Every change House of the Dragon season 2 made to Fire & Blood, and whether they were good or bad

As a devoted reader of George R.R. Martin’s epic saga for over two decades now, I must admit that my heart skipped a beat when I saw the second season of “House of the Dragon” straying further from the source material than I had expected. It was like watching my beloved Westeros through a kaleidoscope, with familiar faces and places twisting into new shapes that were occasionally delightful but left me yearning for the comfort of the original.

The second installment of “House of the Dragon” aired on both HBO and Max, spanning from June 14 to August 4 in the year 2024. This is the first major spin-off series that HBO has produced following the phenomenal success of “Game of Thrones,” one of the most successful TV shows of the past few decades and a monumental fantasy series.

The TV series “House of the Dragon” is inspired by George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” which is presented as a historical narrative about this era in Westeros’ history, supposedly written by a man named Archmaester Gyldayn who compiled the story from various questionable sources. The show departs significantly from its source material, making it less helpful for viewers who have read the book prior to watching the series. I find it intriguing to delve into the text and list the changes made by the show, along with sharing my thoughts on whether these alterations were justified.

Daemon Targaryen in Harrenhal

The second installment of “House of the Dragon” opens with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen grieving over the demise of her son Lucerys. This tragic event, orchestrated by her half-brother Aemond in the concluding moments of the previous season, intensifies the looming conflict between Rhaenyra and her other half-brother King Aegon. With Luke’s passing, a war that was simmering seems almost unavoidable now.

In both the novel and series, Rhaenyra’s husband, Daemon, departs from Dragonstone and heads towards Harrenhal, an imposing yet dilapidated castle in the Riverlands. He aims to set up a military base there. Interestingly, while he leaves Dragonstone earlier in the book compared to the show, this discrepancy will be crucial when we delve into the Blood and Cheese incident. For now, let’s explore what Daemon does at Harrenhal instead.

On page 412 of my copy of “Fire & Blood”, Daemon makes his entrance at Harrenhal. Just as in the series, he encounters no opposition; Ser Simon Strong warmly welcomes him. However, unlike the show, the events that follow at Harrenhal significantly differ from the book. For example:

• On the show, we learn that Larys Strong, technically the lord of Harrenhal, had taken much of the Strong family wealth out of the castle and stored it elsewhere. This is the opposite of what we’re told in the book. From p 413: “In addition to the castle, Prince Daemon at a stroke had captured the not-inconsiderable wealth of House Strong and a dozen valuable hostages, amongst them Ser Simon and his grandsons.”
• On the show, Daemon spends a lot of time with Alys Rivers, a healer living at Harrenhal. In the book, she is a wet nurse, and we learn little about her at this point other than that she didn’t have much effect on Daemon. On p 413: “Whatever her powers, it would seem Daemon Targaryen was immune to them, for little is heard of this supposed sorceress whilst the prince held Harrenhal.”
• On House of the Dragon, Daemon has various visions and dreams about people he wronged in his past. In the season finale, he has a vision of the wars to come. It’s implied that Alys is somehow involved in these visions. The book makes no mention of any of them.
• On House of the Dragon, Daemon has a ton of trouble getting people in the Riverlands to trust and follow him, especially the high lords. In Fire & Blood, he seems to have little to no problem, especially with the smallfolk. From p 413: “When Prince Daemon sent forth his call to arms, they rose up all along the rivers, knights and men-at-arms and humble peasants who yet remembered the Realm’s Delight [Rhaenyra Targaryen], so beloved of her father, and the way she smiled and charmed them as she made her progress through the riverlands in her youth. Hundreds and then thousands buckled on their swordbelts and donned their mail, or grabbed a pitchfork or a hoe and a crude wodden shield, and began to make their way to Harrenhal to fight for Viserys’s little girl.”
• In the third episode of House of the Dragon season 2, the same episode where Daemon Targaryen arrives at Harrenhal, we see Houses Blackwood and Bracken face off in the Battle of the Burning Mill, the first official battle of the Dance of the Dragons. In the book, this battle doesn’t happen until well after Daemon arrives in the Riverlands.
• After the Battle of the Burning Mill has happened in the book, Daemon and an army of soldiers loyal to various Riverlords attack the Bracken stronghold of Stone Henge and take hostage much of Lord Humphrey Bracken’s family. Rather than see them come to harm, Lord Hymphrey yields, ending any serious resistance to Daemon in the Riverlands. Something very different happens in the show: Daemon conspires with Lord Willem Blackwood to attack Bracken lands. Willem goes too far, and many of the same lords who in the book help Daemon attack the Brackens — including the leaders of Houses Piper and Mooton — chastise Daemon for bringing violence to the Riverlands. They withhold their support, whereas in the book they pledge themselves to Daemon after some little hesitation. From p 414: “The lords of the Trident, having more to lose, were not so quick to move, but soon enough they too began to throw their lots in with the queen. From the Twins rode Ser Ferrest Frey…The Mootons of Maidenpool, the Pipers of Pinkmaiden Castle, and the Vances of Wayfarer’s Rest all announced their support for Rhaenyra.” On the show, the lords only follow Daemon after the young Lord Oscar Tully rallies them with a speech and Daemon executes Willem. This does not happen in the book.
• On the show, Daemon is contemplating raising an army loyal to him and taking King’s Landing for himself, rather than acting on behalf of his wife and queen Rhaenyra. He finally recommits to her in the season 2 finale when she visits Harrenhal, after a vision of the future has convinced him to change his attitude. In the book, it’s never implied that Daemon’s isn’t working on Rhaenyra’s behalf, and she doesn’t Harrenhal.

