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Let’s face it—we all hated the changes in the Blood and Cheese episode in House of the Dragon Season 2. First, it was a complete diversion from George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, and second, it may affect the sequence of the narrative in future seasons.

As vexed as we were, some managed to see the logic behind the modified version—that it’s not as bad as we remembered. If it’s any consolation, the alteration offered a more realistic approach to the whole scenario, making it feel as grounded as possible.

Mark Stobbart and Sam C. Wilson in House of the Dragon / Credits: HBO Why House of the Dragon’s Blood and Cheese scene was better than the book

The second season of House of the Dragon opened with a shocking assassination, which came on the heels of Lucerys Velaryon’s death. Rhaenyra Targaryen wanted to avenge her son,...

If there’s one major change Ryan Condal did in House of the Dragon Season 2 that made fans’ blood boil – as well as George R.R. Martin’s – it’s the Blood and Cheese scene. It’s safe to say that no one in this fandom will ever be happy about it.

Credits: Mark Stobbart and Sam C. Wilson in House of the Dragon / HBO

It is a major book event that fans waited for two years since the final episode of Season 1, only for it to happen in the most disappointing way. What’s more infuriating is that the showrunner defended his creative choice instead of acknowledging what he did wrong.

Ryan Condal Defends Blood and Cheese Scene as a “Crime Caper Gone Wrong”

The second season of House of the Dragon opened with Daemon hiring two assassins, Blood and Cheese, to go after Aemond in revenge for the death of Rhaenyra’s son,...

Game of Thrones used to be one of the biggest television shows in history, yet it turned out to be miserably disappointing by the time it reached its last season. However, the show undeniably had some good parts that continue to remain famous, evoking shock, awe, and endless debate even after all this time.

George R.R. Martin | Credit: TIFF Originals / YouTube

On the other hand, we have its prequel, House of the Dragon, which has so far failed to deliver its own defining moments. Instead of making history like Game of Thrones, it fumbled, especially due to its one plotline that George R.R. Martin had already predicted way back to showrunner Ryan Condal.

George R. R. Martin Predicted House of the Dragon Would Ruin Its Own Defining Moment Mark Stobbart and Sam C. Wilson as Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon | Credit: HBO Max

In the world of cinema,...

Warning! The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2 and Fire & Blood, the show's source material.

Fire & Blood author George R. R. Martin reveals that he had arguments with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal over the changes to the Blood & Cheese sequence. The first Game of Thrones spinoff premiered in 2022 and recently returned for season 2 earlier this summer. The sophomore outing gets off to a violent start by depicting the gruesome Blood & Cheese storyline, which features the two titular assassins (played by Sam C. Wilson and Mark Stobbart) breaking into King's Landing to assassinate the young Jaehaerys (Jude Rock). Changes from the book, however, resulted in the scene being polarizing for audiences.

In a since-deleted blog post on his Not A Blog, Martin delves into the behind-the-scenes process for House of the Dragon's Blood & Cheese adaptation, revealing that he had disagreements with Condal over how to pull the sequence off.

While everyone was sitting at home wondering who tf is Daeron Targaryen or When will Nettles appear? George R.R. Martin was prepping a blog post about a completely different character. Today, in a since-deleted post to his Not a Blog blog, Martin slammed House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal for leaving out a crucial member of the Targaryen household. As folks will remember during the sophomore season, two ruthless murderers named Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart) went to the chambers of Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) and killed Prince Jahaerys.

This article contains a discussion of suicide.

Remember when George R.R. Martin said he was going to spill the tea over season 2 of "House of the Dragon?" He just did — and not only did he make it quite clear that he's got several bones to pick with showrunner Ryan Condal's plans, he tossed out a major spoiler for the forthcoming third season.

In a since-deleted post titled "Beware the Butterflies" on his blog — which he's dubbed Not a Blog — Martin circled back to the season 2 premiere, "A Son for a Son," and explained precisely why the major changes made to the "Blood and Cheese" storyline will ultimately have cause a butterfly effect later down the line (in his opinion). After saying that some fans loved the sequence and others were bothered by the changes, Martin declared he agreed with both camps before really getting into it.

