George RR Martin Critiques House Of The Dragon Season 2
In a recent blog post, George R.R. Martin voiced serious concerns about the latest season of HBO’s House of the Dragon. The author, who created the Fire & Blood series from which the show is adapted, sharply criticized the decision to exclude the character Maelor, a crucial figure in the book.
Martin’s post, which appears to have since been removed, expressed his dissatisfaction with changes introduced in the opening episodes of the second season. He specifically condemned the adaptation of the Blood and Cheese sequence, where two assassins kill Jaehaerys in front of his mother, Helaena.
In the book, Helaena has two sons, in addition to her daughter. Missing from the series is son Maelor, which takes away from what Martin referred to as a “Sophie’s Choice” of having to decide which son will die. Additionally, in the book she offers her own life in exchange for her son, while on the show she offers a necklace for her children’s safety. While these alterations may seem minor, Martin contends it significantly impacts the show’s narrative going forward.