While journeying through the literary & cinematic landscapes, one can’t help but wonder if the creators of our beloved sagas ever feel a twist in their story when their creations take flight on the big screen. Look no further than the architect of Westeros, George R.R. Martin, who recently contends with the thorny issue of House of the Dragon for not living up to the grand blueprint of his imagination.
Martin expresses his dissatisfaction at the roundtable of his own blog, with the same zeal as House of the Dragon fans debating the latest episode. The author of A Song of Ice and Fire attacks HBO’s Game of Thrones and its prequel series for their mistreatment of the House Targaryen sigil.
But what happens when the legion of die-hard fans flips the script? According to viewers, the ship has already been sailed for him to bemoan the fate of dragons & lore, as he was the person who permitted them to keep “ruining his works”.
House of the Dragon Fails to Impress George R.R. Martin?
There’s a saying that goes, “The book was better than the movie,” and it seems that George R.R. Martin is a firm believer in this sentiment. In his recent blog posts, he didn’t mince words when expressing his disappointment in film and TV adaptations that he believes have failed to capture the essence of his original source material.
Talking about his recent blog post, Martin criticized the portrayal of the House Targaryen sigil in both Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, pointing out that the dragons were not accurately depicted with six limbs. According to him, dragons in his world are meant to have two legs and two wings, similar to bats and birds. He added:
No animal that has ever lived on Earth has six limbs.
He lamented that while the shows did get it right for the first few seasons, they later deviated from his vision by showcasing dragons with four legs.
Moreover, it seems that Martin’s frustration has reached a boiling point, as he has decided to distance himself from the writers’ room for Season 3 of House of the Dragon, the latest adaptation of his work. In another blog post, he declared that he would not be visiting the writers’ room in London for the forthcoming season. To quote him:
The writers’ room for HOUSE OF THE DRAGON season 3 is also meeting in London, but I have no plans to attend.
Well, whether Martin’s absence will have a significant impact on the future storylines of House of the Dragon remains to be seen.
From the Fans’ Desk: George R.R. Martin’s House of the Dragon Arguments Make No Sense
There appears to be a growing gap between George R.R. Martin’s vision and the show’s direction, as evidenced by his criticisms and his upcoming absence from the writers’ room.
Fans, on the other hand, have had some choice words for Martin’s criticisms, with several viewers on X expressing their frustration with the author’s complaints. Because he willingly granted House of the Dragon permission to continue engulfing his works, fans don’t seem to be bothered by his complaints on his regular blogs.
Let’s have a look at a few fans’ comments:
Despite the growing divide between Martin’s vision and the show’s direction, House of the Dragon has been praised for its production quality and dramatic storytelling. The second season has a 90% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And, with an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth episode, The Red Dragon and the Gold, was recently released & garnered positive reviews.
Regardless, as the series progresses, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the show balances staying true to Martin’s world while also delivering its own unique storytelling.
House of the Dragon Season 2 is streaming on Max.
