House of the Dragon Must Avoid Game of Thrones’ Most Critical Mistake at All Costs

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As a huge fan of epic fantasy, I have to say nothing has impacted me quite like Game of Thrones. It’s been six years since that finale, and honestly, a lot of us are still reeling from how things wrapped up – it just didn’t feel earned. Because of that, I think any new show set in that world has a really high bar to clear; viewers like me were seriously let down before, so we’re all approaching it with caution. Luckily, a prequel series set almost 150 years earlier arrived, offering a fresh start.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s detailed history of the Targaryen family, House of the Dragon tells the story of Rhaenyra Targaryen, the first woman expected to inherit the Iron Throne. The show starts when she’s a teenager, showing her attempts to fulfill her father’s expectations and the complications that arise from her childhood friendship with Alicent Hightower, who later marries her father. While the series made some changes from the original books – which is common for TV adaptations – it risks making the same mistake that plagued the final season of Game of Thrones.

Game of Thrones Erased Many Significant Characters

While many point to the final season as the reason Game of Thrones disappointed fans, problems with the show were apparent much earlier. Even before the series ran out of source material from George R.R. Martin’s books, the adaptation began to have issues, including leaving out characters who were crucial to the story. This became noticeable around season five. For example, though Oberyn Martell’s daughters appeared on screen, his firstborn child, Arianne Martell, was never included in the events unfolding in Dorne.

Arianne Martell played a key role in the events of A Feast for Crows, and she was the one who instigated the Sand Snakes’ attempt to seize power. She used the death of Oberyn Martell to rally his daughters, hoping to advance her own position as the Princess of Dorne. Believing her father planned to name her younger brother as his heir instead of her, Arianne schemed to kidnap Myrcella Baratheon and manipulate the situation to her advantage.

Everything clicked for Doran once this was revealed. He hadn’t been overlooking the Lannisters’ involvement in his family’s deaths; he was simply working towards a long-term plan. He always wanted Arianne to be his heir, and he had a plan for revenge against Casterly Rock ready to go. Doran’s assassination by Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones was a disappointing end to a storyline with a lot of promise. The dismissal of Young Griff was also confusing, as he was believed to be Rhaegar Targaryen’s last surviving son, rescued by Jon Connington after the fall of King’s Landing.

Young Griff potentially could have challenged Daenerys’ claim to the throne and created major instability in the succession. However, the removal of Lady Stoneheart was arguably the most controversial choice, disappointing fans who’d been eager to see Catelyn Stark return as a vengeful character. Her storyline, a popular element from the books, also would have meant another season with Michelle Fairley. Instead, the showrunners, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, chose a more grounded approach for their fantasy series. These kinds of decisions ultimately affected the show’s quality, and House of the Dragon seems to be repeating them.

Blood and Cheese Should Have Massive Ramifications in House of the Dragon

As a fan, I really appreciated how closely House of the Dragon initially followed Fire & Blood, especially since the Dance of the Dragons wasn’t the whole book. I thought the changes they did make, like deepening the relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent, actually improved the show and made their interactions so much more compelling. But it didn’t take long before they started leaving characters out entirely, and it was especially disappointing when they omitted someone many of us had been anticipating for a long time.

The conflict began after Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys, was killed by her uncle, Aemond, and his dragon, Vhagar. Grief-stricken, Rhaenyra’s husband and uncle, Daemon, vowed revenge, famously declaring, “An eye for an eye, a son for a son.” He followed through by sending assassins known only as Blood and Cheese to target Aegon, seeking to inflict a similar loss.

The book version of this event differed because Helaena had two sons instead of twins Jaehaera and Jahaerys. Her youngest son was Maelor, who was too young to grasp the danger they were in. When the assassins Blood and Cheese arrived – acting on Daemon Targaryen’s command of “a son for a son” – they forced Helaena to choose which of her sons would die, creating a terrifying situation. She ultimately chose Maelor, believing his young age meant he wouldn’t suffer as much as her older children.

