Dragon, removing a key relationship for Jace.
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7The Battle Of The Burning Mill & Taking Of Stone Hedge
Two Earlier Battles Could Have Benefited Daemon’s Story
Although I claimed that battle scenes and action sequences are not as important as character development and political intrigue, I also mentioned that a balance is needed in a show likeHouse of the Dragon. The omission of two early battles in the Dance of Dragons harmed this balance in the show’s second season. The battles in question are the Battle of the Burning Mill and the Taking of Stone Hedge, both of which take place between Houses Bracken and Blackwood, whose feud was mentioned inHouse of the Dragon.
The Battle of the Burning Mill is teased inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, though the battle itself is skipped over. In the book, Daemon Targaryen uses this battle to take the Brackens off-guard, leading a host of men to battle in the Taking of Stone Hedge. Not only would this have added a strong action sequence, but it would have benefited Daemon’s story, which I agree spun its wheels for too long with repetitiveHarrenhal visions inHouse of the Dragonseason 2.
These battles would have allowed a great book character named Black Aly to be in House of the Dragon, who is important to the future of the Dance of Dragons and Cregan Stark.
6Jacaerys Velaryon’s Book Agency
Given that Jacaerys' relationship with Cregan was omitted fromHouse of the Dragon, I was even more shocked to learn that more of his book moments were given to other characters. InFire and Blood, Jacaerys is depicted as being the one who decides to send his younger brothers to the Vale/Pentos. Jace also comes up with the idea to offer the position of Hand of the Queen to Corlys Velaryon, and comes up with the plan to have dragonseeds claim dragons, as shown inHouse of the Dragonseason 2, episode 7.
InHouse of the Dragon, only the latter is given to Jace. Rhaenyra is the one who sends her sons away and decides to enlist Corlys as her Hand. Even the dragonseed storyline is different where Jace is concerned inHouse of the Dragon, with the young prince feeling threatened that lowborn men are claiming dragons due to his own illegitimate parentage. While I admit this was necessary character development given Jace’s somewhat absence from the show, it is different fromFire and Bloodin which he orchestrates the Sowing of the Seeds.
Jace’s trip to the Twins gave that character some more authority in House of the Dragon, though it still paled in comparison to his book deeds.
5The Dragonseed Nettles
Nettles Was Combined With Another Character For House Of The Dragon
Speaking of dragonseeds, I was as disappointed as any to find out that Nettles would not be part ofHouse of the Dragon. Nettles would have been another ofHouse of the Dragon’s non-Targaryen dragonriders, yet she was omitted from the show. Nettles is a cool book character, a bastard raised on Driftmark who manages to tame a wild dragon, before declaring for the Blacks and playing an important part in both the war and Daemon’s character development.
However,inHouse of the Dragon, Nettles is being merged with the character of Rhaena Targaryen, Daemon’s daughter.House of the Dragonseason 2 ended with Rhaena finding the wild dragon Sheepstealer in the Vale, implying that she will tame the dragon and fly to the Blacks' aid in season 3. Although I am intrigued by the development of Rhaena and Daemon’s familial relationship that could come of this, I would have liked to have seen Nettles in live-action.
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4Alyn Attempting To Tame A Dragon
Addam Was Not The Only Son Of Corlys To Try & Claim A Dragon
House of the Dragonseason 2 introduced Addam of Hull to the show, a bastard of Corlys Velaryon who manages to claim the dragon Seasmoke and fight for the Blacks. Addam has an older brother named Alyn, who serves as first mate in Corlys' fleet. InHouse of the Dragon, the brothers' roles are clearly defined: one a dragonrider and the other of salt and sea.
In Fire and Blood, Addam is older than Alyn, which House of the Dragon reversed.
InFire and Blood, though, Alyn also answers the call of the Sowing. Alyn tries to claim two wild dragons, one being Sheepstealer, before being injured and burned in the attempt. This is not prevalent inHouse of the Dragon, with Alyn instead claiming he holds no desire to ride a dragon or fight in Rhaenyra’s war. Instead, Alyn is committed only to Corlys given his duties as first mate.
3The Cannibal
Another Of Fire & Blood’s Wild Dragons Was Removed
During the Sowing of the Seeds inFire and Blood, two wild dragons are attempted to be claimed. Sheepstealer, who is claimed by Nettles, and The Cannibal, aptly named for how he eats the dead bodies of dragons around Dragonstone. The Cannibal is never claimed and lives through the Dance of Dragons, yet is not present inHouse of the Dragon. Admittedly, this is not a huge deal, but The Cannibal could have offered slightly more excitement as a wild threat the Blacks have to face rather than being confined to Dragonstone for most of the season.
2The Battle Of The Gullet
House Of The Dragon’s Eight-Episode Mandate Harmed The Season
I hold the opinion that all of these cut elements could have been included inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 had it kept to theGame of Thronesepisode ruleof 10 installments per season.House of the Dragonseason 2 suffered due to its eight-episode word count, which was apparently not the choice of the show’s creatives. Reading between the lines of various comments and reports, it seemsHouse of the Dragonseason 2 was planned as a 10-episode story, before being cut to eight episodes by the studio executives.
This, undoubtedly, led to the removal ofHouse of the Dragon’s Battle of the Gulletwhich was teased extensively in season 2’s finale.IfHouse of the Dragonseason 2 had 10 episodes, episode 9 would certainly have showcased the naval battlebetween the Velaryon fleet and that of the Triarchy. However, mandates from higher-ups saw the final two episodes of the season cut and moved to season 3, which led to perhaps the leading criticism ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, that being that the plot did not progress enough.
1Daeron Targaryen & Tessarion
The Young Hightower Prince Should Have Been Introduced Already
Finally, another Targaryen/Hightower character was removed fromHouse of the Dragonseason 2. The character in question is Daeron, Alicent and Viserys' youngest son who has been living in Oldtown with his extended family. Daeron was mentioned inHouse of the Dragonseason 2 by Gwayne, Alicent’s brother, yet, shockingly, the character has been cut from two seasons now considering he has such a strong connection to Alicent.
Daeron’s dragon Tessarion was teased ever so briefly inHouse of the Dragonseason 2’s ending, indicating that their omission from the show will finally come to an end in season 3. Regardless, I am surprised it has taken this long to introduce Daeron. Given that the character fights in some major battles during the Dance of Dragons, one would thinkHouse of the Dragonseason 2 would have provided him with some scenes to flesh out his character before going off to war.
House of the Dragon
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
