Why House of the Dragon’s Changes to Fire & Blood Fell Flat

by

Summary

  • House of the Dragon takes creative liberties with character development, events, and descriptions, impacting the plot.
  • The show strays from the Fire & Blood narrative, altering key events like fights and character motivations.
  • House of the Dragon struggles with character portrayal, deviating from the books and impacting female leadership representation.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but be enthralled by “House of the Dragon,” which takes its cue from the intricate tapestry woven within George R.R. Martin’s novel, “Fire & Blood.” From the lofty vantage point of Archmaester Gyldayn at the Citadel, we delve into the tumultuous history of Westeros, peeking behind the scenes two years before the Old King’s demise, specifically in the year 101 AC at Harrenhal. The narrative gains momentum in the ninth year of King Viserys’ reign, offering an unparalleled perspective on the events that would shape the realm for generations to come.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I must confess that “House of the Dragon” doesn’t strictly adhere to George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” Instead, it has boldly ventured into creative territory, shaping characters, weaving in new events, and modifying existing ones. This approach, while intriguing, has had its challenges. The characters, storyline advancements, and overall narrative have experienced some stumbles due to these creative missteps.

The Fight above Shipbreaker Bay And Rhaenyra’s Indecisiveness

In the tales, the battle above Shipbreaker Bay signifies the start of conflict between opposing groups, being the initial dragon fight during the Dance of the Dragons. The combatants are Aemond riding the massive Vhagar and young Prince Lucerys on the swift and agile Arrax. In the books, Aemond intentionally initiates this act of aggression, while in “House of the Dragon,” it’s depicted as a midair chase that unintentionally leads to the death of a nephew at the hands of his uncle. Contrary to the history book, “Fire & Blood,” Aemond does not aim to kill Lucerys in the series.

In Fire & Blood: Daemon finds himself at Harrenhal when he learns about Lucerys’ demise, orchestrated by his nephew Aemond. He swiftly dispatches a messenger to Rhaenyra, swearing an oath that resonates with retribution: “An eye for an eye, a son for a son. The death of Lucerys will not go unpunished.” He then devises the gruesome Blood and Cheese affair, meticulously planning the assassination of a Green faction’s son.

In “House of the Dragon”: Daemon delivers dismal news to Rhaenyra personally, prompting her to embark on a solitary journey to the site of the murder. Upon her return to Dragonstone, she appears ready for battle command. However, contrary to expectations, Rhaenyra assumes a passive stance in the ensuing days. She ponders the direction of the war and whether she should engage in it, even though the outcome is beyond her control. The Rhaenyra we recall from “House of the Dragon” Season 1 and the books was resolute in safeguarding her and Jacaerys claim to the throne. Despite knowing that such actions are a part of war, she reprimands Daemon for his retaliatory killing. Additionally, Rhaenyra’s attempt at negotiation with Alicent is markedly different from her book character. This hesitant attitude raises concerns about how female leadership is depicted in the show, and whether women are consistently portrayed as weak and indecisive in their writing.

Daemon’s Stay At Harrenhal

Daemon flies off to Harrenhal following a disagreement with Rhaenyra.

As a dedicated fan of the “Fire & Blood” series, I can attest that Daemon’s loyalty is unwavering throughout the books. In a strategic move to secure a foothold in the Riverlands, he seizes Harrenhal on behalf of his wife. This action served not only as a means to expand our influence but also to mobilize an army for Rhaenyra. It’s crucial to clarify that I functioned as her King Consort, never her equal, and most definitely not her superior.

In the series ‘House of the Dragon’: Following a swift conquest of Harrenhal, Daemon insists that Ser Simon Strong, the castellan, refers to him as a king, omitting the title of Consort. He allows Willem Blackwood significant freedom, who then perpetrates horrific acts against the Brackens under the guise of the Blacks. Daemon also mistreats Lord Grover Tully’s grandson and heir, Oscar, which damages his standing among the locals. As a result, he is compelled to execute Willem in order to secure the young Riverlands lord as an ally.

In the end, Daemon acknowledges Rhaenyra as rightful ruler, influenced by Alys Rivers’ wisdom within Harrenhal’s healing center. Through divine visions at a Weirwood tree, he recognizes Viserys’ decision of an heir was justified. The narrative could have been condensed, but “House of the Dragon” Season 2 chose to expand on Daemon’s underdeveloped character and overemphasize his impulsive behavior and poor judgment.

Aemond Takes Over The War

As a cinephile, I found myself captivated by the cunning machinations of the character Aemond, who masterfully engineered his rise to power in a chilling display of ambition. In the heart-wrenching scene at Rook’s Rest, Aemond orchestrated the tragic demise of his brother, King Aegon, by setting him ablaze. This heinous act marked the beginning of his meteoric rise, as he ascended to the position of Prince Regent, wielding the realm’s authority with an iron grip and effectively seizing power for himself under the guise of rule in Aegon’s name.

