‘No, No, No.’ George RR Martin Has A Really Specific House Of The Dragon Complaint About Dragons

As a passionate fan of George RR Martin‘s intricately woven world, I wholeheartedly agree with his meticulous attention to detail. His unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Targaryen sigil is a testament to his dedication and love for the lore he has created. It may seem like a trivial issue to some, but for Martin and those of us who appreciate the depth and richness of his universe, it’s essential that every detail aligns with the established rules and history.

“Fans of ‘House of the Dragon’ are elated following the release of the impressive fourth episode of the second season. Titled “The Red Dragon and the Gold,” this installment has garnered a remarkable 9.6 rating on IMDb, making it one of the highest-rated episodes in the entire series. George RR Martin, the author, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that he believes this episode features the best dragon battle ever produced in television or film. However, while expressing accolades for everyone involved, he did note a minor criticism.”

George RR Martin, known for his candid and transparent communication, voiced his displeasure with the design of House Targaryen’s sigil in the Game of Thrones series. The primary issue lies in the depiction of the dragon, which is displayed with four legs instead of the traditional two. Martin strongly criticized this inconsistency on his website, providing a detailed explanation as to why this deviation from the source material is illogical.

As a history enthusiast, I find it intriguing how Medieval heralds depicted dragons with such diversity, given their lack of firsthand experience with these mythical creatures. Some illustrated them with two legs, while others favored the four-legged version. With time and increasing standardization, they designated the two-legged dragons as wyverns and the four-legged ones as dragons. However, from my perspective, this classification seems illogical. Dragons, much like birds and flying dinosaurs, should logically possess only two legs since they are typically depicted as flying creatures.

For the initial four and a half seasons of “Game of Thrones,” the show presented dragons with two legs based on the Targaryen crest. However, those connected to the production later altered this design to include four legs, which is the representation used in “House of the Dragon” instead. Here’s Martin’s take on it:

As a devoted fan of the captivating world of Westeros, I can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment when it comes to the inconsistency in heraldry designs between “Game of Thrones” and its prequel, “House of the Dragon.” For the initial four seasons and most of the fifth, the two-legged sigils rightly represented each noble House. However, when Daenerys Targaryen’s dragon-filled fleet graced our screens, an unexplainable shift occurred – all sails sported four-legged dragons instead.

Now, you might be saying, why is he so worked up about something as minor as what’s on a flag? On the one hand, you’d be right. It’s a bit unusual that we were just given one of the greatest episodes in the history of the franchise, and days later, Martin is complaining about something so seemingly innocuous. On the other hand, however, Martin’s complaint here is a microcosm of why Game Of Thrones is so freakin’ good. Everything is mapped out in such vivid detail and planned out so far in advance that it all logically fits together. The same drive that pushes him to care about the flag is the same drive that pushes him to add minor details that can be called back to multiple seasons later, which is why fans are always nervous or frustrated when Thrones/ HOTD departs from the source material (even if sometimes it’s a positive).

The second season of “House of the Dragon” is currently unfolding. Tune in on Sundays to watch new episodes on HBO and Max. Additionally, viewers outside of the US can find it on various other streaming platforms.

2024-07-14 16:37

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