Ryan Condal Discusses Why ‘House of the Dragon’ Cut Nettles for Rhaena’s Story

‘House of the Dragon’ has consistently made significant alterations to George R.R. Martin’s ‘Fire & Blood’, and one of the most notable changes in the latest season is the decision to eliminate Nettles and transfer her storyline to Rhaena Targaryen. This choice has sparked considerable debate among fans, as Nettles was one of the most enigmatic and memorable dragonriders in the original narrative.

In the book, Nettles is depicted as a young dragonseed who becomes the rider of Sheepstealer, one of the wild dragons inhabiting Westeros. Unlike many Targaryens, Nettles does not claim her dragon through lineage or tradition. Instead, she earns Sheepstealer’s trust by gradually feeding the creature, making her one of the most distinctive dragonriders during the Dance of the Dragons.

However, ‘House of the Dragon’ opts for a different narrative approach. Rather than introducing Nettles, the series assigns Sheepstealer to Rhaena Targaryen, the daughter of Daemon and Laena Velaryon. This alteration transforms Rhaena’s prolonged struggle without a dragon into a central emotional arc of the series.

Showrunner Ryan Condal elaborated that this decision was tied to the storytelling style of the show. He mentioned that it felt more organic to concentrate on an existing Targaryen family member rather than introduce another significant character late in the narrative. “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 explained.

For Rhaena, claiming Sheepstealer symbolizes the culmination of years of waiting. Throughout ‘House of the Dragon’, she has often felt out of place within her family as the only Targaryen child without a dragon. While her siblings and cousins formed strong bonds with dragons, Rhaena was left feeling somewhat disconnected.

Condal stated that this emotional journey was the primary reason the writers chose to assign Nettles’ role to Rhaena. “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,” he shared with fans.

Nevertheless, this change also introduces a darker element. In ‘Fire & Blood’, Nettles’ bond with Sheepstealer is rooted in patience and understanding. In contrast, Rhaena acquires the dragon but faces challenges in controlling it, leading to a scenario where her greatest aspiration becomes a perilous dilemma.

Condal described this storyline as a “monkey’s paw kind of moment” for Rhaena. She finally attains the one thing she has yearned for, yet the power that accompanies it brings unforeseen consequences.

The exclusion of Nettles impacts more than just one character’s role. In the book, Nettles becomes significant due to her mysterious connection with Daemon Targaryen and her unique standing among the dragonriders. By substituting her with Rhaena, the show shifts the focus from an outsider discovering power to a family member finally finding her place.

Whether fans will embrace this change remains uncertain, but ‘House of the Dragon’s’ decision illustrates how the series continues to transform ‘Fire & Blood’ into a more intimate family drama. What are your thoughts on Rhaena taking over Nettles’ storyline? Share your opinions in the comments.