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New House of the Dragon book explains why season 2’s ending felt so anticlimactic

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As a dedicated fan who has eagerly followed the epic saga of Westeros for years, I must confess that I found the conclusion of House of the Dragon season 2 to be somewhat underwhelming. The Battle of Rook’s Rest was undeniably thrilling, but the abrupt ending left many questions unanswered and a sense of incompleteness that lingers even now.

In the second installment of “House of the Dragon”, viewers appreciated several impressive aspects, particularly the captivating Battle of Rook’s Rest. However, some found the ending confusing as it did not culminate in a traditional climax like the previous seasons of “House of the Dragon” and its predecessor show “Game of Thrones”. Instead, the finale offered a series of hints about future conflicts. Daemon Targaryen has assembled an army in the Riverlands simultaneously with the Lannisters and Criston Cole’s advance. Meanwhile, the Triarchy fleet is navigating towards Westeros to confront Rhaenyra Targaryen’s troops, but they fail to arrive. The newly formed Dragonseeds gear up for action, but remain grounded, among other unresolved situations.

It seemed incomplete to many viewers, and it appears that this sentiment is shared. The season 2 finale, according to ratings, is one of the least-watched episodes in the series thus far. Even the producers have suggested that something went wrong. When asked about why the second season of House of the Dragon only consisted of eight episodes instead of ten like the first season, producer Sara Hess explained, “It wasn’t our decision.

If you’ve delved into George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood,” which serves as the foundation for “House of the Dragon,” you might have anticipated that the second season would culminate in the Battle of the Gullet, a naval battle marked by the demise of a significant character. Such an ending would have added impact. Interestingly, this was initially intended. We’re gaining more behind-the-scenes knowledge due to “House of the Dragon: Dawn of the Targaryen Civil War,” a newly released book detailing the creation of “House of the Dragon” season 2. The author, Gina McIntyre, had exclusive access to the cast and crew. In regards to the underwhelming season finale, she notes:

[Showrunner Ryan] Condal, Hess, and the other writers outlined a ten-episode season culminating in a deadly naval confrontation from Fire & Blood known as the Battle of the Gullet. However, it soon became clear that the ambitious narrative taking shape on paper would necessitate an extended production schedule. Embarking on another ten-month shoot would have had a knock-on effect, pushing back the release of House of the Dragon’s second season until 2025, a prospect that gave everyone pause.

A big thanks to Redditor jonsnowKITN for posting this excerpt.

Reflecting on the situation now, I truly wish they had delayed the release of House of the Dragon and premiered its second season in 2025, wrapping up with the epic Battle of the Gullet. While I would have grumbled about the wait for new seasons back then, it seems preferable to a season that feels unfinished compared to the alternative – a longer wait but a more satisfying viewing experience.

Indeed, I share your eagerness for the new seasons to arrive sooner. From what we know so far, the third season of “House of the Dragon” is expected to begin filming in March of the upcoming year, which means it might be released in 2026. It’s intriguing to ponder why production doesn’t start earlier. Perhaps HBO decided to renew the show after the second season had already begun airing. Compared to the regular annual releases of “Game of Thrones” for most of its run, these extended breaks between new seasons can be quite aggravating.

Perhaps there’s a solution where the makers of “House of the Dragon” can splurge on grand, epic battle scenes while economizing on secondary dragon shots. It’s also plausible that the 2023 writers’ strike may have caused some scheduling complications. It seems that seasons 3 and 4 of “House of the Dragon” are being considered as a whole, so let’s hope the producers can strategize better in advance and manage their time and resources more effectively.

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2024-12-04 21:41

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