Were the changes to Daemon’s storyline good or bad?

It appears that the TV series, “House of the Dragon,” has significantly altered Daemon’s narrative from the book “Fire & Blood.” While it’s acceptable to tweak certain aspects and attribute them to the book’s unreliable narrator, the changes in Daemon’s story often seem to contradict what was written. For instance, Daemon swiftly crosses the Riverlands in the book, but his progress in the show is erratic. Moreover, Alys plays a minor role in Daemon’s story in the book, yet she becomes a significant figure in his TV storyline. Additionally, there are numerous new elements introduced, such as dreams, visions, and Rhaenyra’s visit. These extensive changes can’t simply be explained away by saying that Archmaester Gyldayn was biased or lacked complete information. Essentially, “House of the Dragon” has essentially rewritten Daemon’s story.

1. I wouldn’t object if the fresh tale surpassed the original book, but I believe most adjustments were detrimental. A common sentiment among readers was that Daemon’s dreams and visions became tedious swiftly. They were largely predictable and superficial, and their abundance made them lose appeal rather quickly. Moreover, it felt unsatisfying to witness a character like Daemon, who was dynamic and competent in the initial season, struggle at every turn. This led to an uneven, jerky narrative flow.

As a gamer, I’m open to the plot twists unfolding in this game of thrones. It’s intriguing to see Daemon pondering the recruitment of his own army, stirring up an engaging tension with Rhaenyra. The reunion between them in the season finale was a highlight for me. However, I found the journey to reach that point a bit laborious, and I have reservations about using a magical vision as the primary catalyst for Daemon’s character shift. Instead, I prefer a more internal struggle for Daemon’s transformation, which I felt was lacking during his time at Harrenahl – in my opinion, it was the least engaging part of the season.

Blood and Cheese

Let’s revisit the events following Luke’s demise as described in “Fire & Blood”. Daemon, who was already stationed at Harrenhal, learns of his stepson’s death. He vows revenge to Rhaenyra, saying, “An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys will be avenged.” Subsequently, Daemon contacts Mysaria, residing in King’s Landing. Although we’re not privy to all the specifics, it seems that she hires two mercenaries, famously known as Blood and Cheese in history. Cheese, a skilled ratcatcher, was familiar with the Red Keep. He infiltrated the castle, murdered King Aegon’s young son Prince Jaehaerys in front of his mother Helaena, and escaped with the prince’s head.

The show keeps the broad strokes of this event, but a lot of the specifics are different. To start, Daemon is still on Dragonstone when he hears about Luke’s death, and he only acts after a distraught Rhaenyra returns to the castle and says the words, “I want Aemond Targaryen.” At this point, Mysaria has fled King’s Landing after Larys Strong burned her manse. She is picked up by the Velaryon blockade and brought to Dragonstone. Daemon gets her to tell him about two people who might be able to sneak into the Red Keep and get revenge for Luke, and she gives him the names of Blood and Cheese.

In the series, Daemon personally travels to King’s Landing to discuss business with Blood and Cheese, rather than communicating indirectly. He requests that they focus on eliminating Aemond, but it seems he is open to them deviating from this task if necessary. This aligns with a quote from “Fire & Blood” on page 424: “Some claim their target was the king himself, but Aegon always had the Kingsguard by his side.” In the show, Blood and Cheese move through the Iron Throne room while King Aegon is seated, yet they are heavily guarded, making an attempt on his life unlikely even if they desired it.

