For years, George R. R. Martin has been the quiet constant behind HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ universe, a creator who, even when sidelined, still carried enormous influence. However, in an uncharacteristically candid moment, the author has now disclosed the extent to which his relationship with ‘House of the Dragon’ showrunner Ryan Condal has gone sour.
What started as a good creative relationship, according to Martin himself, has turned out to be something “abysmal”. The news is revealed by a new profile that lifts the veil of the B-T-S tension. And though author-showrunner conflicts are not a recent development, Martin’s remarks indicate that there is more than creative conflict at play: a loss of trust, communication, and shared ownership of the story.
George R. R. Martin Confirms Creative Dispute Over ‘House Of The Dragon’
At the time of the release of ‘House of the Dragon’, Martin thought that he had a partner who understood Westeros. He remembers a period when he and Condal were close collaborators, reading early script drafts together, sharing notes, and making amendments that were more of a partnership than a confrontation.
For Martin, it wasn’t just consultation; it was partnership. “I thought Ryan and I were partners. And we were all through the first season. I would read early drafts of the scripts. I would give notes. He would change some things. It was working really well, I thought,” he told THR.
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Adjustments were made. It was a respectful and productive process, although not perfect. That equilibrium started to change in the transition to Season 2. Martin explains how he felt that his voice was being marginalized. Notes were not answered or even addressed in a polite manner.
It was not the disagreement that made him feel frustrated, but the feeling of not being heard. Martin states that the turning point was a Zoom meeting where Condal presented his vision for Season 3.
Martin got more and more out of touch with the story being suggested as he listened. He objected to many things. “This is not my story any longer,” he said. Ironically, Martin had earlier defended Condal in intra-company conflicts at HBO, even publicly, when co-showrunner Miguel Sapochnik left the series.
Martin was a believer in Condal’s leadership. In retrospect, that loyalty makes the present estrangement even more personal.
The Complicated Relationship Behind HBO’s ‘House Of The Dragon’
The tension between Martin and Condal did not last long behind closed doors. Martin wrote a blog post in September 2024 that soon gained notoriety. Although he mostly gave glorifying reviews of ‘House of the Dragon’ in terms of its performances, production, and writing, he was highly critical of one particular plot alteration, which he felt weakened the long-term logic of the story.
Martin further asserted that Condal had already vowed to offset that decision with another narrative change, one which, in his opinion, had been silently dropped.
The post hit a chord, not necessarily due to its criticism, but because it revealed a conflict that fans had long been aware of. The post disappeared within hours. Martin claims that HBO had approached his manager when he was asleep, and the blog entry was deleted without his personal participation.
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When he awoke, the damage and the talk had already spread. “I would’ve put it back up,” Martin admitted, “but then I would’ve looked like an idiot.” His frustration is palpable, especially given that most of the posts were positive. “Eighty percent of it was praise,” he noted.
The point of disagreement is not the only thing that is striking, but the emotional toll it appears to have had. Martin doesn’t sound angry; he sounds disappointed, a creator who sees his story slipping out of his grasp as it happens.
It is a reminder that even creative success does not ensure creative harmony. The question that the rift poses as House of the Dragon continues its progress is an uncomfortable one: how far can a story travel from its original author before it becomes something else entirely?
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