How The Events Of HOTD Ep 9 Differ From Book?

The article attempts to give an account of all the notable deviations that the show HOTD makes from its source material – Fire and Blood,

By Mohit Srivastava
October 18,2022
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HBO’s House of the Dragon (HOTD) recently premiered the penultimate episode of its first season titled, ‘The Green Council.’ The episode dealt with the repercussions of King Visery’s death on the next Iron Throne’s successor. However, the show writers did take a few liberties from the source material ‘Fire and Blood’ in the episode. Here are some of the most notable instances where the events of the episode differed greatly from their accounts in the book.

Viserys’s Last words

King Viserys with Halaena and her children before death

In the season, Viserys during his last moment whispered To Alicent in his half-conscious mind about Aegon, the Conqueror’s dream of ‘A song of ice and fire.’ However, Alicent misinterpreted it as referring to his eldest son Aegon being the King after him. This misunderstanding would later lead to the Targaryen’s civil war.

However. according to the book, that does not happen. Prior to the night of his death, Viserys was with Halaena and her three children – Jahaera, Jahaerys, and Maelor. It states – ‘His Grace gave the babe a pearl ring off his finger to play with, and told the twins the  story of how their great-great-grandsire and namesake Jaehaerys had flown his dragon north to the Wall to defeat a vast host of wildlings, giants, and wargs.’ And then died that night, no last words to Alicent.

Viserys’s Corpse

King Viserys’s death

Although it is never specified as to how much time has passed between episodes 8 and 9, it can safely be assumed that episode 9 happens just the next day after the death of Viserys at the end of episode 8. The Green council learns of his death, decides to keep it a secret, agree on Aegon’s coronation, get fealties from all house lords, search for Aegon, and crowned him as the king at the Dragonpit – it all seemed to happen on the same day.

However, in the books, it took around 9 days for Green Council to make all arrangements for Aegon’s coronation, multiple points were laid by various council members, and ravens were sent on all sides of seven kingdoms (except Dragonstone), inviting all ladies and lords of various houses to swear their fealty to King Aegon II or lose their lives. It was only after King Viserys’s corpse started swelling, rotting, and smelling (after 9 days of his death) from his bedchambers, did the council decided to burn his body.
Lord Beesbury’s Death.

Ser ‘Commander’ Westerling

Ser Commander Westerling

I am Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. I recognize no authority but the King’s. And until there is one… I have no place here. – Ser Harrold Westerling to ‘The Green Council.’ (HOTD S1E9)

In the episode, it is shown that Ser Harrold Westerling decides to strip himself of his title of being the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. He does so after learning that the ‘Green’ council is planning to murder Rhaenyra and her sons, as opposed to what the deceased King would have wanted. Ser Harrold would probably join Rhaenyra’s cause in the upcoming war and would likely support her claim. 

However, in the book, Ser Harrold Westerling long died during a war in 112 AC, long before King Viserys’s death, which likely happened in 129 AC. Upon his own death, Harrold was succeeded as Lord Commander by Ser Criston Cole. Show writers have likely planned a more elaborate role for him to play in the series. 

Larys’s Blood Oath

The Green Council as depicted in the book

In the series, Lord Larys Strong (aka ‘Clubfoot’) was not present in the Green Council, which gathered after the death of King Viserys. Instead, the audience is shown the infamous scene of his interaction with Alicent Hightower later which involved him masturbating to his foot-fetish over Alicent.

No such event is mentioned in the book during this time. However, in the book, Lord Larys Strong, being the Master of Whisperers is present at the table of the Green council. He spoke ‘for the first and only time’ to the council members in taking a blood oath – an oath for their undying fealty to one another and to Aegon II. The book state, the oath was taken by all the council members “to bind us all together, brothers unto
death.” Queen Alicent alone amongst them was excused from the oath, on account of her womanhood.

Rhaenys and Meleys at Dragonpit

Rhaenys over her dragon Meleys during Aegon II’s coronation at Dragonpit

In the episode, as soon as Aegon is crowned, Rhaenys busts out of Dragonpit’s floor with her dragon – ‘Meleys’. The dragon faces the Green and roars. However as easy as it would have seemed, Rhaenys decides not to burn them down. According to Miguel Sapochnik (showrunner), “her moral standpoint become the reason for inaction rather than action.” Showrunner and Executive Producer Ryan J. Condal further says that, “She knows if she sets fire to that dais, she ends any possibilities of war, and probably sets peace through the realm, but (he) think, (Rhaenys) probably doesn’t want to be responsible for doing that to another mother.” And later, Rhaenys flies with her dragon out of the Dragonpit.

However, in the book, there is no account of such an event occurring at Dragonpit. After a pompous coronation ceremony at Dragonpit, Aegon reached the Red Keep on his dragon named, ‘Sunfyre’. There ‘Ser Arryk Cargyll led His Grace into the torchlit throne room, where Aegon II mounted the steps of the Iron Throne before a thousand lords and knights.’