Rather than reaching Maegor’s Holdfast, the pair found themselves in Alicent Hightower’s chamber within the Tower of the Hand instead. Upon arrival, Alicent was already present. The duo then choked their bedmaid and silenced Alicent herself, planning to ambush Queen Helaena. They knew that Helaena often brought her children to see their grandmother Alicent before bed each night, and so they waited. True to form, Helaena arrived with her children and bodyguard, who were unfortunately slain by the pair when they made their move.

In the book version, Blood and Cheese appear more deliberate as they navigate towards the royal chambers, only to stumble upon Helaena and her children aimlessly. However, in the series, there’s no resistance from guards, and they seem to be casually exploring until the encounter occurs. Furthermore, Alicent is absent during the confrontation with Helaena, instead engaging in a romantic scene with Criston Cole elsewhere, a novel addition made exclusively for the show.

In the captivating series, I’m a fervent admirer of the character, Helaena, who is blessed with two adorable twins, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. The menacing duo known as Blood and Cheese are out to claim one of these innocent lives, making it crucial for Helaena to discern which is her son. Being young, the twins appear indistinguishable at first glance. As Blood and Cheese brutally behead Jaehaerys, Helaena instinctively picks up Jaehaera and flees the room in a panic. Her journey leads her to an unexpected and shocking sight: my queen and Criston Cole engaged in an intimate moment. Overwhelmed, Helaena utters, “They’ve killed the boy.”

In the novel, Helaena gives birth to three kids: twins Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and a younger sibling named Maelor. The figures known as Blood and Cheese force Helaena to decide which of her sons they will execute. After much weeping, Helaena reluctantly selects Maelor. However, instead of Maelor, Blood and Cheese end up killing Jaehaerys. As they escape the castle, Blood and Cheese leave Helaena, Maelor, Jaehaera, and the headless corpse of Jaehaerys in the room behind.

In both the novel and television adaptation, Blood is taken to the Red Keep where he meets his fate. The book portrays that under torture, he reveals who hired him and passes away 13 days later. Conversely, in the show, he confesses instantly and appears to be killed by Aegon swiftly. In the novel, there’s no mention of Cheese’s whereabouts, but in the series we witness his dead body among the ratcatchers that Aegon hangs from the Red Keep walls, a scene reminiscent of the book, although his grandfather Otto Hightower’s disapproval over this action is not explicitly depicted.

In the book, Queen Helaena descends into a profound sadness following the beheading of her son. However, on the show, we don’t get much insight into her emotional state. A few episodes later, she justifies her feelings by thinking that it’s not uncommon for common women to lose their children.

As we discuss Helaena, it’s important to note that the novel provides no indication that she possesses psychic abilities such as seeing the future or having prophetic dreams; these elements are introduced in the show. In the book, she is portrayed as a kind-hearted and friendly woman who enjoys good standing among her peers, and who suffers greatly following the tragic murder of her son.

Were the changes to the Blood and Cheese story good or bad?

The Blood and Cheese event, as depicted in the series, fell short compared to the original source material. While I could tolerate alterations preceding this incident, it became concerning when Daemon chose to visit King’s Landing personally instead of using intermediaries. This shift created an unsettling pattern where characters seemed to move freely between King’s Landing and Dragonstone, which were in a state of war, becoming increasingly implausible as the story progressed.

In my opinion, the issue I had with the Blood and Cheese scene was more about how it was structured. The series effectively highlights the journey of Blood and Cheese, which I enjoyed; it portrays their progress through the castle and depicts their discussions about their upcoming actions. What bothered me wasn’t Alicent’s absence during the crucial moment or even Maelor being excluded; instead, it was the minimal screen time dedicated to Helaena that left me feeling unsatisfied. Instead of following Blood and Cheese until they encounter Helaena, I believe a more impactful approach would have been to follow Helaena’s journey, leading up to the point where she is discovered by them. This adjustment could have placed Helaena at the heart of the scene, making it more compelling.

In the narrative of Fire & Blood, Queen Helaena remains composed as Blood and Cheese take away her son. However, this composure fades when she comprehends their intention. Instead of keeping calm, the text describes her pleading with these men to spare her child’s life on page 425. When she ultimately names her son Maelor, she does so while weeping on her knees. The series could have given us a chance to sympathize more deeply with Helaena by allowing her to showcase her distress and terror in these critical moments.

