‘The House of the Dragon’: Why coshowrunner, Miguel Sapochnik, reportedly decided to leave the series

In August, when two of the “House of the Dragon” episodes had just come out, coshowrunner Miguel Sapochnik announced that he would retire and not fall behind the second season. Sapochnik was already a veteran worker in “Game of Thrones”, where he directed the emblematic Battle of Winterfell, and in the prequel he is the director behind one of the most commented episodes, “Mercaderivia”, both for the decisive moment between two of the characters main features as well as for its technical proposal. The showrunner didn’t give a reason for his departure, but a new report from Puck could reveal the keys.

According to Collider, Puck points to a possible contentious relationship between Sapochnik and HBO. While it initially appeared that after leaving he would be given a favorable contract to continue working for the platform, the outlet says this is unlikely to continue. Apparently the director had one “prolonged fight” with HBO in connection with the participation of his wife, Alexis Raben, as a producer of the series. HBO reportedly objected to Raben returning to serve as producer in season 2 when Sapochnik pitched it, arguing that I didn’t have enough experience.

Of course, Alexis Raben had not been a producer before producing the ten episodes of ‘House of the Dragon’, where she also plays the role of Talya in four of them. However, she is not her first appearance in the franchise: she played Xela in a chapter of the last season of ‘Game of Thrones’.

Although HBO decided to have a mediator try to resolve the issue, Sapochnik finally concluded that the situation was untenable and left the show with his wife. “It’s been incredibly difficult, but I know it’s the right decision for me personally and professionally.”Sapochnik said when announcing his retirement. Since then, the co-creator of this fantastic adaptation, Ryan Condal, has directed the series alone, collaborating with the author of the original work and also co-creator George RR Martin.

SPOILERS WARNING!

* If you haven’t seen “House of the Dragon” yet and if you haven’t read George RR Martin’s “Blood and Fire”, read no further! We reveal the end of the series and a major event that will happen in the second season, based on the novel.

Second season

The success of ‘La Casa del Dragon’ has left many wishing for a continuation, it is finally confirmed. Plus, we already know a little more about its plot. Screenwriter Sara Hess has confirmed that one of the stories she will tell will be Daemon (Matt Smith) and Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) revenge after the death of their son Lucerys Velaryon. The plot in question is Blood and cheesethat “Blood and Fire” fans no doubt remember.

The novel narrates the dark revenge of the blacks against the greens. Blood and Cheese are the nicknames of two hired assassins that Daemon hires through Mysaria to attack Queen Alicent (Olivia Cooke), King Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Prince Aemond (Ewan Mitchell). the prequel. Daemon is clear: “Eye for an eye, son for son”which although it appears to be a reference to Aemond, speaks of the heir son of Aegon II.

Blood and Cheese capture Alicent Hightower and wait to reunite the family. When Helaena Targaryen and her children show up for a night visit, Blood kills the Queen’s guard and Cheese forces her to choose which of her children should die, in retaliation for Lucerys’ death. Helaena offers herself in place of her children, but Blood and Cheese assures him that if he doesn’t choose one they will rape Jaehaera and kill all three of them.. Forced to choose, the queen points to Maleor, the youngest, hoping that she will not understand what is happening, but The blood instead decapitates Jaehaeryswho is six years old and heir to Aegon II, and they flee with his head, though Blood is captured.

“We’re Writing the End of Season 2”the screenwriter of ‘House of the Dragon’ tells Variety. “I don’t think you will be disappointed”. The episode is fundamental in the subsequent story, marking a before and an after. Queen Helaena is devastated and will end her life as Rhaenyra takes power. Her depression is one of the reasons why Rhine is defeated by the people of King’s Landing and forced to exile the capital, without her leaving the castle to fight. Moreover, this will later lead to Aegon II’s revengewhose dragon will devour Rhaenyra in front of her son, Aegon the Younger.