House of the Dragon Season 2: Why Were Episodes 9 & 10 Canceled & Battle of Gullet Cut?

House of the Dragon Season 2: Why Were Episodes 9 & 10 Canceled & Battle of Gullet Cut?

As a die-hard fan who has been following the Targaryen saga since the days of Robert’s Rebellion, I must say, I was left with a bittersweet feeling after House of the Dragon Season 2 came to an abrupt end without the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet. The anticipation had been building ever since we first heard about the series, and to see it cut short felt like a dragon having its wings clipped.


As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts about the finale of “House of the Dragon Season 2.” The abrupt ending left many of us yearning for more, especially since it was originally planned to have ten episodes. Naturally, we’re curious as to why Episodes 9 and 10 were scrapped. Given that I’ve read George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series’ primary source material, I had hoped that the epic Battle of the Gullet would be a part of this season. Unfortunately, we only got to see the build-up for this significant event, and the battle itself was not depicted in the finale.

Learn about the reasons behind HBO’s decision to omit Episodes 9 and 10 for House of the Dragon Season 2, and discover why the creators chose not to include the Battle of the Gullet in the current series.

Why were House of the Dragon Season 2 Episodes 9 and 10 canceled by HBO?

In March 2023, according to Deadline, the initial plan for House of the Dragon Season 2 was a 10-episode storyline. Later on, the producers decided to shorten it to just eight episodes instead.

The outlet pondered whether the condensed season might be linked to Warner Bros. Discovery’s broader cost-reduction strategies, but a representative from the company allegedly informed them that it was based on story development needs instead.

Why was the Battle of Gullet cut from House of the Dragon Season 2?

As a dedicated gamer and fan of House of the Dragon, I recently had the chance to chat with series co-creator and showrunner Ryan Condal about why we didn’t see the epic Battle of the Gullet in Season 2. He explained that they decided to give this significant event “the proper time and room” for it to truly shine. During a press conference in August 2024, he elaborated on this decision. He mentioned, “It’s clear to anyone who watched our finale that we’ve been leading up to this major showdown. This battle will take place very soon within the storyline of House of the Dragon.”

Condal himself disclosed that, based on their collective knowledge, the Battle of the Gullet was expected to be “the most monumental project” they had tackled so far. He elaborated, “We simply desired the opportunity to execute it at a scale that would thrill and satisfy fans, in a manner fitting of its significance.”

The show’s creator explained that they aim to create excitement for the upcoming storyline while highlighting the series’ intricate nature. He added that this delay was an apology to fans. As Condal put it, “Everyone is eagerly waiting for the next season,” but due to the show’s complexity, it’s like producing several movies per season. He admitted the wait might be long, but promised that if Rook’s Rest and the Red Sowing are any indication, we can expect a fantastic climax with the Battle of the Gullet in the future. (paraphrased from Variety)

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2024-08-06 16:14