Ryan Condal breaks the silence after the criticisms of the author of The Game of Thrones and clarifies what really happened with the second season
The tensions between the creator of Poniente and the team of The Dragon House I’m no longer a secret. What began as a promising collaboration between George RR Martin and HBO seems to have entered a phase of ice, with crossed arrows and controversial decisions that have shaken the fans. Finally, the Ryan Condal showrunner gave his version of the facts.
Everything exploded at the end of last summer, when Martin advanced in his blog that he would spoke “of everything that came badly” The Dragon House. Shortly after publishing a voice loaded with reproaches to the changes that Condal had introduced in the second season. And, as if this were not enough, he warned that the worst had yet to arrive in the third.
The dragon house between the sword and the dragon
“He was disappointing,” said the Condal in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The screenwriter explained that he was a fan of Song of ice and fireAnd that adapting this universe was not only a professional, but also personal goal. “George is a literary monument, a personal hero,” he said, visibly struck by the distance.
The Dragon HouseRemember, It does not adapt a traditional novelup to Fire and bloodAn imaginary “historical book” that leaves many holes and requires that the screenwriters connect the points with creative licenses. “It requires a lot of invention on the march,” said Condal. And there it seems to have been the conflict.
“I did my best to include George in the adaptation process, for years. And for a while we have had a very productive and positive collaboration”He said the showrunner. But with the passage of time, he says, Martin refused to accept the practical difficulties of the processLike the production limits, the television rhythm and the necessary narrative changes for the story to work on the screen.
The custody of the blood and cheese and the missing son
Martin’s strongest criticisms have concentrated The elimination of the character of Prince Maelor TargaryenThe youngest son of Aegon and Helaena, during the arch of Blood Y Cheese. In books, his death has enormous consequences for the development of the conflict and for the evolution of the characters in the following seasons.
But in the series, The Condal decided that Aegon and Helaena had only two children: the twins Jaehaera and Jaeharys. An election that made the author angry, since, according to him, he distorts future key events. Even like that, the showrunner insists this Every creative decision is discussed for months, even yearsAnd they all cross it.
“It is the series I want to do and I think, like a deep reader of Fire and bloodwhich is the adaptation that we must do not only to serve the original material, but also for a huge television audience “AR said.
A possible meeting between creator and showrunner?
Despite the tension, the conduct does not close the door at all. “I can only expect that George and I will recover that harmony one day”he commented. At the moment, however, the swords remain high and The Dragon House Progress without the complete blessing of its creator.
The third season is already in production and although fans are looking forward to seeing what will bring, the shadow of controversial decisions on HBO dragons.
Definitive creative break?
This is not the first time that Martin is fundamental for the adaptations of his work. During the last seasons of game of ThronesThe author is not also marked in several interviews. However, What hurts especially now is that The Dragon House He was born with his most direct sealbased on a book entirely his book and with his initial collaboration.
For his part, the Condal clarified that His double role as a screenwriter and producer forces him to make practical decisionsAlthough this means putting aside the suggestions of George RR Martin himself.
In the meantime, HBO fully trusts the direction of the series, which was a success of both criticism and the public. But the question persists: Can a series set in Ponient survive if your creator refuses him publicly?