House of the Dragon Season 2: George R. R. Martin Addresses Fan Criticism and Adds a Beloved CharacterHouse of the Dragon Season 2: George R. R. Martin Addresses Fan Criticism and Adds a Beloved Character The second season of “House of the Dragon” has captivated audiences with its intense drama, romance, and impending war. However, one plot twist has sparked disappointment among fans of the source material, prompting author George R. R. Martin to address the backlash. Jaehaerys’ Tragic Demise In a shocking twist, assassins hired by Daemon Targaryen mistakenly kill Queen Helaena’s son, Jaehaerys, instead of Aemond Targaryen. While this scene is portrayed as a brutal act in the series, the book version is even more gruesome. According to “Fire & Blood,” the assassins force Helaena to choose which of her children should die before killing Jaehaerys. Martin’s Response to Fan Criticism Martin has acknowledged the negative reactions to the altered storyline on his blog: “The only part of the series that has been criticized is the conclusion of the Blood and Cheese storyline. That ending was powerful, I thought, a slap in the face, especially for viewers who had never read Fire & Blood.” He explained that the complexity of the issues involved in the storyline made it difficult to translate it directly to the screen. Appreciation for the Dog Despite his mixed feelings about the adaptation, Martin expressed his appreciation for one particular addition to the series: the dog. He praised the animal’s presence for adding humanity to the Pied Piper character, one of the assassins. Maelor’s Absence in the Series Martin also noted that Maelor, Helaena’s youngest son, is absent from “House of the Dragon.” In the book, Maelor is the one initially chosen by Helaena to die, but the assassins ultimately kill Jaehaerys instead. Conclusion While the plot twist involving Jaehaerys’ death has caused controversy, Martin’s response highlights the challenges of adapting complex literary works to television. Despite the criticism, the addition of the beloved dog has received praise from fans and viewers alike, adding a touch of warmth and humanity to a dark and tumultuous story.
House of the Dragon (HOTD) Season 2 started off with a bang, as the Game of Thrones prequel is already filled with intense drama, romance, and a brutal war is about to begin. The new season picks up after the death of Rhaenyra’s son, who is accidentally killed by Aemond’s dragon, Vhagar. The new season introduces a twist as Daemon, played by Matt Smith, hires two assassins named Blood and Cheese to kill Aemond as revenge. However, the assassins are unable to find Aemond and instead target someone else. In a shocking twist, they end up in Queen Helaena’s chamber, where they decapitate one of her twins, Jaehaerys.
The plot twist has caused disappointment among fans of the HOTD books, prompting author George R. R. Martin to address the negative reactions. The author wrote on his blog: “The only part of the series that has been criticized is the conclusion of the Blood and Cheese storyline. That ending was powerful, I thought, a slap in the face, especially for viewers who had never read Fire & Blood. Well, there’s a lot to be said about that, the issues are too complicated. There’s a lot to be said about that.”
In the same blog, while George RR Martin appreciated the plot of House of the Dragon, he is not happy with the addition of certain storylines and characters that were not in his original story. He does have a soft spot for one addition, namely the dog. He had a strong dislike for the character Cheese, one of the assassins, especially when he kicks the animal, before killing Helaena’s child.
He wrote: “I’m not normally a fan of screenwriters adding characters to the source material when adapting a story. Especially when the source material is mine. But that dog was brilliant. I was prepared to hate Cheese, but I hated him even more when he kicked that dog. Later, when the dog sat at his feet and looked up, it nearly broke my heart. Such a small thing, but his presence, the few brief moments he was on screen, gave so much humanity to the Pied Piper. The quiet presence of that dog reminded us that even the worst of people, the despicable and the corrupt, can love and be loved. I wish I had thought of that dog. I didn’t, someone else did.”
While Jaehaerys’ death is disturbing in the series, the book version is even more brutal. According to Fire & Blood, the two assassins initially kill Helaena’s maid. When Helaena arrives, the Pied Piper forces her to choose which of her three children should die. Helaena chooses her youngest, Maelor, whose character is absent from the House of the Dragon series, but the assassins kill Jaehaerys instead. Before leaving with the child’s head, they make sure Maelor knows that his mother has chosen him to die.
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Kashvi Raj Singh
Kashvi Raj Singh is a news intern at News18. She writes extensively on Bollywood,
first print: Jul 6, 2024, 11:38 AM IST
