Why did George R.R. Martin criticize House of the Dragon but not Game of Thrones?

As a long-time fan who’s been through the highs and lows of Westeros with George R.R. Martin, I must say his recent criticism of HBO’s ‘House of the Dragon‘ feels like a punch to the heart. I remember the days when he stood by silently as ‘Game of Thrones’ strayed far from his beloved books, yet here we are with him openly voicing his displeasure.

Recently, author George R.R. Martin openly expressed criticisms towards HBO’s prequel series “House of the Dragon,” derived from his book “Fire & Blood.” He was especially concerned about how the show is modifying his original content, and hinted at further potential changes that may become even more contentious.

The situation became quite uncomfortable for HBO following some critical comments made by George R.R. Martin about their new ‘Game of Thrones’ spinoff, ‘House of the Dragon’. Given that Martin is a key figure in the creation and success of the original series, his public criticism could potentially harm the network’s efforts to expand the ‘Game of Thrones’ universe.

It’s intriguing that Martin, who never strongly criticized the “Game of Thrones” series while it was airing, despite its eight-season run and numerous changes from his books, is now expressing concern about “House of the Dragon.” What sets this prequel apart? What does it offer that “Game of Thrones” didn’t? Why is it causing public uproar when “Game of Thrones” did not? We can’t know Martin’s exact thoughts (as we didn’t ask him in our exclusive interview), but let’s consider some possible explanations.

House of the Dragon changes the source material in ways Game of Thrones never did

Initially, the television series “Game of Thrones” followed George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” books quite faithfully, with changes made mainly to simplify the narrative. For instance, the Battle of the Blackwater unfolds on screen almost as it does in the book, but the flaming bridge of ships from “A Clash of Kings” was omitted. In contrast, the Red Wedding transitioned from page to screen relatively unaltered, with a few character alterations; for example, Robb Stark’s wife was absent during the massacre in the book, whereas she was killed alongside other Starks in the series.

In the fifth season of “Game of Thrones,” the storyline begins to deviate noticeably from George R.R. Martin’s books. For example, Jaime Lannister is sent to Dorne, the most southerly of the Seven Kingdoms, which isn’t part of the books. This move was made to incorporate a character we’re already familiar with into a storyline from “A Feast for Crows,” a book that introduces several new characters. While this plot wasn’t particularly well-received, it was an effort to include as much of Martin’s extensive series in the TV show as possible. After this arc concludes, Jaime travels to the Riverlands to attempt to free Riverrun Castle, which is indeed his plot from “A Feast for Crows.

Following season 5, “Game of Thrones” exhausts its content to adapt; George R.R. Martin is still penning the next installment in the series titled “The Winds of Winter“. Consequently, the last three seasons may align with Martin’s vision or they might not. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to criticize them for modifying the source material as there was none available during that period.

Contrastingly, unlike House of the Dragon initially sticking close to the narrative in “Fire & Blood” during its first season, it has significantly departed from the source material earlier in its second run. While the initial season generally followed the text closely, the second season has excised key characters, reshaped the storyline’s focus, and dramatically altered our perception of major figures.

In a more conversational and simplified manner, I’d rephrase it like this: The changes made in “House of the Dragon” don’t seem to be about making the storyline clearer as one might expect from adapting a book. Instead, they often deviate from George R.R. Martin’s original text. For example, in “Fire & Blood,” Daemon Targaryen faces few challenges when raising an army in the Riverlands, establishing his credibility as a threat. In contrast, he consistently fails in “House of the Dragon,” leaving viewers questioning his seriousness. Similarly, in “Fire & Blood,” Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower are rival factions trying to secure their chosen candidate for the Iron Throne at the end of the war. However, in “House of the Dragon,” they work together to ensure that Rhaenyra takes the throne instead.

The adjustments made to the story aren’t merely trimming and simplifying its boundaries to make it suitable for TV viewers; they’re fundamentally altering the essence of the story George R.R. Martin penned. This transformation might be a source of frustration for him, unlike with Game of Thrones, where fidelity to the books was maintained for a longer period before significant deviations occurred due to exhaustion of source material. Contrastingly, House of the Dragon is venturing into uncharted territory despite having a completed book to adapt. I can’t blame Martin for feeling compelled to intervene.

It’s uncertain if this ongoing public debate will be settled, or if Martin’s concerns will influence the future trajectory of “House of the Dragon”. We probably won’t get answers until the show resumes in 2026. Prior to that, another “Game of Thrones” prequel titled “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” is slated for release, and Martin seems more enthusiastic about that project.

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2024-09-20 17:41