The plan went wrong when an assassin bothered Helaena and accidentally killed Jaehaerys. This happened in a scene from House of the Dragon, and while it seems like a small change, it will likely have big consequences later on. In the book, the assassins also tormented young Maelor, cruelly suggesting his mother didn’t love him. While this detail might have seemed unimportant to remove, Maelor played a larger role in the story – he became a tragic casualty of war in Fire & Blood, a fate that the show has now altered.

Maelor played a crucial role in the events following Rhaenyra Targaryen’s rise to power in King’s Landing. Though Rhaenyra, known as the “Half-Year Queen” due to her brief rule, lost her claim to the throne because of what happened to Maelor. The trouble began when Ser Rickard Throne secretly took Maelor to safety. They were found at an inn, leading to a violent confrontation. While hiding in a stable at the Hog’s Head, disguised as a father and son, Maelor’s dragon egg was revealed, alerting others to their presence. Realizing they’d been discovered and knowing they were surrounded by enemies in Rhaenyra’s territory, Thorne understood their time was running out.

Thorne tried to rescue young Maelor, taking him towards Lord Hightower, a journey of about 60 miles. After stealing a horse, Thorne was killed by crossbow fire before he could reach safety, leaving Maelor defenseless. Reports say Maelor was killed, and this event marked a turning point for Rhaenyra. Even though she wasn’t involved, the people blamed her. Many suspect Larys Clubfoot deliberately used this tragedy – another death of one of Aegon’s sons – to create trouble for Rhaenyra’s rule.

House of the Dragon Needs to Do Some Course Correction

It’s well known that things didn’t end well for her, and she faced a grim fate. The Dance of the Dragons was a devastating conflict that wiped out many families, including taking Rhaenyra’s life. Her story is linked to Maelor’s, and his omission from the show is disappointing. House of the Dragon seems to be avoiding the most difficult parts of the story that aren’t about violence or warfare. The show’s most powerful moments should come from the quiet tragedies that happened away from the battlefield.

Several characters deserved more development in the series. Harwin Strong, Rhaenyra’s lover, was quickly removed from the story before viewers could fully understand their connection. Daemon Targaryen’s portrayal was also weakened; the show focused on his jealousy rather than his supportive role as depicted in the source material. The death of young Prince Maelor, and the subsequent unrest, should have been explored more fully to demonstrate the beginning of Rhaenyra’s downfall. The betrayals of allies like Ulf the White and Hugh the Hammer further contributed to the growing discord surrounding her reign.

Corlys Velaryon, despite remaining loyal to her, began to regret his decision. Following this incident, Rhaenyra became increasingly erratic, refusing to negotiate with anyone who opposed her. The show, House of the Dragon, needs to significantly adjust its portrayal of these events to make them feel realistic and maintain the harsh consequences seen in the original book.

Daeron Targaryen, another key figure missing from the show so far, will play an important role in the later years of Rhaenyra’s life. With Daeron set to appear in Season 3, his brother Maelor should also be included to make the storyline complete. Daeron was a significant threat to Rhaenyra, largely due to his skill as a warrior. Riding the blue dragon Tessarion, he was a formidable opponent, and the death of his nephew deeply angered him. He became a major problem for Rhaenyra, especially as Corlys Velaryon began to doubt her ability to negotiate and maintain peace. Like many Targaryens, Rhaenyra was primarily focused on power and conflict.

As a fan, I’ve noticed House of the Dragon has painted Rhaenyra as surprisingly restrained – she rarely jumps into conflict. Honestly, it feels like the show has been hesitant to portray its female characters as truly ruthless, and I think that needs to shift in the next season. I’d even love to see them revisit the storyline with Maelor. The creators have said he wasn’t included yet due to the fast pace of the story – apparently, there wasn’t time for him to even be conceived! There’s still a small chance Helaena could have another child, but with Aegon struggling after the events at Rook’s Rest, it seems unlikely.

Currently, the best way to make the sidelined characters feel worthwhile would be to fully embrace Rhaenyra as the antagonist she was always intended to be. The source material, Fire & Blood, wasn’t about glorifying anyone, but rather illustrating the brutal reality of war, particularly when it pits family against family. If House of the Dragon wants to truly honor its origins, Rhaenyra needs to meet a tragic, fiery end that feels earned.

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2025-11-13 21:11