House of the Dragon season 3 showrunner Ryan Condal has addressed one of the biggest changes the show makes to George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood book.
In the book, there is another dragonseed alongside Addam of Hull, Hugh Hammer, and Ulf. This dragonseed is a lowborn girl named Nettles, who ultimately claims Sheepstealer. In the show, however, Sheepstealer is claimed by Rhaena, and Nettles does not appear to exist.
"It just felt to us that because again, this story is told in point of view, that it felt more apt as this is a family story to where we had the opportunity to involve one of the family members in the storyline," Condal told IGN of the change.
"And because Rhaena has been set up since season 1 as the member of this family who doesn't have a dragon and basically her sole identity is the Targaryen kid who doesn't have a dragon, it felt like that was a character that we had already set this long runway for that it could be very satisfying for the TV audience that didn't have an experience with the book at all to see that character claim a dragon and then in a very, I think, Game of Thrones and Westerosian kind of way, to reap the consequences of having her wish come true," he added. "It's a very monkey's paw kind of moment for Rhaena. She gets her great wish and it becomes her greatest nightmare."
Rhaena succeeds in claiming Sheepstealer in the show, but she is unable to control the wild dragon during the Battle of the Gullet. Tragically, this results in the death of Jacaerys Velaryon, who flies too low on his dragon Vermax after Sheepstealer gives chase. After Vermax is killed with a harpoon blow that drags the dragon underwater, Jace is shot dead with arrows.
House of the Dragon season 3 continues weekly on HBO in the US and HBO Max, Sky, and NOW in the UK. You can keep up to date with our House of the Dragon season 3 release schedule. For even more, read our House of the Dragon season 3 review.
