All the major differences between ‘Fire And Blood’ and HOTD

It’s been over a week since HBO’s House of the Dragons (HOTD) wrapped its first season. The series has conformed to its predecessor (Game of Thrones, GOT) in its story grandeur, fantastic world-building, and stunning visual effects. From the end of the first season, the speculations and expectation started for the next season. HOTD, however, took some major liberties from its source material – George RR Martin’s Fire and blood. Here we list all the major changes made by the show as opposed to those described/mentioned in the book.

HOTD S1xE1: Heirs of the Dragon

• Princess Rhaenys Targaryen has black hair (from her mother Baratheon), not silver gray (as shown in HOTD).
• Members of House Velaryon are light-skinned.
• King Jahaerys the Elder never attended the Great Council of 101 AC.
• Lord Corlys Velaryon was never the captain of the ships in King Viserys’ small council.
• Alicent Hightower is about nine years older than Rhaenyra Targaryen.
• Rhaenyra and Alicent were never very close (prior to Alicent and Viserys’ marriage) as shown on the show.
• Alicent’s brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower, is actually younger than her, but in the series he is revealed to be older during the tournament.
• According to the book, the sigil of House Velaryon is a seahorse, but in the show it’s actually a horse with a tail.
• According to the book, the sigil of House Targaryen is a three-headed dragon with two legs. But in the show it is shown to be a three-headed dragon with four legs (sometimes a two-legged seal is also visible).
• There was no tournament held for Prince Baelon’s birth in the books.
• The death of Queen Aemma Arryn is absent from the books, it is merely mentioned.
• According to the book, Aegon I conquered the Six Kingdoms purely out of ambition and not because of a prophetic dream of White Walkers. This show idea was suggested to the showrunners by author George RR Martin himself.
• Rhaenyra never chooses Ser Criston Cole, instead he was chosen as Rhaenyra’s personal white knight after defeating Daemon twice.
• According to the book, Syrax was a court dragon and was not kept at Dragonpit like the other dragons, but rather Syrax was kept in one of the stables at Red Keep, heavily chained.

HOTD S1xE2: The Rogue Prince

• In the book, Laena Velaryon is older than Rhaenyra and younger than Alicent.
• Besides House Targryen and House Velaryon, House Celtigar was also of Valryrian descent (which survived Doom of Valyria).
• King Jaherys, the Elder had previously declared Princess Aerea as his heir until he had children of his own.
• Mysaria becomes pregnant with Daemon’s child.

HOTD S1xE3: Second of the name

• King Viserys hated hunting.
• Ser Vaemond Velaryon is Ser Corlys’ nephew in the book, instead of his brother (as shown in HOTD).
• Instead of Ser Otto (like in HOTD), it’s Alicent who suggests Aegon and Rhaenyra’s marriage.

HOTD S1xE4: King of the Narrow Sea

• In the book, it’s Samwell Blackwood (not Willem Blackwood) and Ser Amos Bracken (not Jerrel Bracken) who duel, and no one dies.
• Daemon, after killing the Crabfeeder, returns to a Tournament and not the Red Keep, i.e. the Tournament and Queen Aemma’s death occurs after the Battle of Stepstones, not before.
• Alicent is still defending her eldest son Aegon’s claim.

HOTD S1xE5: We Light the Way

• Daemon does not kill Lady Rhea, but she dies after falling from a horse. When he died, Daemon was in Stepstones.
• Joffrey Lonmouth is killed by Daemon during a tournament and not at Rhaneyra and Laenor’s wedding feast.
• Rhaenyra marries Ser Laenor to bolster her claim.
• Daemon does not attend Rhaenyra’s wedding.
• Alicent wears the color green on her fifth wedding anniversary to King, not the wedding.

HOTD S1xE6: The Princess and the Queen

• Baela and Rhaena Targaryens are light skinned.
• Laena does not die of Dragonfire in the middle of childbirth, but instead delivers a baby (who dies within the hour), and herself dies three days later.
• It is never clearly mentioned that Ser Larys was the one behind the burning of Harrenhal (the death of his father and brother).
• Ser Erryk Cargyll was Rhaneyra’s sworn shield and not Ser Harwin Strong.

HOTD S1xE7: Driftmark

• Prince Aemond loses his right eye instead of his left (as shown in HOTD).
• Ser Laenor really dies at the hands of Ser Qarl Correy due to a personal feud. He never faked his death, and Rhaenyra and Daemon didn’t help him.
• The children’s fight only takes place between Aemond, Jacaerys and Lucerys. Damon’s daughters (Baela and Rhaena) are not present.
• Ser Corlys never declares Lucerys to be his successor in Driftmark before his death.

HOTD S1xE8: Lord of the Tides

• Ser Vaemond Velaryon never comes to King’s Landing to discuss Driftmark’s legacy, only his corpse is brought by Daemon, thereafter Viserys removes his sons’ tongues.
• King Viserys’ illness is radically different – he does not lose an arm or half of his face, he only loses two fingers, until his peaceful death.

HOTD S1xE9: The Green Board

• Ser Erryck leaves to serve (as sworn shield) Rhaenyra long before Viserys’ death and was never present at Aegon’s coronation.
• Approximately seven to nine days have passed between King Viserys’ death and Aegon’s coronation and Viserys’ corpse is not removed from his chambers until he begins to smell and makes everyone suspicious.
• Lord Larys Strong of Harenhal is a member of the Green Council as Master Whisperer, however, in the show he is absent from the council.
• Ser Criston Cole is also the Commander of the Kingsguard within the Green Council, but in the series he is only Queen Alicent’s sworn shield.
• Ser Criston slits Ser Beesbury’s throat during the green council, in the show, however, his head is smashed on the table.
• Initially reluctant, Aegon accepts the crown after Ser Criston Cole convinces him that if Rhaenyra becomes queen, she will kill him and his entire family.

HOTD S1xE10: The Dark Queen

• Rhaenyra’s stillborn daughter, Visenya, had a story and a hole where her heart was supposed to be.
• The stolen crown of the late King Viserys is brought to Rhaenyra by Ser Steffon Darklyn Does instead of Ser Erryck Cargyll.
• Instead of Rhaenyra, Lord Corlys Velaryon suggests attacking King’s Landing with dragons.
• Otto Hightower never visits Dragonstone to bring peace terms to Rhaneyra, he is brought by Maester Orwyle and two knights.
• Prince Aemond never tried to stop Vhagar from killing Prince Lucerys nor complained about it, rather it was an intentional act on his part.