Who did Queen Helaena better, the books or the show?

It is a well-known fact in Hollywood that adaptations will always leave some fans disappointed. Oftentimes, when something is being adapted from the pages of a book to the big screens of the film industry, things can get lost in translation, which can make many fans prefer the books. When it comes to many aspects of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, fans prefer to read George R.R. Martin’s books over watching the series.

Milly Alcock as Rhaenyra in the latest episode of House of the Dragon | Max
However, there are rare occurrences where the adaptation ends up outshining the source material, and it would seem that the spin-off series seems to have finally reached this high status. Recently, Martin talked about one specific character that he thinks is better in the show than in the book.

George R.R. Martin Thinks House of the Dragon Did A Better Job In One Aspect

There are a lot of elements when a book is being adapted into a show. Writers shape characters in a certain way, directors have a specific vision that they want to follow, and actors try to imitate the intentions and feelings of a pre-existing character to the best of their abilities. On these many levels, a lot can change from the original vision that the writer of the source material had. These changes are rarely good.

However, in a recent post on his blog, George R.R. Martin talked about a few characters that House of the Dragon ended up doing a lot better than the way he had written them in the books. He specifically compared Queen Helaena’s character from the books to Phia Saban’s portrayal.

In the book, she is a plump, pleasant, and happy young woman, cheerful and kindly, adored by the smallfolk. A dragonrider since the age of twelve, Helaena’s greatest joy in life is to take to the skies on the back of her dragon Dreamfyre.

Phia Saban as Queen Helaena in House of the Dragon I Max
According to the writer, the book version of her was a lot simpler. She was a girl who was so very full of life; being a sweetheart in every definition of the word. She would go around on her dragon, and her kind heart made her a favorite among the neglected citizens of Westeros. However, the way Saban plays her role and the creative liberties taken by writers can only be described as so much more complex.

None of the strangeness she displays in the show was in evidence in the book, nor is her gift for prophecy. Those were born in the writers’ room… but once I met the show’s version of Helaena, I could hardly take issue. Phia Saban’s Helaena is a richer and more fascinating character than the one I created in FIRE & BLOOD, and in “Rhaenyra the Cruel” you can scarcely take your eyes off her.

Phia Saban as Queen Helaena in House of the Dragon I Max
Her simplicity was replaced by layers and layers of complexity, and her character has become one of the most interesting in the entire series. Fans cannot help but be at the edge of their seats, watching as her farsight and gifts for prophecy consume her whole. Looking back, it would seem that the changes are deeply appreciated by Martin.

Not All Change Is Good

There are several characters that George R.R. Martin thinks are better in the show compared to the book. In the past, he has mentioned that Shae and Osha were much better in Game of Thrones than they were in the books, and most recently, when talking about Queen Helaena, he mentioned that King Viserys’s character was also better written. However, it is important to remember that some improvements are not allowances for making the adaptation unrecognizable.

Everywhere you look, there are more screenwriters and producers eager to take great stories and “make them their own.” 

Paddy Considine in House of the Dragon I Max
In a blog post from May, the writer talked about his dislike of adaptations because of one major thing; how the producers and creators chose to approach them. He talked about how frequently they will look at a perfect piece of art and try to think of all the ways they can make it their own.

No matter how major a writer it is, no matter how great the book, there always seems to be someone on hand who thinks he can do better, eager to take the story and “improve” on it. “The book is the book, the film is the film,” they will tell you, as if they were saying something profound. Then they make the story their own.

They never make it better, though. Nine hundred ninety-nine times out of a thousand, they make it worse.

A still from House of the Dragon season 2 | HBO
Add their own twists or improve upon a perfect piece simply because they feel entitled enough to do so. The writer seriously criticized such an approach and how it can completely ruin something perfect.

 

House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones are available for streaming on Max.