5 book changes that saved House of the Dragon – and 2 that don’t work at all

The stories of George RR Martin not only fire the imagination of their readers, but also offer material for first-class series entertainment with their well thought-out world and intrigue. Game of Thrones proved that, and this year House of the Dragon. However, the new Targaryen series made some changes to the original’s story. This is also due to the template itself. Roughly speaking, Fire and Blood * differs from the books on which Game of Thrones was based in three ways:

So the House of the Dragon writing team had to change quite a few things compared to the book in order to craft a conventional drama series out of it. The following article is therefore less about processes that are only mentioned in the book and presented in detail in the series. are more interesting major changes compared to the original that make the series better – or worse.

Warning, spoilers follow for House of the Dragon Season 1.

1. Good House of the Dragon change: Alicent and Rhaenyra are BFFs

On the show, Alicent Hightower (Emily Carey) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Milly Alcock) are roughly the same age and best friends. It’s different in the book. Alicent is nine years older there. Once she gets Aegon, she evolves into the evil stepmother.

What does the change improve? Rhaenyra and Alicent’s relationship grows in complexity and tragedy. In the book both women are on an inevitable collision course, in the series they repeatedly miss the moment to turn back.

2. Good change: Alicent is way more naïve

In the book, Alicent is given more agenda in courting Viserys. In Fire and Blood, for example, she already played a role as a reader for the former king Jahaerys, which is why the sick king even confused her with his daughter. She was also rumored to have had affairs with Viserys prior to her marriage, most notably with Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s uncle.

There is no trace of it in the series, also because she is younger. Alicent lacks experience and independence, which makes it all the easier for her father, Otto, to push her into a relationship with King Viserys.

What does the change improve? Alicent’s story is paralleled in the series with that of Rhaenyra. The direct comparison gives us deeper insights into their motivations.

3. Good change: Rhaenyra and Criston’s relationship

George RR Martin’s novel presents two versions of Kingsguard Criston Cole and Princess Rhaenyra’s relationship: In the first, Rhaenyra tries to seduce him, but he rejects her. In the second, Criston sneaks into her bedchamber, but she rejects him. The series strikes a middle ground: Rhaenyra and Criston grow closer and he decides to elope with her while the only option is an affair.

What does the change improve? In the book, Criston’s motivation remains mundane. The series paints the picture of a contradictory man who bases his identity 100 percent on a chivalrous code of values ​​that he cannot live up to. For example, because he likes to smash people’s skulls in.

4. Good change: Laenor is alive

Book of Laenor comes to a tragic end. He is killed by his own friend/lover Qarl, ostensibly out of jealousy but presumably on Daemon’s orders. House of the Dragon gives Laenor a happy ending for Season 1. Laenor fakes his death and lives while Rhaenyra is free to marry Daemon.

What does the change improve? For now, House of the Dragon breaks away from the well-known Game of Thrones pattern of killing queer characters after a few appearances. In addition, the writing team keeps narrative options open if you want to bring Laenor back later.

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5. Good change: Aemond’s fight against Luke

Aemond Targaryen is a great warrior and heinous killer in the tale of Fire and Blood. His first high-profile victim is Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys (Elliot Grihault). Luke’s death in the season 1 finale, on the other hand, resembles a series of unfortunate circumstances. Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) tries to intimidate the nephew, neither of them have their dragons under control and we all know the result.

What does the change improve? On the show, Aemond comes across as less like a one-sided villain from legend and more like a young man who overestimates his abilities. Luke’s death hurts even more. It would have been so easy to avert if the parent generations had not passed on their hatred and their fire-breathing weapons of mass destruction to their children.

1. Bad House of the Dragon change: Rhaenys crashes the coronation

In the finale of Episode 9, Rhaenys (Eve Best) crashes young Aegon II’s (Tom Glynn-Carney) coronation ceremony with her dragon Meleys. Dozens of people are killed, just not those who play a role: Alicent’s family. Because Rhaenys… doesn’t feel like it?

There is no trace of this in the history of fire and blood. In it, Aegon is crowned and the dragon pit remains intact.

Why is the change bad? The scene reeks of spectacle-for-spectacle-sake, without the writing team wanting to delve deeper into the motivation and consequences of Rhaenys’ act. In other words, it reeks of the worse facets of Game of Thrones seasons 7 and 8.

2. Bad Change: Aegon’s Prophecy

The idea that Aegon the Conqueror passed down the prophecy of the battle between Ice and Fire to his descendants is absent from the book, as are cameos of the dagger used to kill Bran Stark in Game of Thrones. For the series, however, this story becomes the driving force behind Viserys and Rhaenyra’s decisions and allows for the misunderstanding of the dying king’s last words.

Why is the change bad? One could tell the first season of House of the Dragon without prophecy and dagger and would lose nothing substantial except for Viserys’ misread last words. But they’re not necessary to drive Alicent to war. The Aegon connection is nothing more than a transparent bracket intended to connect House of the Dragon to Game of Thrones. It is enough to look out of the series for a second to recognize the connection in plot, atmosphere and motifs.

House of the Dragon in the podcast

We’ve been following the Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon with weekly episode reviews. Check out what’s next for the Targaryens.

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