The weirdest part of the Blood and Cheese incident on the show may be how little it seems to affect Helaena. In the book, she’s a wreck to the point where Alicent has to take care of Maelor, since Helaena can’t bear to look at him after choosing him to die. On the show, we never learn how the incident has affected Helaena’s relationship with her surviving child Jaehaera, whom we never see again. And like I said, Helaena is already claiming she has no reason to feel sad just a couple episodes later. The idea that a parent who watched their young child get decapitated would just bounce back like this, regardless of how much worse other people have it…I’m not sure what to make of it. It doesn’t seem like a very believable or human reaction, and Helaena doesn’t have much of a presence in the rest of the season. I wish the show had stuck closer to the book on this score.

The Battle of Rook’s Rest (and the aftermath)

In the epic battle scene of the season, known as The Battle of Rook’s Rest, plays a significant role. It aligns well with its portrayal in the book. However, there’s a notable difference regarding Aegon’s involvement: in the series, Aegon rashly decides to depart King’s Landing on his dragon Sunfyre, driven by impulse to take part in the battle and showcase his valor. In the novel Fire & Blood, there’s no indication that he wasn’t part of the strategic planning for the battle from the start. Furthermore, unlike in the series, Aemond doesn’t seize the opportunity to attempt killing Aegon with the intention of claiming the Iron Throne for himself, a pivotal event in the show.

Apart from minor differences during the actual battle, the storyline unfolds similarly whether you read it or watch it. But, in the TV series, there are several instances where Aegon’s dragon, Sunfyre, is declared dead, while the book clearly shows that the dragon is still alive and recovering near Rook’s Rest. Since there are significant events left for Sunfyre in the book, I find it intriguing that the show keeps hinting at his death repeatedly. In television productions, a character’s death only counts if it’s shown on screen, and the last time we see Sunfyre he’s injured but alive. More details about this will be revealed in season 3.

As a gamer, I’d say: In both the book and the series, it’s my character Aemond who ascends to the Iron Throne when his brother Aegon gets injured. It happens rather swiftly in the story. On page 438, it says, “And so, the one-eyed Aemond, the Kinslayer, donned the iron-and-ruby crown of Aegon the Conqueror, boasting, ‘This crown suits me far better than it ever did him.'” However, in the show, there’s an interesting twist: my character Alicent makes a bid to rule as regent, but her proposal is promptly dismissed, which isn’t mentioned in the book.

Upon hearing the tragic news of Princess Rhaenys’ demise at the Battle of Rook’s Rest, a wave of dismay swept through me, standing steadfastly by Queen Rhaenyra’s side. Her esteemed advisor, Lord Corlys Velaryon, was particularly enraged. In a heated exchange, we both passionately debated the circumstances surrounding his wife’s death. He angrily accused me of sending Staunton to someone else instead of addressing it myself, causing Rhaenys’ unfortunate fate. “It should have been you,” he bellowed at me, the Sea Snake, “Staunton sent to you, yet you left it to my wife to answer and forbade your sons to join her.” Despite his fury, Corlys nearly departed from my side and took his fleet of ships with him. However, my son Jace was able to persuade him to remain by my side as my trusted hand.

In the revised show, things are significantly different. Instead of an argument between Rhaenyra and Corlys, it is their daughter Baela who manages to persuade Corlys to assume the role of Hand of the Queen, not Jace as previously depicted.

Were the changes to the Battle of Rook’s rest (and the aftermath) good or bad?

As a dedicated gamer immersed in this epic narrative, let me tell you, the Battle of Rook’s Rest updates were hands down the finest tweaks all season! The surprise entrance of Aegon into the fray really amped up the suspense, and watching Aemond attempt to incinerate Aegon from above was a heart-pounding emotional climax for the brothers. These modifications ramped up the drama without straying too far from the original storyline. Frankly, I found them quite captivating!

As a devoted viewer, I found myself torn by the sequence of events following the climax. The moment when Alicent presented herself as regent, yet was overlooked for Aemond, left me captivated. However, the transition to the next episode, where Aemond disregards her from the Small Council, seemed a bit jarring. It struck me that the show could have streamlined this narrative flow by merging these scenes together. Instead, I yearned for more insight into Aemond or Helaena’s character development; Helaena, in particular, remained enigmatic throughout the season, leaving me eager to unravel her mysteries.