As Martin points out,...

This post contains spoilers for "House of the Dragons."

If you thought "Game of Thrones," with its zombie armies, tortures, rapes, incest, maimings, and genocides, was cruel and bleak, "House of the Dragon" makes it all child's play. This goes back to the show's very first episode, which includes an extended stillbirth scene that set the tone for how relentlessly cruel this show was going to be. It also set the stage for a world and a time where life could easily end (or even just never begin). Although we haven't had as many characters to actually care about dying here like we had in "Game of Thrones" — there's no Ned or Rob Stark, whose deaths continue to be considered all-time greats — the fact of the matter is many of the characters who do die (or almost die) in "House of the Dragon" die much more horribly. This is as...

[spoilers]

George R.R. Martin came out with some criticism about books being adapted into shows and films and rarely doing the source material justice. However, the author found himself pleasantly surprised when House of the Dragon changed the source material, only for him to declare it better than the books.

Mark Stobbart and Sam C. Wilson as Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon ||HBO Max

Blood and Cheese made their debut in the first episode of the second season, titled A Son for a Son, referencing the death of Lucerys Velaryon in the finale of the previous seasons. The show sees the fallout of the death, with Daemon Targaryen hiring assassins to slay Aemond Targaryen, named Blood and Cheese.

However, there was one addition to this treacherous duo, one that Geroge R.R. Martin wished he had thought of before the makers of the show did. Taking to his blog,...

George R. R. Martin praises House of the Dragon's addition of a nameless dog character. The dog's presence added humanity to the villainous Cheese, showcasing love and loyalty. Martin wishes he had thought of the dog himself and appreciates the character's impact on the scene.

George R. R. Martin has nothing but love for one change that House of the Dragon made from its source material. As the author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, Martin's most beloved works have already been adapted into two shows, including A Game of Thrones. There are several other adaptations in development, but the only one currently airing focuses on the horrors of a Targaryen civil war. House of the Dragon has received incredible reviews, and many focus on the horrifying Blood and Cheese scene, in which two assassins murder the Crown Prince.

In a post on his Not A Blog website,...

Spoiler Alert!Reviewed-Swagata This article has spoilers from House of the Dragon Season 2.

When you play the Game of Thrones, you have to keep in mind you either win or you die, and you have to be prepared to commit the most heinous crimes to sit on top of the Iron Throne. But some are considered more undignified than others, and kin slaying ranks amongst the top.

Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke in House of the Dragon (Credit: HBO Max)

Killing one of your own is strictly forbidden in Westerosi culture, and if you do, you are branded as cursed, and there are consequences, as Game of Thrones has often emphasized. But House of the Dragon seems to be overlooking that concept.

The Greens are the biggest hypocrites in the realm Mark Stobbart and Sam C. Wilson as Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon / HBO Max

It...

Warning! This article contains major Spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2!

House of the Dragon finally confirms Cheese's fate, debunking the possibility of his escape in a cruel twist of fate. The show reveals the truth behind the hanged ratcatchers, confirming Cheese's death after long-standing ambiguity. Despite answering some mysteries, the show leaves open questions about Blood and Cheese's real names and Cheese's dog's fate.

The confirmation of a characters death in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 2 solves a long-standing mystery that I figured would never find closure in George R.R. Martins books. House of the Dragon is adapted from George R.R. Martins 2018 fictional history book Fire & Blood, which tells the history of House Targaryen from various unreliable narrators and sources. Consequently, the book leaves plenty of questions unanswered, fates unknown, and misconceptions about the Targaryens that House of the Dragons cast and characters are...

The world of Game of Thrones and consequently, House of the Dragon, is often the subject of controversies. From featuring incest relationships to the many explicit scenes that fans have found issues with, the fictional world is nonetheless among the most-watched series of all time.

