Includes SPOILERS for potential House of the Dragon events, based on information from Fire & Blood.
Criticisms surroundedHouse of the Dragonafter leaving out Maelor Targaryen, but it’s still possible to implement his character in season 3. The HBO prequel series is based onFire & Blood, a companion book toGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Fireseries, but its second season received a divisive response from its audience for its many changes from the source material. In the book,Maelor Targaryen is the third son of King Aegon II and Helaena, and his omission drastically changed the dynamic of the Blood & Cheeseassassinationin season 2’s premiere.
George R.R. Martin took to his blog for abrutal assessment ofHouse of the Dragonseason 2, addressing his concerns about the removal of Maelor Targaryen. He explains that showrunnerRyan Condal’s initial plan was to add Maelor in for season 3but that this no longer seems to be happening. Martin expressed how this would cause a domino effect on future events, eventually weakeningHouse of the Dragon’sentire adaptation. While Maelor’s casting seems unlikely, it’s worth breaking down the possibility of how it could happen if HBO changes its mind in the wake of Martin’s post.
Helaena Could Already Be Pregnant With Maelor Heading Into House Of The Dragon Season 3
It’s Not Too Late To Work Maelor Into HOTD
House of the Dragondoesn’t exactly account for how much time passes between episodes, but assuming based on the pace of armies marching, season 2 likely spanned several weeks. In theHouse of the Dragontimeline,it wouldn’t have been impossible for Maelor to be conceived sometime before the end of season 1, which could make Helaena deep into her pregnancy by season 3. It would be shocking that this wasn’t mentioned at all in season 1, given that Jaehaerys was killed and Helaena’s baby could potentially be the new heir, but it’s the best they’ve got.
After sustaining injuries at the Battle of Rook’s Rest and fleeing King’s Landing in theHouse of the Dragonseason 2 ending, it’s impossible now for Aegon to birth new heirs. So, if Maelor is to be born, either Helaena is already pregnant, or Aemond will somehow become the father. Either option is messy, but it’s the only way it could happen at this point, given how events have played out. If HBO wants to appease Martin by trying to patch up this narrative, these are the only options.
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Maelor’s Story Still Works If He’s Born In House Of The Dragon Season 3
Maelor Being Born Late Wouldn’t Damage His Narrative
The bulk of George R.R. Martin’s issue with Maelor’s removal wasn’t that the character was absent from Blood & Cheese but that his absence would create more issues down the line. After Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing in the book, Helaena’s remaining children, Jaehaera and Maelor, are spirited out of the city by knights. As a result,Maelor is taken by common folk, who rip him to shreds, driving Helaena to her death by suicide. Maelor’s part in the story is crucial to Helaena’s horrific fate, and it’s better late than never to make it work.
House of the Dragoncan’t alter Blood & Cheese, but it’s not impossible to find a way to introduce Maelor early in season 3, somehow postponing Rhaenyra’s attack long enough for Helaena to give birth. Then, Bitterbridge could happen, leading to Helaena’s suicide at the end of the season as Martin intended. The age of the baby doesn’t really matter for this season, and the scene is almost more threatening with a newborn. However, an interesting aspect was the fact that Maelor had survived Blood & Cheese after Helaena chose him to die, adding to the later pain.
How Likely Is House Of The Dragon Season 3 Introducing Maelor?
It’s Not Likely Unless The Writing Team Changes Course After Martin’s Comments
Given that George R.R. Martin has already stated that Maelor isn’t happening,it doesn’t seem likely that he’ll make an appearance in season 3. The only option now would be for HBO to acknowledge the backlash to the show following Martin’s blog post and attempt to change course, but the network’s statement affirms their belief in Ryan Condal’s direction (viaDeadline). Condal has also stated that they’ll be following through with the setup established by season 2. Here’s his comment toVarietyon the matter:
“I would just anticipate the cadence of the show, from a dramatic storytelling perspective, will continue to be the same from Season 2 on.”
So, it’s not too late forHouse of the Dragonto make changes to its narrative, but it doesn’t seem like Ryan Condal intends to. The showrunner seems to be keeping logistical reasons in mind, and pressure in budget and time constraints from Warner Bros. also appear to be factors, given many of the recent interviews.House of the Dragonmay not work the way book fans are hoping for, but some entertaining dragon action is guaranteed to come.
Sources:Deadline,Variety
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
