House Of The Dragon Season 3 Just Took A Huge Blow

by

While the first two seasons of House of the Dragon were generally successful, comments from Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin could seriously impact the upcoming third season. Martin is known for being very honest and direct, a trait he’s demonstrated throughout his career. Although showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss often received criticism from Martin, the current showrunner of House of the Dragon, Ryan Condal, seems to be facing even more scrutiny.

“House of the Dragon” is the first of several planned spin-offs from the hit series Game of Thrones. It’s based on George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood, which tells the history of the Targaryen family. Unlike the main A Song of Ice and Fire series, Fire & Blood is written as if it’s a historical document discovered within the world of the story—a book written by a character named Archmaester Gyldayn.

Adapting George R.R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood into House of the Dragon is proving incredibly difficult, and Martin seems to recognize this. He recently told The Hollywood Reporter that he and the show’s creator, Ryan Condal, started with a good working relationship, where Martin was open to changes as long as they made sense. However, their collaboration began to break down during the second season of the show.

George R.R. Martin Is Not Happy With House Of The Dragon

INSTARimages.com

In 2024, Martin shared his thoughts on House of the Dragon on his website, Not a Blog. His post, titled “Beware the Butterflies,” largely praised the show’s stunning visuals, grand scope, and the actors’ performances, but he also wasn’t afraid to point out its flaws.

Martin’s mention of “butterflies” refers to the idea that changes in House of the Dragon season 2, specifically the way the “Blood and Cheese” storyline was handled, could have significant consequences for the show’s future. He believes simplifying this plot point weakened the overall story.

George R.R. Martin originally planned “Beware the Butterflies” as the start of a new series, but it was removed from publication after an executive at HBO reached out to his assistant. Despite this, Martin continues to talk about his work on House of the Dragon, and his statements in a January 2026 article are his most critical to date.

How George R.R. Martin And Ryan Condal’s Relationship Fell Apart

In a recent interview, George R.R. Martin shared that he was happy with how the first season of House of the Dragon was developed creatively. He and showrunner Ryan Condal worked well together initially, with Condal being receptive to Martin’s feedback and concerns about changes made from the books – either addressing them to Martin’s satisfaction or adjusting his plans. However, Martin explained that this positive dynamic shifted after a disagreement between Condal and co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik.

George R.R. Martin explained that Ryan Condal sought his help in a dispute with Miguel Sapochnik, and Martin readily offered his support. Following Sapochnik’s departure, House of the Dragon moved into its second season. Martin stated that Condal essentially stopped considering his input, and his notes were no longer being acknowledged. After a long period of collaboration, the showrunner seemed unwilling to address Martin’s concerns, leading HBO to request that the author send his notes directly to them instead of to Condal.

There’s a slight difference in how the story’s creator and the showrunner remember things. The showrunner told EW he tried hard to involve the author in the adaptation, but the author wouldn’t compromise on the necessary changes. Ultimately, it’s clear that one person felt changes were needed, and the other didn’t.

House Of The Dragon Has Been Deviating From The Source Material

The first season of House of the Dragon took some liberties with the original story, often by portraying Archmaester Gyldayn – the source of much of the information – as someone who wasn’t entirely trustworthy. This is logical, considering Gyldayn wasn’t actually present during the events he described. Many believe George R.R. Martin likely agreed with these changes, as the show’s quality reportedly declined starting with season 2.

George R.R. Martin has voiced concerns about changes made in season 2 of House of the Dragon, and many viewers feel the same way, finding the Blood and Cheese plotline weak and unsatisfying. Martin’s comment about “butterflies” hints that he believes these seemingly small changes in season 2 will lead to much bigger, more problematic issues down the line. Reports suggest season 3 of House of the Dragon will be even more divisive among fans.

According to a source at THR, tensions between George R.R. Martin and Ryan Condal escalated after a meeting with HBO executives. Martin reportedly expressed his disapproval of Condal’s plans for the third season of House of the Dragon, stating that the direction no longer aligned with his original story.

Will George R.R. Martin’s Public Criticism Hurt House Of The Dragon Season 3?

Adapting books into movies or TV shows is always challenging. It’s nearly impossible to perfectly recreate a novel’s details and complexities on screen without making some changes. However, if the adaptation deviates too much from the original story, it usually upsets fans. Despite some changes, House of the Dragon has been fairly well-received. While there’s been some debate, the positive buzz has been stronger. But George R.R. Martin’s potential reactions could significantly impact future episodes.

Season 3 of House of the Dragon is likely to see significant changes, and George R.R. Martin’s recent comments have put HBO in a difficult position. Because Martin is openly critical, viewers will be closely watching for any alterations to the source material. This means even minor changes could draw a lot of criticism, and Martin has essentially given fans the go-ahead to voice their disappointment. It’s possible the show might even lose viewers if fans become frustrated with the changes. Ultimately, HBO is probably bracing for more negative reactions due to Martin’s honest feedback.

Read More

2026-01-17 02:01