But the scene I’m most upset got cut was the argument between Rhaenyra and Corlys. Corlys Velaryon had very little in the way of an arc this season, and letting him get angry in the wake of his wife’s death only to calm down and return later would have been a great way to touch base with his character. I didn’t mind Baela rather than Jace being the one to convince him to take the Hand of the Queen position, but I wanted more from Corlys. And who wouldn’t want to watch Rhaenyra and Corlys, two of the best characters on the series played by two of the best actors on the series, hash it out? It seemed like the book was giving the show a juicy dramatic scene on a platter only to be turned down. If I could add any one cut scene from Fire & Blood back into House of the Dragon season 2, it would be this one.

Jace, Baela and Rhaena

In House of the Dragon season 2, Rhaenyra’s son Jace, as well as her step-daughters Baela and Rhaena, played significant roles, and they all delivered strong performances. However, the series omitted some details and introduced additional elements to the storyline.

The narrative of Jace starts off at the beginning of the season, where he goes to the Wall for negotiations with Lord Cregan Stark. In the book “Fire & Blood”, it is mentioned how Jace and Cregan developed a friendship through hunting and hawking at Winterfell. A tale circulates about Jace possibly falling in love with and marrying a girl from the North named Sara Snow, though this is deemed as rumor. On the show, we only witness a conversation between Jace and Cregan regarding the ongoing war on the Wall, with little hints suggesting they’ve grown close.

In the storyline, prior to journeying towards the North, Jace pays a visit to the Vale. It is here where he successfully persuades Lady Jeyne Arryn to back Rhaenyra. This event occurs on both the book and television series, though it’s depicted differently in each medium. In the show, we initially encounter Lady Jeyne when Rhaenyra dispatches her sister Rhaena Targaryen to the Vale for safety amidst approaching conflict. Along with Rhaena, Rhaenyra sends her sons Joffrey, Viseris II, and Aegon III, as well as some dragon eggs. In the book, it is actually Jace who devises the plan to send his younger siblings and step-sister away for safekeeping, rather than Rhaenyra.

In the TV series, a scene occurs where Jace disobeys his mother’s instructions by taking Vermax, his dragon, out of bounds; he then pays a visit to the Freys in the Riverlands, persuading them to pledge allegiance to Rhaenyra and grant passage for Cregan Stark’s northern troops over the Twins bridge when they head south. This meeting is a creation exclusive to the show. In the book, however, it’s the Freys who ally with Daemon, while the Riverlands houses except for the Brackens side with him instead.

In the series or the novel, it’s mentioned that Jace and Baela are betrothed. The book provides additional details about their relationship starting from page 440: “Long promised to Prince Jacaerys, [Baela] refused to part ways with him, declaring her intent to fight alongside him on her dragon, even though Moondancer was too small to support her weight. Baela had also declared her intention to marry Jace immediately, but no wedding ceremony ever took place. Munken states that the prince did not wish to wed until the war ended, while Mushroom claims that Jacaerys might have already been married to Sara Snow, the enigmatic bastard girl from Winterfell.”

In the book, Baela’s dragon Moondancer isn’t large enough yet for her to ride during that part of the story. However, on the TV series, Moondancer appears larger. Throughout season 2, Baela is frequently seen flying around, carrying out reconnaissance missions for Rhaenyra and delivering messages between Dragonstone and Driftmark. One particularly exciting scene in the show features Baela nearly diving at Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower as they marched from King’s Landing. This particular scene was added specifically for the TV adaptation.

Are the changes made to Jace, Baela and Rhaena’s stories good or bad?

I find it acceptable for the series to make some adjustments in the storyline for Jace, Baela, and Rhaena. To reiterate, I believe Baela’s scene where she attacks Criston Cole showcases her strongest performance this season, and that particular scene was created exclusively for television.

I wish we could have seen more of Jace’s time in the North, but I imagine the writers didn’t feel they could afford to spend too much time away from the main action further south. I also enjoyed Jace’s visit to the Twins and didn’t mind them having Rhaenyra come up with the idea to send Rhaena away, rather than Jace. I do wish we could have seen Jace visit Lady Jeyne in the Vale, mainly because Lady Jeyne gives this great little speech, from p 415:

Thrice have mine own kin sought to replace me…My cousin Ser Arnold is wont to say that women are too soft to rule. I have him in one of my sky cells, if you would like to ask him. Your Prince Daemon used his first wife most cruelly, it is true…but notwithstanding your mother’s poor taste in consorts, she remains our rightful queen, and mine own blood besides, an Arryn on her mother’s side. In this world of men, we women must band together. The Vale and its knights shall stand with her…if Her Grace will grant me one request.

