Who is Maelor Targaryen and why was he cut from House of the Dragon?

George R. R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, recently made a rare move by sharing his thoughts about some of the changes made in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Martin, who is usually silent about the adaptations of his work, voiced his concern regarding the removal of Maelor Targaryen, a character from his book Fire and Blood. This change is significant, as it could alter the course of the story in important ways. Martin’s comments raised questions among fans about how closely the show should stick to the source material, especially given the liberties that were also taken in Game of Thrones.

It’s not common for Martin to speak out publicly about changes in adaptations of his books. While he has expressed disappointment in the past over minor alterations, he has typically maintained a distance when it comes to criticizing the final product. However, the decision to omit Maelor from House of the Dragon prompted him to share his thoughts more openly. His reaction to this particular change is significant, as it suggests that Maelor might play a more important role in the story than what viewers of the show might assume.

The controversy over Maelor’s removal is part of a broader conversation about the balance between staying true to the source material and adapting it for television. House of the Dragon, like Game of Thrones before it, has made several adjustments to streamline the story and fit the constraints of a TV series. While many fans appreciate the changes that keep the show engaging and fast-paced, others argue that some of these alterations take away from the richness of the original story.

This leaves some fans wondering: who exactly is Maelor Targaryen, and why does his removal matter so much?

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12/20/2024 11:27 am GMT

Who is Maelor Targaryen?

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Maelor Targaryen is a character who plays a relatively small role in Fire and Blood, but his presence is critical during some key events in the book. Maelor is the second son of Aegon II and Helaena Targaryen, making him a member of the Greens faction during the Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. Though he is only a child during the events of the book, Maelor’s fate becomes intertwined with some of the most tragic and brutal moments of the conflict.

One of the most significant events involving Maelor is the incident with Blood and Cheese. This occurs early in the Dance of the Dragons, after Aegon II is crowned king by the Greens and his half-sister Rhaenyra is crowned queen by the Blacks. The civil war between the two factions quickly becomes violent, and Maelor’s family is caught in the crossfire. Blood and Cheese are assassins sent by Daemon Targaryen, Rhaenyra’s husband, to take revenge for the death of Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys. Their mission is simple: to kill one of Aegon’s sons as payback.

Blood and Cheese break into the chambers of Helaena Targaryen, where she is with her three young children, Jaehaerys, Jaehaera, and Maelor. They give Helaena a horrifying choice: she must pick one of her sons to die. In her grief and panic, Helaena chooses Maelor, thinking he is too young to understand what is happening. But instead of killing Maelor, Blood and Cheese kill Jaehaerys in front of her, leaving her traumatized. This event has a profound impact on Helaena, who can no longer bear to look at Maelor afterward. Maelor’s presence serves as a constant reminder of her terrible decision, and this guilt drives her deeper into despair.

How does Maelor’s story end?

Credit: Douglas Wheatley

Later in the Dance of the Dragons, another horrifying incident occurs with Maelor after the fall of King’s Landing. As the Blacks’ forces approach the city, Maelor is taken out of King’s Landing by his father’s Kingsguard in an attempt to protect him. However, during their escape, Maelor and his protector, Ser Rickard Thorne, are discovered by a mob at Bitterbridge. Despite Thorne’s efforts to defend Maelor, they are both killed by the angry crowd. This moment is yet another tragedy in the bloody conflict that defines the Dance of the Dragons.

This incident has a profound impact on the Greens. Young Prince Daeron Targaryen, Maelor’s uncle, sets the town of Bitterbridge ablaze with his dragon Tessarion. Even more tragically, Queen Helaena throws herself from her window, ending her life. Many believe that Maelor’s death is the cause for her action.

Read More: Who are Blood and Cheese? House of the Dragon sets up a disturbing storyline

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Why was Maelor removed from House of the Dragon?

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Ryan Condal, the showrunner of House of the Dragon, explained in a podcast that the decision to remove Maelor was not made lightly. He noted that including Maelor in the show would have created challenges with casting and timelines. The show has already compressed several events from the book to fit within the constraints of a TV series, and adding another young character could have slowed down the pacing of the story.

Condal also pointed out that Maelor’s role in the book is relatively small, and while his presence is important during key events like the Blood and Cheese incident, the showrunners felt that his absence would not drastically change the direction of the story. By focusing on the core characters and streamlining the narrative, the show aims to keep viewers engaged without becoming bogged down by too many subplots or minor characters.

That being said, Condal acknowledged that the decision to omit Maelor was not without risk. Fans of the book are often highly attuned to details, and changes like this can have a ripple effect on the overall narrative. For example, the Blood and Cheese incident in the show may feel different without Maelor’s involvement, and some fans may feel that the emotional impact of the scene is lessened as a result.

Despite these concerns, Condal expressed confidence that the show’s adaptation of the story remains true to the spirit of the source material. He emphasized that while certain characters or events may be altered, the core themes and conflicts of the Dance of the Dragons will still be preserved.

Read More: Fans think that Helaena is pregnant with Maelor in House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 1

George R. R. Martin’s reaction to the change

Credit: Amy Sussman

George R. R. Martin’s reaction to the removal of Maelor Targaryen is noteworthy because it is rare for him to publicly criticize changes made in the adaptations of his work. In the past, Martin has remained relatively silent on the creative decisions made by the showrunners of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, even when those decisions deviate from his books.

However, in this case, Martin felt strongly enough to voice his concerns on his blog. He specifically mentioned that removing Maelor from the story could have significant consequences, particularly in how certain events unfold. Martin’s comments suggest that he sees Maelor as a more integral part of the story than the showrunners may have realized.

Martin has previously expressed disappointment over other changes made in the adaptation of his work, such as the alteration of the Targaryen sigil in Game of Thrones. In that instance, the sigil’s design was changed from a two-legged dragon to a four-legged one, a decision that Martin felt was unnecessary. His reaction to the removal of Maelor follows a similar pattern, as he seems to believe that even small changes can have a big impact on the story’s overall integrity.

HBO’s response to Martin’s blog post was swift, as they reportedly asked him to take it down. While the post is no longer available, the fact that Martin wrote it at all has sparked discussions among fans about the importance of staying true to the source material in adaptations. Some fans agree with Martin, arguing that Maelor’s removal takes away from the richness of the story, while others support the show’s decision to streamline the narrative for the sake of pacing and clarity.

Read More: House of the Dragon showrunner calls Maelor’s omission a “compromise”