House of the Dragon Season 2 | HBO

However, controversies about the series’ premise do not seem to end. As season 2 of the prequel series premiered last week, fans have found another thing to be furious about, a scene featuring a dog being kicked. As fans’ ire grew to an unprecedented level, one House of the Dragon star is forced to defend himself and assure fans.

House of the Dragon Star Assures Fans Nothing Happened to the Dog!

Mark Stobbart with the dog [Credit: Instagram | @mdstobbart]House of the Dragon, much like Game of Thrones is not a series for the faint of hearts. While it does showcase...

The world of Westeros is a brutal place, but few events in House of the Dragon serve to remind viewers of that fact, as much as the murder of the young heir to Aegon II (Tom Glynn Carney) in his own castle by two minor assassins. Known only as Blood (Sam C. Wilson) and Cheese (Mark Stobbart) in the annals of history, the murder they commit is even more sadistic in the books, one cut down because of logistical necessity, and strikes a much greater balance between sheer terror and gratuitous violence. Although fans expecting the most traumatizing event this side of the Red Wedding might be disappointed, the scene also fits more with the portrayal of Helaena Targaryen (Phia Saban) in a role that was largely an aftermath in the books.

This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon, season 2, episode 1, "A Son for a Son."

Cheese actor confirms that the dog, who appeared in the House of the Dragon season 2 premiere, is unharmed and healthy. The response comes after many viewers shared their outrage over a dog getting randomly kicked in the episode for no reason. The moment appears right before the Blood and Cheese event, which received more of a mixed reception from viewers.

House of the Dragon's Cheese actor reassures the internet that the dog is perfectly fine. In the season 2 premiere, Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) hires two assassins to hunt down Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Cheese is a rat-catcher who works in the Red Keep and was hired because he knew the castle's layout very well, especially any secret pathways. Just moments before the brutal event, Cheese initially brings a dog with him and Blood...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 1.

This article contains mention of rape.

House of the Dragon prioritized protecting its child actors in the Blood and Cheese scene. The creative team modified the scene to avoid exposing young actors to traumatic content. For example, when an assassin covered Jaehaerys' mouth, it was actually the actor's father stepping in.

The House of the Dragon creative team breaks down how the shows young actors were protected while filming the now-infamous Blood and Cheese scene. The moment features two assassins, hired by Daemon, killing the young heir and son of King Aegon II and Queen Helaena, Jaehaerys. The primary target of Team Black was Aemond, but, since the assassins couldnt find him, they settled for Jaehaerys. The assassination was an attempt to avenge the death of Queen Rhaenyras son, Lucerys, making it an eye for an eye, or a son for a son.

Spoiler Alert!Spoilers for Episode 1 of House of the Dragon Season 2

Every fan who has read George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood was certainly waiting for that scene in House of the Dragon Season 2 where Blood and Cheese go after Helaena Targaryen’s son, Jaehaerys.

Phia Saban in House of the Dragon / HBO Entertainment

There were major changes in this episode that disappointed viewers, but what’s more devastating was the execution. Brutality is a huge part of the world of Game of Thrones, but this particular violence against children is something that cannot be ignored.

Jaehaerys’ Death Scene In House of the Dragon Was Done In Poor Taste

In the first episode of House of the Dragon Season 2: A Son for A Son, Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) mourns the death of Lucerys Velaryon and demands the head of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell). Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) would later...

This story contains spoilers for the Season 2 premiere of House of the Dragon.

House of the Dragon had a shocking ending with its Season 2 premiere, but that's not the worst part of the episode for some viewers.

House of the Dragon returned with its second season on HBO and Max, and already, the show has stirred up some online controversy. While the episode sparked a lot of chatter by featuring the shocking death of a young child, which has been compared to Games of Thrones' "Red Wedding," it was another moment that made some viewers most upset. This was when a hapless dog was shown getting kicked by Cheese (Mark Stobbart). One viral X post referred to it as the "worst moment" of the episode, while another says that this was when House of the Dragon "crossed the line." It's clear that for many viewers of the hit series, kicking...

