In a recent blog post, Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon) suggests some grievances related to the newest season of House of the Dragon. According to Deadline, this blog post followed the end of the show’s second season, which was underwhelming to many fans and received mixed reviews.
Martin stated, “I do not look forward to other posts I need to write, about everything that’s gone wrong with House of the Dragon … but I need to do that too, and I will…Not today, though. One of the main concerns towards the end of the second season was the reduction in episodes compared to the first season, leaving many fans disappointed that the battle of the Gullet, a major plot in the novel, had been pushed back to season three. According to Deadline, Martin’s comments may have come from showrunner Ryan Condal (Colony, Rampage) addressing decisions regarding the final few episodes.
In response to the confusion over the slow burn finale, Condal states, “We are also starting to think about, what is the final destination of this series and where are we going? A combination of factors led to that re-balance. There is a tremendous amount of resources, construction, armor, costumes and visual affects needed to give the Gullet, which is arguably the second most anticipated action even to Fire and Blood, the time and the space it deserved. We are building to that event. It will happen very shortly in terms of storytelling. It will be the biggest thing to date we have pulled off. We want to have the time and space to do that at a level that will excite the fans,” according to Deadline.
However, Martin’s tune around the second season was quite positive, as noted by a recent blog post. He made the post back in July, specifically regarding the first two episodes of the season, where he stated, “I have visited real castles that did not look half as imposing as the Red Keep and Dragonstone did. And they were HUGE. I also got a sneak peak at the first two episodes of season 2. What a great way to start the season. The directing was superb. Game of Thrones veteran Alan Taylor directed the first episode, and Clare Kilner the second. Both of them did a magnificent job. And I cannot say enough about the acting. Emma d’Arcy has only one line in “A Son for a Son,” but they do so much with their eyes and their face that they absolutely dominate the episode; her grief for her slain son is palpable. Tom Glynn-Carney brings Aegon alive in ways we have not seen before; he’s more than a villain here, he shows us the king’s rage, his pain, his fears and doubts. His humanity,” according to his blog via Deadline.
Martin has yet to make any more comments regarding the specific issues he has about the House of the Dragon second season.