Okay, so as a huge fantasy fan, I was a little shocked to hear George RR Martin himself say things aren’t going well with Ryan Condal, the showrunner for House of the Dragon. He basically admitted their relationship is, and I quote, “abysmal” right now. It’s never good when the creator and the person running the show aren’t on the same page, honestly. It makes you worry about where things are headed with the series.
The author, who wrote the book ‘Fire & Blood’ that the ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel is based on, previously criticized the show’s second season. He disagreed with some of the plot changes, and had voiced these concerns in a blog post that has since been removed.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, George R.R. Martin described his relationship with former showrunner Miguel Sapochnik as “abysmal,” going further than simply calling it difficult.
I brought Ryan on board, and I initially believed we were true partners. We had a great working relationship throughout the first season. I’d review early versions of the scripts, offer feedback, and he’d make adjustments. Honestly, I thought it was going really well.
Miguel Sapochnik, who ran the show alongside Condal, left after season one due to disagreements with HBO, the details of which haven’t been made public.
According to Martin, things changed in the second season, and the other person stopped taking his feedback. He’d offer suggestions, but they weren’t acted upon. Sometimes he’d get an explanation, and other times he’d just receive a vague acknowledgment like, ‘I’ll consider it.’
Things continued to escalate, and I became increasingly frustrated. Eventually, HBO asked me to share all my notes with them, promising to combine them with Ryan’s and provide a consolidated version.
When questioned about his decision to return for season 3 despite disagreements with Condal, Martin simply stated he was unable to discuss the matter.
Fans can expect the third season of the Game of Thrones spin-off in late 2026. The year is already looking promising for the franchise, with another new series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premiering in January.
You can watch seasons 1 and 2 of House of the Dragon on Sky and NOW. Learn how to subscribe to Sky TV to start streaming.
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Molly Moss writes about the newest trends in television, movies, and other media for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-01-16 14:29