‘House of the Dragon’ Boss Addresses George R.R. Martin’s Show Concerns: “It Was Disappointing”

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Ryan Condal, the head of “House of the Dragon,” is addressing George R.R. Martin’s post outlining what he perceives as issues in the HBO show.

In an open and straightforward blog entry last year, both the author and the executive producer of Dragon expressed their reservations regarding the fantasy series in a post that was later removed. The concerns centered around a significant alteration made by Condal from Martin’s book “Fire & Blood” that they found objectionable.

Recently, Condal expressed disappointment [to Entertainment Weekly], several months after Martin’s initial post. To put it plainly, I’ve been a fan of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ for close to a quarter-century, and working on the series has been an incredible honor, not just as a writer but as a lifelong enthusiast of science fiction and fantasy. George is more than just a literary legend; he’s a towering figure in literature, an icon, and a personal inspiration that significantly influenced my journey as a writer.

The showrunner additionally clarified why certain adjustments were essential for the transformation, pointing out that “Fire & Blood” deviated from a typical storyline.

He stated, “The history is fragmented, necessitating much connection of the missing links and a considerable amount of improvisation throughout the journey. To put it plainly, I made every attempt to involve George in the development process. I truly did so for many years. And I believe our collaboration was mutually beneficial and I thought, very strong for a long time. However, as we delved further into the project, he began to resist acknowledging the practical challenges in a reasonable manner. As a showrunner, I must balance my pragmatic producer side with my creative writer and enthusiast of the material simultaneously.

In essence, I need to keep pushing both the creative and practical aspects of this project, not just for the sake of the writing but also for the team, the cast, and HBO because that’s my responsibility. I can only cross my fingers that George and I will find our rhythm again sometime in the future. That’s all I have to share on the matter.

Martin voiced his disapproval over the absence of Maelor Targaryen, Aegon and Helaena’s third child, from the series, arguing that this decision affected the “Blood and Cheese” scene in season two. He further expressed concern that this change could lead to additional complications in seasons three and four.

Condal shared with EW that the changes on the show are carefully considered. He stated, “Every action taken in our series is meticulously discussed and pondered over for months, if not years. I will simply say that all creative choices in the show stem from me, each one of them. This is the series I envision making, and as a fan of ‘Fire & Blood’ and a dedicated reader of this material, I firmly believe it’s the adaptation we ought to be creating to satisfy not only ‘Fire & Blood,’ but also a vast television audience.

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2025-04-02 03:24