According to Jace, that demand is like a dragon, and Rhaenyra, to some extent, acknowledges it by dispatching a few small dragons to aid in defending the Vale against potential threats from above. I was anticipating Lady Jeyne would deliver this speech when Jace visited, but hoped for it more when Rhaena arrived in the Vale. Perhaps it will be revised for season 3; it’s a compelling monologue!

Ultimately, I’m left wondering about the depth of their relationship – are Jace and Baela merely bound by politics or is there a deeper romantic connection? Their engagement hints at both possibilities, yet more insight into their feelings could be provided through scenes like the one in the book where Baela yearns for an immediate wedding while Jace wishes to wait until after the war. This would help clarify whether their union is primarily political or emotionally driven.

The dragonseeds

Towards the latter part of the season, Rhaenyra embarks on a journey to enlist additional dragon riders. She and Jace conceive the plan to search for candidates who could tame the dragons residing on Dragonstone that are currently without riders. Initially, they seek out Ser Steffon Darklyn, one of Rhaenyra’s guardsmen, but he tragically perishes while attempting to mount the dragon Seasmoke.

In the grand tapestry of Westeros as depicted in “Fire & Blood”, it seems I’ve found an intriguing twist! Unlike what’s portrayed in the book, Rhaenyra and Jace aren’t just seeking out noble-born riders for dragon riding trials. Instead, they extend this invitation to anyone, regardless of their status – be they nobles, peasants, or even those born from the loins of a lord. The book doesn’t imply that Rhaenyra directly pitches this idea to Steffon; rather, he’s among the many brave souls who attempt and ultimately fail in the quest to conquer dragons.

On the series, Rhaenyra experiences a significant moment when her advisor Mysaria proposes enlisting Targaryen illegitimate offspring, an idea originally presented by the character Mushroom in the novel but not depicted on screen. Mysaria scouts these prospective dragon riders from King’s Landing, where they have been hiding in the vicinity of the Red Keep. In contrast to the book, every potential dragon-rider is recruited directly from Dragonstone, a place where the Targaryens have been engaging with locals and siring bastard children for centuries, making it unnecessary to secretly extract them from the city.

In the book, the details about the Red Sowing are somewhat sparse, suggesting it occurred spontaneously among peasants who attempted to ride various dragons whenever and wherever they had the opportunity. Conversely, in the show, all potential dragonriders, known as dragonseeds, are gathered together, and Rhaenyra summons Vermithor. The dragon then chooses Hugh Hammer and Ulf White, while Seasmoke seeks out Addam of Hull, the half-brother of its previous rider, Laenor Velaryon. This method is more intricate yet less explicit than the account in Fire & Blood on page 442 regarding how these individuals were paired with their dragons.

Vermithor, the Old King’s dragon, bent his neck to a blacksmith’s bastard, a towering man called Hugh the Hammer or Hard Hugh, whilst a pale-haired man-at-arms named Ulf the White (for his hair) or Ulf the Sot (for his drinking) mounted Silverwing, beloved of Good Queen Alysanne. And Seasmoke, who had once borne Lanor Velaryon, took onto his back a boy of ten-and-five known as Addam of Hull.

Throughout the season, we’re parceled out hints that Addam of Hull and his brother Alyn are actually the bastard children of Corlys Velaryon, which is eventually confirmed. In the book, Corlys brings Addam and Alyn to Dragonstone personally not long after Rhaenys has died, and petitions Rhaenyra to remove the taint of bastardy from them, which she does. Jace is an enthusitic supporter of this idea in the book, whereas on the show he’s against it, since he thinks allowing bastards to ride dragons calls attention to his own bastardy. Addam and Alyn haven’t been legitimized on the show yet, although they may be later. In the book, Alyn also tries to mount a dragon but fails, whereas on the show it’s only Addam who’s interested in becoming a dragonrider.

