The showrunner of House of the Dragon, Ryan Condal, has expressed disappointment over George R.R. Martin's critique of the series' second season. The acclaimed author of Game of Thrones had previously committed to discussing "everything that's gone wrong with House of the Dragon" in August 2024. Martin followed through with his promise, specifically critiquing plot elements involving Aegon and Helaena's children and raising concerns about the trajectory of future seasons. Although Martin's post was later removed from his website without any explanation, it had already garnered significant attention from fans and HBO alike.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Condal shared his feelings about Martin's criticisms. He emphasized the emotional impact of the strained relationship with the creator of A Song of Ice and Fire, noting his long-standing admiration for Martin both as a fan and as a writer. "It was disappointing," Condal said, reflecting on the privilege of working on the show and the influence Martin has had on his career.
Condal acknowledged the challenges of adapting Fire & Blood for television, pointing out that the source material is an "incomplete history" that requires significant creative interpretation. Despite his efforts to involve Martin in the adaptation process over the years, Condal felt that Martin became "unwilling to acknowledge the practical issues at hand in a reasonable way" as production progressed.
As a showrunner, Condal stressed the necessity of balancing creative vision with practical production demands. He hopes to "rediscover that harmony" with Martin someday. Condal also highlighted the extensive time required for creative decisions, underscoring that every detail passes through him before reaching the audience. His goal is to cater not only to Game of Thrones readers but also to a broad television audience.
Despite some tensions, HBO and Martin continue to plan multiple collaborations, including A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which Martin has praised as a "faithful adaptation," and potentially another Targaryen-focused spinoff. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon has just begun production on its third season, following a successful second season that received a 7/10 in our review.
