The Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon transforms George R.R. Martin's four-page description of the Battle of the Gullet from Fire & Blood into a 25-minute spectacle, introducing significant deviations from the source material. The episode, described as "craziest episode of television ever made" by the creators, reshapes the devastating naval engagement between the Blacks and the Greens by adding characters not present in the book and omitting others who played crucial roles.
Jacaerys Velaryon's Fate Altered
Prince Jacaerys "Jace" Velaryon, Queen Rhaenyra's eldest heir, perishes in the Battle of the Gullet in both Fire & Blood and the television adaptation. The show adds a new sequence where Jace intentionally locks his mother in her chambers to fight in the battle in her stead. His death unfolds similarly: Jace and his dragon Vermax are overwhelmed by enemy fire, and while the book notes his dragon's corpse sinks and his remains are never recovered, the show depicts Jace being slain by arrows from boats after falling into the water.
Character Exclusions and Inclusions
The book details the participation of Jace Velaryon and his dragon Vermax, the dragonseeds Addam of Hull (Seasmoke), Hugh Hammer (Vermithor), and Ulf White (Silverwing), alongside Triarchy admiral Sharako Lohar. These characters all appear in the show's depiction. However, the series omits the book's younger Targaryen princes, Aegon III and Viserys II, Rhaenyra and Daemon's youngest sons. In Fire & Blood, their ship, The Gay Abandon, is caught in the battle, leading to Aegon escaping on his dragon Stormcloud while Viserys is captured. The show's creators, including showrunner Ryan Condal, cited practical and safety concerns for excluding the very young princes, who are toddlers in the series and have already been sent to Pentos for safekeeping.
Rhaena Replaces Nettles in Key Role
House of the Dragon also replaces the mysterious dragonseed Nettles with Rhaena Targaryen, Daemon's daughter, in the battle's narrative. While Nettles and her dragon Sheepstealer fought in the book, the show has Rhaena bond with Sheepstealer. This deviation sees Rhaena, who has been portrayed as the Targaryen child without a dragon, finally claim one. However, her inability to fully control Sheepstealer leads to the dragon attacking indiscriminately, inadvertently contributing to Jace and Vermax's demise. Condal explained this change as a way to involve a family member in the storyline and create a "monkey's paw" moment for Rhaena, where her wish comes true with dire consequences.
Baela Targaryen, Rhaena's sister and Jace's betrothed, and her dragon Moondancer, who did not fight in the book's Battle of the Gullet, are also included in the show's sequence. Her presence allows her to witness Jace's death firsthand and implicates her in his decision to take his mother's place in the fight.
Corlys Velaryon's Expanded Role
Lord Corlys Velaryon, the "Seasnake," and his bastard son Alyn of Hull are actively involved in the battle in the show, sailing on a ship named The Queen Who Never Was. This inclusion contrasts with the book, where Corlys does not directly fight but reflects on the devastating loss of one-third of the Velaryon fleet. The show's narrative provides Admiral Sharako Lohar with a motive for revenge against Corlys, leading to the Triarchy forces attacking Corlys' home island of Driftmark and setting High Tide ablaze. Lohar's pursuit culminates in a hand-to-hand combat with Corlys, after which Lohar is killed by Alyn. The book's version sees Lohar survive the battle, only to die later. The show's alterations also make the Triarchy's sacking of Spicetown and the destruction of Corlys' accumulated treasures a direct consequence of Lohar's vengeance, potentially altering the course of future events like the Daughter's War described in Fire & Blood.