'House of the Dragon': Why We Should Expect More Scenes To Differ From The Book

Season two of House of the Dragon is off to a harrowing beginning, with the first two episodes exploring Queen Rhaenyra's grief over the death of her son, Prince Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar, and a mis-aimed retaliatory strike that leads to the grisly murder of King Aegon II's son and heir, Prince Jaeherys, as well as the heartbreaking aftermath.

While the series has earned mostly positive reviews, particularly for it's performances, some fans have expressed disappointment at some pivotal scenes diverging from how they were portrayed in Fire & Blood, the book of Targaryen history on which House of the Dragon is based. As the series continues, we will likely see more deviations from the book, but that doesn't mean, as some fans claim, that the adaptation has been botched.

Let's look at two of the scenes that have differed most greatly to those in the book, why those changes came about, and why we will see more changes without the story being ruined.

The Death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon

In both Fire & Blood and the first season of House of the Dragon, the true beginning of the Targaryen Civil War known as the Dance of the Dragons came with the death of Prince Lucerys Velaryon, the second-born son of Rhaenyra Targaryen. Both versions of the story begin much the same. Lucerys arrives at Storm's End to treat with Lord Borros Baratheon on Rhaenyra's behalf, only to discover that his Uncle, Prince Aemond Targaryen is already in attendance with his much larger, more experienced dragon, Vhagar, to treat on behalf of his brother, Aegon II. A scuffle erupts between the two Princes over the past loss of Aemond's eye. Not wanting bloodshed under his roof, Borros orders them out. Lucerys flees on Arrax, with Aemond and Vhagar in pursuit.

It is here that the book and show begin to differ. The accounts given in Fire & Blood strongly portray Luke's death as intentional, cold-blooded murder on Aemond's part, with Rhaenyra's Blacks denouncing Aemond as a kin-slayer, while Aegon II celebrates the death as a victory.

The TV series paints a different picture. While Aemond pursues and taunts Lucerys, the situation does not turn deadly until a panicked Arrax disobeys his rider and attacks Vhagar. Aemond then loses control of Vhagar, who retaliates and kills Luke and Arrax against his orders. During his conversation with the Brothel Madam in 2x02, Aemond confirms that Luke's death was an accident, though he has not admitted this to anyone else. While some fans disliked the apparent change, others believed it added depth to Aemond's character and the tragedy of the coming war, as well as giving both the characters and viewers a painful reminder that Dragons can never fully be controlled.

Blood and Cheese, aka the murder of Prince Jaeherys

Another scene which some fans have frowned upon upon for it's differences from the book is the recent murder of little Prince Jaehaerys, which ocurred onscreen in 'A Son for a Son', the opening episode of House of the Dragon's second season.

In Fire & Blood, following the death of Prince Lucerys, Prince Daemon Targaryen sends two assassins, former City Watch member Blood and a royal Rat Catcher, Cheese, to bring him the head of one of Aegon II's sons. Queen Rhaenyra's complicity in this plan is not mentioned, but she is not stated to be against it. At this point, King Aegon II and his Sister-Queen, Helaena, have three Children: Aegon's son and heir, Prince Jaehaerys, his twin, Princess Jaehaera, and a younger son, Prince Maelor.

Blood and Cheese corner Helaena and her children on a nightly visit to Dowager Queen Alicent, ordering Helaena to choose which of her sons will die. After the assassins refuse the offer of Helaena's own life, she reluctantly names Maelor, hoping he is too young to understand. Instead, Blood kills Jaehaerys and flees with his severed head. The guilt and horror cause Helaena to slip into insanity, costing her the ability to ride her dragon, Dreamfyre.

In House of the Dragon, Rhaenyra very specifically wishes to target Aemond, as direct revenge for Luke's death. Daemon gives Aemond's name to Blood and Cheese, but they ask for another option in case they cannot find him, with the scene cutting away before Daemon's reply.

Aegon and Helaena have only two children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. Unable to tell the twins apart, the assassins force Helaena to reveal which of her children is a boy, leaving her to flee with her daughter while they behead him. While the Greens jump to pin the murder on Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra staunchly denies the allegations, claiming she would never order harm on Helaena or her innocent children.

Some fans prefer the more brutal nature of the Blood and Cheese scene in the book, but there are reasons that the story differs between page and screen.

Three sides to every story

The A Song of Ice and Fire books that inspired Game of Thrones were novels, with each chapter taking place from the point of view of a major character in the story and their personal experiences. Fire & Blood, on the other hand, is a cobbled together account of Targaryen history taken from various sources. The section covering the Dance of Dragons features testimony from Mushroom, a court Fool in Rhaenyra's service, Grand Maester Munkun, and Septon Eustace, who supports Aegon II's claim.

Note that all three are outside observers of the events, with their own perspectives and prejudices likely colouring their testimony. These characters are not even present during all of the events, with their accounts built from second hand information after the fact.

As the saying goes, there are three sides to every story: Your side, My side, and the Truth. The accounts in Fire & Blood come from biased, unreliable narrators. For that reason, we can not take the version of events in the book as gospel when adapting them in House of the Dragon. We will likely see more altered scenes in the future, and thats not a bad thing.

Mushroom, Eustace, and Munkun will never know what really happened between Aemond and Lucerys above Storm's End, but Aemond does. This means that House of the Dragon, which takes place from the perspective of the characters who were involved rather than outside observers, as well as being approved and contributed to by George R.R Martin himself, may well be the closest we ever get to the real truth about the Dance of Dragons.