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It isn’tHouse of the Dragonif an episode or an event does not cause controversy and leads to countless ‘civil wars’ within the hugeGame of Thronesfandom. Ever since the series debuted on our screens, fans and critics have found one or the other thing controversial and problematic about the plot, which is based on/inspired by the writing of George R.R. Martin.
Yet, despite the controversy and backlash, the series continues to be one of the most-watched and fan-favorite fantasy ones of all time. However, its status might not remain so given the recent backlashHouse of the Dragonshowrunner faced after he claimed one bizarre season 2 scene as ‘fan service’.
House of the DragonShowrunner Ryan Condal Defends Bizarre Season 2 Scene
House of the Dragonis one of the best fantasy shows in recent times, but given the series is based on a written source, fans are not always happy that the show takes creative liberties when and wherever it likes. While there are several instances we can point out that fans have found problematic and taxing, recently, it is a bizarre season 2 plot that has caught the ire of fans.
Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower are shown as the best of friends in the season of the show. But when Alicent is married off to King Viserys Targaryen, becoming Rhaenyra’s stepmother, things slowly descend into chaos one by one.
House Of The Dragon Star Milly Alcock Thinks ‘Rhaenyra Versus Alicent’ Online Reactions Are ‘F***ing Ironic’
Soon, Alicent takes over Rhaenyra’s throne, making her son, Aegon, the king, as her second son, Aemond, ends up killing Rhaenyra’s child, Lucerys. Yet, both, in their own ways, continue to pine for each other. This eventually leads to Episode 3 of the show’s season 2, where Rhaenyra disguises herself and enters King’s Landing to meet Alicent.
Although their relationship remains as divided as ever, this particular plotline has been criticized by fans. However,House of the DragonshowrunnerRyan Condalrecently defended the actin the officialpodcastof the series by stating that everyone wanted to see the two characters and the actors together. Labeling the controversial act as fan service, fans of the series are up in revolt claiming they never wanted the show to go as far.
House of the DragonFaces Fresh Wave of Criticism After Ryan Condal’s Claims
House of the Dragonis a TV show narrating fictional events as stories, while the book it is based on,Fire & Blood, is more of a historical account of the same fictional stories. Given the difference between the two, it has allowed the makers ofHOTDto take creative liberties and introduce eventsthat were probably not considered worthy of being ‘written down as historical accounts’. One such creative liberty features Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) sharing the screen after the many tumultuous and disastrous events in their relationship.
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After showrunner Ryan Condal defended their reunion, giving the reasoning that fans wanted to see them together, fans of the show have been busy bashing Condal and the rest of the team for making such a decision.
It’s not in the book because it’s dumb and unbelievable and she would have been killed right then & there.@ryancondalthinks the most infamous person in the city- wanted for murdering a crown prince – just slips in & out?It’s fantasy, not insanity.
— Joshua Hartley (@JHartley2)July 17, 2025
The writers should stop giving us Rhaenyra and Alicent scenes unnecessarily.
Nothing useful comes from it and we are tired at this point.
— Rudzani🇿🇦 (@RudzaniFudanshi)August 24, 2025
so he did it for fan service, wtf kind of writer does that
— t✰ (@twrIdd)June 09, 2025
And it’s arguably the weakest scene in the entire show. Good job, Ryan and Sarah. You undermined the rest of the story because you had to insert your poorly-written fanfiction instead of just waiting until a moment presented itself where these characters could interact naturally.
— Enlightened Serf 🥥🌴 (@enlightenserf)July 03, 2025
Fan service is ruining television
— grim 🪦 (@babyyygrim)August 23, 2025
No need and reason for this
It was poorly scripted
— HeavenBound (@gospelsongsng)June 05, 2025
As fans continue to call out the writers and showrunners for ruining a well-running plot with unnecessary acts of ‘fan fiction’ for the sake of ‘fan service’, it is clear that many of them seem to be losing interest. For a work based on a written piece of material, history has stood as evidence that no unfaithful work gets to enjoy enduring popularity and success.
Hence, it is about time that the show’s creators address these issues and navigate these challenges carefully to maintain the series’ status as a beloved fantasy epic.
House of the Dragoncan be streamed on Max.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
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Alicent HightowerEmma D’ArcyGeorge R.R. MartinHouse of the DragonOlivia CookeRhaenyra TargaryenRyan Condal
