{"id":6393,"date":"2026-07-13T16:45:35","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:45:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/?p=6393"},"modified":"2026-07-13T16:45:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T15:45:35","slug":"house-of-the-dragon-season-3-helaena-pregnant-fixes-george-rr-martin-complaint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetab.com\/filmshrine\/2026\/07\/13\/house-of-the-dragon-season-3-helaena-pregnant-fixes-george-rr-martin-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"House of the Dragon’s Helaena reveal fixes George RR Martin’s biggest complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"

*Warning: Spoilers ahead for House of the Dragon season three episode four and Fire & Blood*<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The latest episode of House of the Dragon has landed, and with it a huge reveal about Helaena (Phia Saban). Though it addresses one of George R.R. Martin\u2019s<\/a> biggest complaints about the HBO<\/a> adaptation, it may be too little, too late.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the uninitiated, the relationship between the author and House of the Dragon<\/a> showrunner Ryan Condal broke down after season one of the series. Martin blamed Condal<\/a> for the changes made to his source material, leading to further issues in communication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking to <\/span>The Hollywood Reporter<\/span><\/a> earlier this year, Martin said, \u201cIt\u2019s worse than rocky. It\u2019s abysmal.\u201d He went on to say that they originally had a good working relationship, but as it got to the second season, Condal allegedly \u201cstopped listening\u201d to Martin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI would give notes, and nothing would happen,\u201d the author added. \u201cSometimes he would explain why he wasn\u2019t doing it. Other times, he would tell me, \u2018Oh, OK, yeah, I\u2019ll think about that.\u2019 It got worse and worse, and I began to get more and more annoyed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually, Martin published a now-deleted blog post in 2024 titled \u2018Beware the Butterflies\u2019. It was supposed to be part one of a six part series in which he detailed his grievances<\/a> with the situation, but it was removed hours later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of his main issues was the fact that in his book, Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Helaena have three children: the twins, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera, and younger brother Maelor. But in the series, Maelor is nowhere to be seen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

House of the Dragon hints Helaena is pregnant with Maelor Targaryen<\/h2>\n
\"Alicent
Credit: HBO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, this may be about to change, as House of the Dragon season three episode four<\/a> appears to suggest Helaena is now pregnant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Helaena gets ready for bed, Alicent\u2019s (Olivia Cooke) conversation with Rhaenyra (Emma D\u2019Arcy) comes to an end. The queen leaves the room and Helaena walks over, at which point Alicent notices a change in her body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Helaena retreats as Alicent says her name with concern, and they both look at each other knowingly. It\u2019s not outright said but it\u2019s heavily implied.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The timeline here is a little confusing – for her to have conceived Maelor, it could have meant Helaena and Aegon slept together after Blood and Cheese but before the Battle at Rook\u2019s Rest.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not entirely out of the question, and it would finally address the Maelor-shaped elephant in the room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n