George R.R. Martin Calls His Relationship with ‘House of the Dragon’ Showrunner Ryan Condal “Abysmal” – Here’s Why

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George R.R. Martin has revealed a difficult relationship with Ryan Condal, the showrunner for House of the Dragon, describing it as very strained and even “abysmal.” In a recent profile with The Hollywood Reporter, Martin explained how their working relationship deteriorated during the show’s production.

Martin explained that he initially brought Ryan on board believing they would be creative partners. During the first season, they collaborated closely – Martin would review early versions of the scripts and offer feedback, which Ryan would often incorporate. Martin felt this process was very successful at the time.

As a huge fan, it’s really disappointing to hear about what went on behind the scenes with House of the Dragon. Apparently, things started to go downhill during season two when Ryan Condal, the showrunner, just stopped listening to George R.R. Martin’s feedback. George said he’d offer suggestions, but nothing would ever change. Sometimes Ryan would at least explain why he disagreed, but more often than not, it was just a vague “okay, I’ll think about it.” He said it got increasingly frustrating! Eventually, things got so bad that HBO had to step in and ask George to send all his notes directly to them, so they could make sure Ryan actually saw them. It’s just sad to think about how much better the show could have been if everyone had worked together!

Martin recounted a tense Zoom meeting about the third season where conflicts about the show’s future became clear. He felt increasingly unhappy with the creative direction, stating, “This isn’t the story I signed on for anymore.” He also referred to a blog post he wrote in September 2024, where he voiced concerns about specific plot points, despite generally praising the show’s writing, acting, and direction. HBO contacted his manager shortly after, and the post was taken down.

Martin explained he didn’t repost it because he didn’t want to appear foolish. While most of the feedback was positive, he said people only concentrated on the negative comments.

Condal hasn’t offered any new details about what happened, but he previously said Martin wasn’t being realistic about the challenges they were facing. Although things are strained, Martin is still working on the show, but he wouldn’t share what he’s doing.

I heard from someone at HBO that George and Ryan didn’t see eye-to-eye on where they wanted to take season three. It got to the point where working with them just wasn’t working anymore, and things weren’t communicating well. Everyone needed some space to figure out how to move forward and get things back on track.

This new information gives fans a unique glimpse into the making of one of TV’s biggest fantasy shows. Martin’s remarks highlight how difficult it is to turn a complicated and well-loved series into a show, especially while working with creative teams.

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2026-01-28 15:14