The long-awaited second season of House of the Dragon has arrived, but the premiere episode is already causing division among fans due to a controversial scene.
Despite the ongoing war and family rift in House of the Dragon Season 2, there was one specific book scene that fans were eagerly anticipating. The infamous duo of Blood and Cheese, who were brought together by Daemon to carry out the assassination of Aemond, are renowned as the most notorious pair in all of Westeros.
Despite their initial loyalty, Blood and Cheese betray their cause and the situation takes a dark turn when they set their sights on Aegon’s eldest son, Jaehaerys. This long-awaited event, which may pique fans’ macabre interest, finally occurs in Season 2 Episode 1 of House of the Dragon. However, the outcome is not exactly as expected, causing a division among viewers as to whether the show did justice to the scene.
As is common with adaptations, the TV show took some creative liberties with the events of the book. Caution: spoilers ahead!
The show changes one key Blood and Cheese detail
After Aemond’s murder of Lucerys in the finale of House of the Dragon Season 1, Daemon sets out on a quest to avenge Rhaenyra’s son and restore balance by seeking “a son for a son.”
In spite of this, Blood and Cheese, consisting of a King’s Landing guard and a Red Keep ratcatcher, deviate from this definition and ultimately murder Jaehaerys, the infant son and future king of Aegon.
Despite Helaena Targaryen pointing to her youngest son, Maelor, as the chosen sacrifice, Blood and Cheese still kill her other son, Jaehaerys, and cruelly inform Maelor that his own mother desired his death.
In Season 2, the situation is completely different. The timeline of the show shows that Maelor has not yet been born. When Blood and Cheese ask Helaena which of the twins is the male, she indicates Jaehaerys. At first, they are suspicious that she is trying to deceive them.
Despite her honesty, the child is still beheaded. In the novel, Helaena shrieks in terror, while in the television adaptation, she hastily snatches her daughter and flees the chamber.
Fans Divided Over Changes
Located in the brutal world created by George R.R. Martin, viewers of the show have a natural desire for authenticity and brutality. However, due to the altered atmosphere and the absence of Helaena’s decision, there are some who are dissatisfied with the execution of this highly anticipated scene.
Despite the changes, there are those who still appreciate it and argue that it has actually toned down the scene in a way that makes it more suitable for television.
According to a Reddit user, the scene in the book seemed to be an exaggerated and sadistic exercise by cartoon villains, which could be attributed to the fact that the book is written by fictional “historians”and includes choices and plot points that seem far-fetched.
The scene in the TV show depicted the incident as a brutal and direct assassination, emphasizing the urgent and high stakes while also maintaining a grim realism that highlighted the dangerous situation.
Some users also shared the sentiment, with one even saying, “I was prepared to leave the room during this scene, but the way it was executed made it tolerable and served its emotional and plot purposes effectively.”
“Another person, who also enjoys reading books, shared their thoughts: “I am pleased with the direction they took. It was difficult for me to watch, even though I am not a father. The act of killing a child is too much for me, so I am glad they chose this path.”
Despite the opinions of some, there were those who believed that the show did not fully depict the brutality and were concerned about what it could mean for the upcoming episodes.
One commenter argued that their criticism of this episode was not directed towards the actual event itself. They believed that the book version had a greater impact and was personally better. Additionally, they felt that the buildup to the event in the TV show was lazily written and lacked consideration for the context of the overall story.
“Another person commented that the current state of the scene is terrible and that the show is starting to seem like a parody of its former self.”
One commenter expressed sympathy for George R.R. Martin, stating that they now understood why he may be upset with the show. They believed that the show’s creator had shown a lack of respect for the original material and that they would also be angry if they were in Martin’s shoes.
We also have comprehensive guides on the Seven Kingdoms and every Targaryen monarch, providing further information.
Additionally, make sure not to overlook the other recently released television series debuting this month.
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