In the tale of “Fire & Blood,” another successful dragonseed character, a young girl named Nettles from Dragonstone, befriends a wild dragon known as Sheepstealer by regularly providing it with a sheep to eat. This girl, Nettles, joins Rhaenyra’s air force alongside Hugh, Addam, and Ulf in the series. It seems that Nettles has been omitted from “House of the Dragon.” In its place, the show introduces a new storyline where Rhaena Targaryen comes across a wild dragon in the Vale. Although the season finale leaves us hanging about what follows, it appears to me that this mysterious dragon could be Sheepstealer and that Rhaena may end up riding it, potentially replacing the need for Nettles’ character in the show’s narrative.

Are the changes made to the Dragonseeds story good or bad?

In the series, there are two significant alterations to the dragonseed storyline compared to the book. Initially, they modify the Red Sowing event. In the novel, it’s depicted as a sequence where multiple individuals attempt to ride dragons, with only a few being successful. However, in the series, this event is presented as a large-scale spectacle where all potential riders undergo testing simultaneously. This change makes for an exciting viewing experience. I found the grandeur of the Red Sowing scene particularly captivating, and I was delighted by Ulf White’s exhilarating flight above King’s Landing afterward, an event not described in the book.

I wish the show hit the gas on the Alyn and Addam subplot a bit. It was starting to feel like they and Corlys were having the same scene on that one dock on Driftmark over and over. At the end of the season, very few people know about Addam and Alyn’s true parentage. I’m sure that will change in season 3, but let’s get a move on. As for Jace objecting to recruiting bastard dragon-riders rather than supporting it, I found his dilemma pretty compelling, so I’m okay with it.

The significant shift in “House of the Dragon” is that they’ve eliminated the character of Nettles, which I found disappointing as she’s one of my favorite characters from the book. Nettles was intriguing because she defied the common fantasy trope that royal blood or lineage equates to importance or destiny, such as Aragorn becoming king in “The Lord of the Rings” due to his ancestry, or Luke Skywalker being the central Force user in “Star Wars” because of his parentage. Instead, Nettles managed to fly a dragon through her resourcefulness, challenging that narrative. Regrettably, on the series, she’s replaced by Rhaena, a member of the royal family.

From my perspective, there’s still a chance that the series could introduce something intriguing about Rhaena and the presumed dragon, Sheepstealer, in the upcoming Season 3. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and stay tuned!

Alicent and Rhaenyra

In the narrative of Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower find themselves apart for a significant period following the demise of King Viserys Targaryen. However, in House of the Dragon, their paths cross on two occasions during this timeframe: firstly, in Episode 203, where Rhaenyra secretly visits King’s Landing to meet with Alicent; and secondly, in the season 2 finale, when Alicent makes a clandestine trip to Dragonstone to encounter Rhaenyra.

In their second meeting, Alicent proposes to Rhaenyra that she govern King’s Landing while Aemond is absent, using her influence to minimize opposition. This offer comes from Alicent, who is fully aware that accepting it would mean Rhaenyra must execute her son, the injured King Aegon, following the Battle of Rook’s Rest. The underlying assumption seems to be that Rhaenyra seizing the Iron Throne might bring an end to the ongoing conflict.

In the novel, Rhaenyra ultimately seizes control of King’s Landing without encountering resistance, a fact attributable not to Alicent’s influence but rather the loyalty of the City Watch towards Daemon Targaryen. It is important to note that none of this storyline is presented or implied in the book Fire & Blood. Throughout the conflict, Rhaenyra and Alicent find themselves on opposing sides in their struggle for power.

Are the changes made to Alicent and Rhaenyra’s stories good or bad?

In simpler terms, the frequent back-and-forth movements of key characters, such as Rhaenyra, Alicent, Daemon, Elinda Massey, and even a group of minor characters called dragonseeds, between King’s Landing and Dragonstone felt unrealistic, given the ongoing war. These scenes seemed to imply there was no risk in infiltrating the enemy stronghold. Only one of these events occurred in the book, which was Arryk Cargyll sneaking into Dragonstone. As the season progressed, these seemingly casual trips across the battlefield became increasingly implausible and detracted from the overall immersion. The show attempted to justify Rhaenyra’s visit by disguising her as a nun, but this too felt far-fetched. To make these questionable scenes more acceptable, they needed to be accompanied by significant, impactful events.

In the context of Rhaenyra and Alicent, their actions during their Episode 3 meeting seem unlikely under normal circumstances. To make the scene more dramatic, we must suspend disbelief and assume that Rhaenyra would risk entering an enemy city with the hope of negotiating peace with Alicent, given her supposed authority. However, Alicent does not possess such power, making this move questionable.

