House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal has responded to criticisms from Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin regarding the series' second season, calling them "disappointing." The drama unfolded after Martin promised in August 2024 to discuss "everything that’s gone wrong with House of the Dragon," a promise he fulfilled by critiquing plot elements involving Aegon and Helaena’s children. He expressed concerns about the future direction of the show. Although Martin's post was later removed from his website without explanation, it had already caught the attention of thousands of fans and HBO.

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Condal shared his thoughts on Martin's criticisms, emphasizing the personal impact it had on him. "It was disappointing," he said. "I've been a fan of A Song of Ice and Fire for nearly 25 years, and working on the show has been one of the greatest privileges of my career and life as a fan of science fiction and fantasy. George is a literary icon and a personal hero, deeply influential to me as a writer."

Condal acknowledged the challenges of adapting Fire & Blood for television, explaining that the source material is an "incomplete history" requiring significant creative interpretation. "It's this incomplete history and it requires a lot of joining of the dots and a lot of invention as you go along the way," he noted. He stressed his efforts to involve Martin in the adaptation process over the years, describing their initial collaboration as "mutually fruitful" and "strong." However, he noted that as they progressed, Martin became "unwilling to acknowledge the practical issues at hand in a reasonable way."

Condal elaborated on the challenges he faced as a showrunner, balancing his roles as a creative writer and a practical producer. "At the end of the day, I just have to keep marching not only the writing process forward, but also the practical parts of the process forward for the sake of the crew, the cast, and for HBO, because that's my job," he explained. He expressed hope that he and Martin could "rediscover that harmony someday."

He also highlighted the lengthy process of finalizing creative decisions, which can take "many months, if not years," and emphasized his role in ensuring the show appeals not only to Game of Thrones readers but also to a broader television audience.

Despite some strains, HBO and Martin continue to have multiple projects in development. While some have been shelved, fans can look forward to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which Martin has praised as a "faithful adaptation," and potentially another Targaryen-centered spinoff. Meanwhile, House of the Dragon has begun production on its third season, following a successful second season that received a 7/10 in our review.