George R. R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones, has expressed significant dissatisfaction with the second season of HBO’s House of the Dragon, particularly criticizing the exclusion of Prince Maelor, which he argues undermines the storyline. Martin detailed his concerns in a now-deleted blog post, emphasizing that such changes can have a 'butterfly effect' with larger implications for future seasons. The author also criticized the adaptation of the 'Blood and Cheese' sequence, arguing that it weakened key emotional beats from his book, Fire & Blood. Practical reasons such as budget constraints and casting challenges were cited by showrunner Ryan Condal for the changes. Despite his criticisms, Martin acknowledged the challenges of adapting complex narratives and indicated potential further 'toxic' changes in upcoming seasons. The controversy underscores the tension between maintaining fidelity to source material and making practical adjustments for television production.