In “Fire & Blood”: Ser Criston Cole takes the front position, with Aegon and Aemond poised for aerial skirmishes. King Aegon rides Sunfyre, Aemond flies Vhagar, and they stand ready. Princess Rhaenys wings her way to Rook’s Rest to assist Lord Staunton in the siege. As she incinerates many of Cole’s soldiers, she is unexpectedly attacked by the Green brothers. Tragically, Aegon II is struck down by Meleys’ flames at Rook’s Rest and falls fatally.

In House of the Dragon: Unaware of the trap set by Cole and Aemond, Aegon II impulsively joins the battle. He arrives before Aemond and Vhagar take off, only to discover they were no help in the sky. Aemond’s attack on his brother illustrates how House of the Dragon often favors shock value over a more sensible narrative (Aemond assuming the role of Regent during Aegon’s recovery). This hasty decision has led Prince Aegon to wage a two-front war – one against his stepsister and another against his mother and allies, Larys Strong and Aegon.

Alicent’s Lack of Agency And Aemond’s Rise

Although Alicent ably stepped up to rule in her ailing husband’s place, she was still considered less capable than the male council members. Just as anticipated, the same men (Tyland Lannister and Jasper Wylde) who had ignored Rhaenyra before, selected Aemond to be Regent instead. This group of men also included Larys Strong initially, but Aemond later drove him away in subsequent events.

…but the Dowager Queen is a woman.

In “Fire & Blood”: The Greens in the books are not as divided as they appear in the series. King Aegon II does dismiss Lord Hand Otto after the Blood and Cheese incident, but that’s about the extent of their internal conflicts. It is actually Otto who corresponds with the Triarchy in the books, not Aemond. These changes, such as reducing the role of Alicent or the senseless executions like the burning of Sharp Point, have not contributed to a compelling narrative. At present, it’s unclear what the Greens’ strategy is, with only Wylde and Cole still in play.

In House of the Dragon: The series follows a similar pattern as Game of Thrones in its intense portrayal of violence and conflict. It’s problematic that Aemond vented his frustration towards Sharp Point following Rhaenyra’s mobilization of dragonriders. This action strained his relationship with the Master of Whisperers, Larys, by denying him a deserved promotion as Hand. Additionally, he disrespected him, calling him a “toad,” and ordered him to locate Otto Hightower. Over time, the council diminished in size and Alicent was dismissed. Prior to this, she skillfully navigated situations with Orwyle and Larys’ advice, but when war broke out, she found herself distancing from the capital.

Are Dragons Nomadic?

When the princess, devoid of dragons, Rhaena, uncovers a dragon’s existence within the Vale, she immediately confronts Lady Jeyne Arryn. It is revealed that the dragon had flown from Dragonstone to the Vale at the onset of the conflict.

Ranging more broadly for food… my Maesters surmise. It is large and formidable but alas, wild.

Martin found the statement uncomfortable and decided to address it on his “Not A Blog” platform, explaining that while dragons may not be tamed, they don’t roam freely from one location to another. Instead, they create their own dwellings or lairs. In his post, he stated:

Dragons are aerial beings that can traverse vast territories such as mountains, plains, and cover hundreds of miles. However, they don’t do so independently; their riders guide them. Despite the power and number of dragons during Valyria’s prosperity, they didn’t roam freely across Essos. They primarily stayed near the Freehold and the Lands of the Long Summer. Occasionally, a dragon-rider might journey to cities like Volantis, but permanent relocation was rare.

Imagine if dragons were nomadic creatures. They would have conquered half of Essos, leaving only remnants after the Doom. Similarly, the dragons of Westeros remain close to Dragonstone, and after three centuries, we wouldn’t see dragons scattered throughout the realm with each noble house possessing a few. The dragons mentioned in Fire & Blood have their lairs on Dragonstone. Others can be found at the King’s Landing Dragonpit or hidden in deep caves beneath Dragonmont. Dragons like Arrax and Jace were taken to Storm’s End and Winterfell, respectively, but they wouldn’t have flown there independently, except under extraordinary circumstances. You won’t find dragons preying on the Riverlands, Reach, Vale, or roaming the northlands or Dorne’s mountains.

In the book “Fire & Blood,” a “slender brown girl” called Nettles manages to tame one of the untamed dragons from Dragonstone, named Sheepstealer. By providing fresh mutton daily, she trains it and eventually earns the privilege to ride it on behalf of the Black family.

In my opinion, as a movie reviewer, House of the Dragon presents an intriguing twist in Martin’s lore with the introduction of a wild dragon in the Vale. However, I can’t help but feel that this departure might be overstepping the mark and potentially doing a disservice to the original source material. George R.R. Martin himself has emphasized the importance of grounding fantastical elements to maintain realism and believability within the storyline.

As we progress through the series, it remains to be seen how the arrival of Rhaena’s wild dragon will play out. At this stage, it appears more likely to serve as a visually stunning spectacle rather than contributing significantly to the plot development or character growth.

House of the Dragon Season 3 is currently in the early stages of development.

Read More

2025-02-26 22:36