Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

George R.R. Martin Slams 'Toxic' Changes To Plot Of 'House Of The Dragon' In Scathing Blog Post

George R.R. Martin
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO, HBO

The author slammed the hit HBO series for making changes to the plot that differ from his book 'Fire & Blood,' which the show is based on, warning of the 'Butterfly Effect' that those changes will have on future seasons.

Warning: Spoilers for 'House of the Dragon' season 2.

Author George R.R. Martin, who wrote Game of Thrones and its prequel House of the Dragon which respectively inspired the HBO TV series of the same name, slammed the "toxic" tweaks made in the latter's TV adaptation in a blistering social media blog post.


The fiery post has since been taken down but not before a screenshot was taken and shared by Culture Crave on X (formerly Twitter).

House of the Dragon is a spin-off series based on parts of Martin's 2018 book Fire & Blood. Martin co-created the series with showrunner Ryan Condal.

The Game of Thrones prequel takes place about 100 years after the Seven Kingdoms are united by the Targaryen conquest, about 200 years before the events depicted in Game of Thrones, and 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.

The 75-year-old author is not happy about the changes made to the show and the direction it was heading as a result, and he expressed deep concern about how it might affect future plotlines in seasons 3 and 4.

In the deleted post, Martin wrote in part:

"Sometime between the initial decision to remove Maelor a big change was made. The prince’s birth was no longer just going to be pushed back to season three. He was never going to be born at all. The younger son of Aegon and Helaena would never appear."
"Most of you know about the Butterfly Effect, I assume...The lesson being that change begets change, and even small and seemingly insignificant alterations to a timeline - or a story - can have a profound effect on all that follows."
"Maelor is a two-year-old toddler in Fire & Blood but like our butterfly he has an impact on the story all out of proportion to his size."
"Will any of that appear on the show? Maybe... But I don't see how. The butterflies would seem to prohibit it."

"I have no idea what Ryan has planned - if indeed he has planned anything," he said of his co-creator, adding, "but given Maelor's absence from episode two...The simplest way to proceed would be just to drop him entirely."

"From what I know, that seems to be what Ryan is doing here. It's simplest, yes, and may make sense in terms of budgets and shooting schedules. But simpler is not better."

Martin then went on to explain how Maelor's absence could adversely affect future events in House of the Dragon that would not make sense in Fire & Blood.

"What will we offer the fans instead, once we've killed these butterflies? I have no idea," he said.

Martin concluded the lengthy message with:

"I do not recall that Ryan and I ever discussed this. And there are larger and more toxic butterflies to come, if House of the Dragon goes ahead with some of the changes being contemplated for seasons three and four."

Here is the screenshot of the post in full.

Fans weighed in with their varied stances on his epic rant.












Whether or not the original creator's authentic vision for the story is being compromised is up for viewers who are still being entertained by the production quality to decide.

All episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 are available for streaming MAX.

More from Trending

Actress Evangeline Lily speaks during the celebrity event at Tokyo Comic Con.
Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images

Evangeline Lilly Shares Devastating Health Update After Smashing Her Face On A Boulder Last Year

MCU and Lost star Evangeline Lilly is sharing a sobering update with fans nearly a year after a frightening accident left her with a traumatic brain injury.

In May 2025, Lilly fainted while at a beach in Hawaii and fell face-first into a boulder, an incident she detailed in a Substack post published on May 30. Writing candidly about the aftermath, she recalled arriving at the hospital with a severe facial wound, and doctors focused less on the visible injury than on why she had lost consciousness.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chloe Fineman
Stephanie Augello/Variety/Getty Images

'SNL' Star Chloe Fineman Has Fans Cackling With Video Of Her 'Botched' Cosmetic Procedures At Med Spa

Since 2026 has just begun, many of us are still in our "New Year, New Me!" era.

Those who are financially able to do so might take that mantra more literally and book appointments with medical spas and plastic surgeons for fillers, Botox, and other procedures.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dax Shepard; Kristen Bell; Cher
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Cher Brutally Dunks On Kristen Bell's Marriage To Dax Shepard Right To His Face In Hilarious Video

We've all looked at a couple and thought, "what the heck does she see in him?" at one time or another.

And if the couples that make you scratch your head includes actors Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell, you are definitely not alone—even Cher doesn't get it!

Keep ReadingShow less
Laura Loomer; Tucker Carlson
Win McNamee/Getty Images; Tucker Carlson Network

Laura Loomer Demands Comment From White House Over Tucker Carlson's Bonkers 'Globo Homo' Theory About Venezuela

The United States military, working on orders from the administration of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump, sank the first alleged drug-carrying vessel from Venezuela on September 2, 2025. Tensions continued to mount between the two sovereign nations in the aftermath.

Pundits across the political spectrum speculated on Trump's possible motives and endgame.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kristi Noem; Hilton hotel
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images; Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

MAGA Rages After Homeland Security Claims Hilton Canceled Hotel Reservations For ICE Agents

MAGA fans are furious after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) called out Hilton Hotels & Resorts on social media this week after the hotel chain allegedly canceled reservations for ICE agents at a location near Minneapolis.

DHS accused the hotel chain of launching a “coordinated campaign” to cancel reservations after ICE agents attempted to book rooms using government email addresses and discounted federal rates. The allegation surfaced as the Trump administration reportedly began deploying thousands of agents to the Minneapolis area.

Keep ReadingShow less