The final season of Game of Thrones was widely considered the show’s weakest point. The writers struggled to finish the series after running out of source material, and fans reacted negatively to the changes. The prequel series that followed was intended to be a fresh start.
The 2022 series was based closely on the book Fire & Blood, leaving little creative freedom. Despite this, George R.R. Martin publicly criticized the show, explaining that his working relationship with showrunner Ryan Condal deteriorated after Season 2. Condal responded with his own statement, defending his choices for the series. With the recent release of the Season 3 trailer, the reasons behind this falling out are becoming clearer.
Alicent Hightower Has Drifted Even Further From Her Book Counterpart in House of the Dragon
Since House of the Dragon first aired, showrunner Ryan Condal has made some changes from the original book. The series, based on a portion of Fire & Blood, depicts the start of the brutal Targaryen civil war. It begins by showing the close bond between Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen and her friend from childhood, Alicent Hightower.
The show made a significant change from the book by initially presenting Alicent and Rhaenyra as friends, rather than enemies from the start. In the book, Alicent was always Rhaenyra’s stepmother with her own ambitions. This shift cleverly deepened the impact of their eventual conflict. While these kinds of alterations were generally well-received and stayed true to the story’s core, Season 2 introduced some changes that weren’t as popular with viewers.
The show made some changes from the original story, and these were especially noticeable with the character of Alicent Hightower. The latest trailer suggests the fight for the Iron Throne is about to truly begin. While fans have long anticipated the Battle of the Gullet, the conflict within King’s Landing might be more about politics than outright warfare. Rhaenyra believes Alicent will ultimately betray the Greens and allow Rhaenyra’s army to enter and take the city.
Alicent’s choice might stem from a fear of dragons, but the trailer suggests another reason is at play. Rhaenyra shared the plan with Rhaenyra, implying they’re working together, which goes against everything the show has led us to believe.
Originally, House of the Dragon promised a story about the destructive actions of two ruthless leaders. However, the show is now leaning more towards a heartbreaking romance. This shift away from the intended focus – a grim depiction of the senselessness of the Targaryen civil war – may explain the strained relationship between author George R.R. Martin and showrunner Ryan Condal.
She’s been made much more likable than she was originally. Even her villainous actions are now presented in a way that makes her seem sympathetic. For example, a whole episode in Season 2 was dedicated to showing her questioning her choices, something she never did in the source material.
When Alicent and Rhaenyra work together, it creates a simplistic view of the conflict, suggesting one side is clearly in the right and the other is wrong. If Alicent supports Rhaenyra, the show will appear to be taking sides, which goes against the nuanced storytelling of the books. These female characters should be just as formidable and complex as their male counterparts, but the current direction of the series suggests they are becoming less impactful and more predictable.
House of the Dragon Shouldn’t Be a Moral Show
Like many shows, House of the Dragon is running into a common problem: even on HBO, female characters often come across as purely good and virtuous. The Last of Us seemed like it might break that mold, especially given Ellie’s complex story in the original game. However, the show ultimately presented a watered-down version of her character, lacking the depth and edge that fans expected.
Rhaenyra and Alicent were also caught in this power struggle. The Dance of the Dragons, known as the bloodiest conflict in Westeros’ history, hasn’t been as devastating as expected. The conflict stemmed from both women wanting the throne, and there was never any genuine friendship between them. It was a ruthless fight for the kingdom’s future, and judging their actions by modern moral standards doesn’t fit with the lessons learned after the war.
A devastating war between siblings for the Iron Throne led to the complete destruction of a magical race. This conflict severely weakened the Targaryen dynasty. Without their dragons, they lost their aura of invincibility and became vulnerable to attack. The war demonstrated the brutal and unforgiving nature of conflict, leaving no winners. Ultimately, the story suggests that a meaningful tale needs a central lesson or moral.
Television often avoids showing female characters behaving badly. House of the Dragon could be much more impactful if it allowed its women to be flawed and make terrible choices. Instead, the show keeps missing opportunities to truly shine, even though it has all the necessary ingredients for success.
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2026-02-23 00:37