George R. R. Martin's Secret House Of The Dragon Cameo Is Hidden In A Surprising Place

As a die-hard fan of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, I was absolutely thrilled to discover George R.R. Martin’s hidden cameo in the penultimate episode of House of Dragon’s second season! The fact that it was tucked away on the face of a weirwood tree in Harrenhal made it all the more exciting for me, as someone who has read and re-read the books numerous times.


In the upcoming week, the last episode of House of the Dragon Season 2 will be released. But if you were attentive during the second-to-last episode that aired over the weekend, you might have caught a surprise appearance from George R. R. Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones. This unexpected cameo was skillfully concealed in an unassuming location.

In an unexpected turn of events, George R.R. Martin makes a brief appearance in the episode, hidden within the intricately carved face of the weirwood tree during a confrontation between Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) and Oscar Tully (Archie Barnes). This surprising cameo unfolds in the courtyard of Harrenhal, with the colossal weirwood tree acting as an impressive backdrop. However, upon closer inspection of the tree, one can discern that its most distinctive feature is none other than Martin’s visage. The origin of this elaborate prop was recently revealed in the latest episode of “The House That Dragons Built,” a companion series dedicated to unveiling the behind-the-scenes tales of each episode’s production.

George R. R. Martin's Secret House Of The Dragon Cameo Is Hidden In A Surprising Place

“The charm of the production lies in its deep character development, with the large prop-tree being no exception and playing an essential role as a distinctive character,” explained VFX producer Thomas Horton about the meticulously crafted tree.

At Comic-Con in San Diego in 2022, Martin shared that he won’t appear in any cameos for Game of Thrones movies until he completes his ongoing novel, The Winds of Winter. However, Ryan Condal, the showrunner, wanted to recognize the source material’s author and opted for using Martin’s image on the tree as a tribute instead.

“Ryan wanted to do [the tree] as a bit of a tribute,” production designer Tim Clay explained.

I’ve found myself pondering over an intriguing possibility regarding Daemon Targaryen’s peculiar behavior this season. Ever since his arrival at Harrenhal, there have been some strange occurrences that make me suspect the weirwood trees could be playing a role.

“According to Condal, Harrenhal was constructed on the site of a formerly thriving orchard of weirwood trees. The trees were subsequently cut down and repurposed as building materials for the castle. This could explain some of the unusual occurrences reported there.”

Previously, Daemon was shown chopping wood to aid in the castle Harrenhal’s restoration. During his time there, he started having bizarre dreams and hallucinations that grew more disturbing. Although it’s simple to explain his actions as typical Targaryen insanity, the onset of these uncanny visions after reaching the weirwood-encircled castle raises an intriguing possibility: the magical trees may be responsible for his distress. Notably, Daemon encounters another vision following his altercation with Oscar Tully—in this vision, Daemon is the one standing next to the enormous weirwood tree.

I was thrilled when I spotted George R.R. Martin making his cameo appearance in the latest episode of Game of Thrones. Previously, I had been disappointed when he filmed a role for the initial pilot back in the day, portraying a well-hatted Pentoshi merchant. Regrettably, that footage didn’t make it past the editing room and failed to grace our screens.

George R. R. Martin's Secret House Of The Dragon Cameo Is Hidden In A Surprising Place

In the newly released episode of The House That Dragons Built, Condal leads Martin through Harrenhal’s courtyard as depicted in the video. They take a photograph together near a tree, implying that HBO intends to keep Martin engaged with the production of House of the Dragon, contrasting the second part of the GoT series where Martin claims he was excluded without explanation by the showrunners.

Martin expressed his excitement, addressing Condal and the team, saying, “You’ve really outdone yourselves here. I’m impressed. Thank you.”

As a devoted fan of “House of the Dragon,” I’m thrilled to share my excitement for the upcoming Season 2 finale! With each episode, I’ve been immersed in the rich tapestry of Westeros and its complex characters. The anticipation has been building up since the season started, and I can hardly contain my enthusiasm as we approach the grand finale. So mark your calendars, fellow fans! This Sunday, August 4, at 6 PM PT / 9 PM ET, HBO and Max will unveil another thrilling episode for us to savor. Let’s prepare ourselves for another rollercoaster ride of emotions and suspense!

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2024-07-29 21:42