I simply didn’t believe either of these turns. The writers of House of the Dragon seem invested in the idea that the relationship between Alicent and Rhaenyra is the emotional hinge on which the story turns, but every attempt to push them into the center feels forced. I didn’t like how season 2 seemed to make it out like Rhaenyra’s position was the reasonable, prudent one — remember that Daemon literally has a divine vision telling him Rhaenyra is the rightful queen — whereas the best the greens can muster is Aemond, who burns the town of Sharp Point and its people in anger, something he does not do in the book. Fire & Blood presents the actions of people on both sides of the conflict and lets readers come to their own conclusion, whereas House of the Dragon seems to have designated Rhaenyra as the morally correct choice. Even her old enemy Alicent is crossing over to help her.

I think there are good reasons to not want Rhaenyra on the throne. There’s her baby-murdering husband, already mentioned. There’s the frightening fanaticism of someone who believes they are destined to sit the Iron Throne according to prophecy. I wished the show would have dug into these issues rather than stacking the moral deck in Rhaenyra’s favor, and I wish Rhaenyra and Alicent had remained in conflict. I think this development flattens both of their characters and makes them less rich and interesting.

Other Stuff

The second season of “House of the Dragon” deviated significantly from “Fire & Blood,” and these alterations don’t always fit neatly into specific categories. Here are some additional points to consider:

• In Fire & Blood, we meet Addam and Alyn’s mother Marilda of Hull, who we learn on p 443 was “a canny trader and daring captain.” She’s not around on House of the Dragon, so I’m assuming she’s dead in the world of the show. I liked the character in the book and would have liked to see her onscreen.
• While Rhaenyra, Aegon and Aemond fight in the Crownlands and Riverlands, there’s a conflict brewing in the Reach between the Hightowers, who are obviously loyal to Aegon and his greens, and other noble houses loyal to Rhaenyra and her blacks. We hear about these conflicts on the show but don’t see them up close. Perhaps House of the Dragon is saving that for season 3. At any rate, it sounds like they’re planning to introduce Alicent’s youngest son Daeron, who was sent away at a young age to be fostered in the city of Oldtown in the Reach. By the end of the season, Daeron’s dragon Tessarion has taken to the sky. In the book, he can already fly her by this point in the story.
• In Fire & Blood, it’s Otto Hightower who comes up with the plan to reach out to the Triarchy, an alliance between trio of cities on Essos that fought against Daemon and Corlys in season 1, to try and bring them into the war on the green side. On House of the Dragon, Aemond comes up with this idea. As for the Triarchy itself, it’s pretty much as the book describes, right down to an envoy needing to mud wrestle a pirate caption to win their approval. There are a couple of differences, though. For one, on the show we learn that Tyland Lannister is sent as the envoy, whereas in the book they aren’t identified. Also, the character of Racallio Ryndoon, a Triarchy leader, is merged into Sharako Lohar, another Triarchy bigwig, simplifying things a bit.
• Circling back to Otto Hightower, in the book he stays in King’s Landing for the duration of the war. On the show, he leaves the city for parts unknown after the second episode. At the end of the season we see he’s in prison somewhere. The show is well off the beaten path here, so I have no idea where he could be.
• In Fire & Blood, the information broker Mysaria helps Daemon facilitate the Blood and Cheese plot and then remains in King’s Landing helping Rhaenyra with her war effort from the shadows. On House of the Dragon, Mysaria flees King’s Landing and ends up on Dragonstone, where she establishes a personal relationship with Rhaenyra much earlier than in the book. In Episode 206, they even share an unexpected kiss. I thought Mysaria provided an interesting sounding board for Rhaenyra and liked the chemistry between the characters, so I was cool with this change.
• In that same episode, Rhaenyra and Mysaria conspire to take advantage of the starvation conditions in King’s Landing (precipitated by Rhaenyra’s own blockade of the city) and start a riot. They send food to King’s Landing, knowing that the citizens will fight over the limited resources. This riot is invented for the show, but it’s a clever plan and an exciting scene, so I all for it.

While there were several modifications in the second season of House of the Dragon that I appreciated, I found it veered too much from the original storyline, especially considering how closely the first season adhered to the source material with some deviations. The balance between intelligent adaptations and ill-advised ones just didn’t sit well with me this time. I’m hoping for a more faithful representation in season 3, set to premiere on HBO and Max in 2026, as I’d like to see the show get back on track.

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2024-09-01 16:44