Who Plays Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon? Actors Open up about Top Secret Role - Main Image

It’s been a long wait, but after two years, House of the Dragon is finally back on Max with its second season. While the show updates audiences on what the main characters have been up to since the events of the first season, the premiere of Season 2 introduced them to two new characters named “Blood and Cheese.”

Though they aren’t main players in the impending “Dance of Dragons”, they become the catalyst for the first major death of the second season. Actors Sam C. Wilson and Mark Stobbart, who play Blood and Cheese in House of the Dragon, respectively, talk about the secretive process of their hiring and how they were able to jumpstart the signature gruesome tone for the second season.

[Spoilers Ahead For House Of The Dragon S02E01]

Casting Blood and Cheese in Hotd...

Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers for Episode 1 of Season 2 of House of the Dragon.

A long-awaited return to Westeros in the time of Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors took place in Season 2 of the Game of Thrones spinoff show House of the Dragon, which launched Sunday night on HBO and Max. The first episode of the second season took no time in plunging viewers back into the violence and backstabbing that prove key to the series.

In the background of the bloody fight for The Iron Throne, a key plot point — The Blood and Cheese murder — from George R. R. Martin’s book — saw some changes at the end of Episode 1, titled “A Son For A Son.”

As viewers will recall, Season 1 ended with the tragic death of Rhaenyra’s (Emma D’Arcy) son Lucerys or “Luke” (Elliot Grihault) at the hands of Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell) and his dragon Vhagar.

The following contains spoilers for House of the Dragon Season 2, Episode 1, "A Son for a Son," which premiered Sunday, June 16 on HBO. The following also contains discussion of child loss.

George R. R. Martin's world of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon has never been afraid to push boundaries. The television shows are notorious for taking advantage of HBO's tolerance for sex, nudity and violence to break barriers. While death is a usual guest star in the Game of Thrones universe, it rarely visits a child character. So when showrunner Ryan Condal was planning out the events of House of the Dragon Season 2 based on Martin's book Fire & Blood, he knew he had a challenge ahead of him when it came to the infamous event known as Blood and Cheese.

The final scene of Season 2, Episode 1, "A Son for a Son," sees two men named Blood (Sam C. Wilson...

One thing that fans learned after watching Game of Thrones was that any character can die at any point in the series regardless of how significant they are. It seems like House of the Dragon is also all set to go on a similar path as its predecessor series and we might be witnessing a lot of unexpected deaths in the second season of the series.

Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen | Source: House of the Dragon

Ryan Condal opens up about the moral dilemma in House of the Dragon

After the massive success of Game of Thrones, HBO decided to explore some more stories from George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. As a result, the studio landed on the book, Fire & Blood which tells the history of the strongest house in the history of Westeros, the House Targaryen.

The events of House of the Dragon take place about...

On Monday, October 30, 2023, at 10:00 Pm, ITV will air Season 1, Episode 6 of “The Long Shadow.” In this episode, concerns start to emerge among several detectives involved in the investigation. They express reservations about the direction of the case and the reliability of the evidence they’ve gathered.

As the investigation encounters doubts, West Yorkshire Police takes a significant step by launching a large-scale public appeal. This appeal aims to engage the community and encourage public assistance in identifying and capturing the murderer.

“The Long Shadow” is a factual program that presents the details of a real-life murder investigation. This episode highlights the critical juncture where doubts emerge within the investigative team, leading to a public plea for support.

Viewers can tune in to ITV to watch this episode of “The Long Shadow” and follow the developments in this ongoing murder investigation, as well as the efforts to seek public assistance in solving the case.

On Monday, October 23, 2023, at 9:00 Pm, ITV will broadcast Season 1, Episode 5 of “The Long Shadow.” In this episode, the police will look back at old attacks to try to find more victims. They hope to identify people who may have been harmed in the past.

Additionally, George Oldfield, a key figure, is quite motivated when a letter arrives from the person responsible for the crimes. This letter stirs up the investigation and the pursuit of the criminal.

If you have an interest in true crime stories and how police investigate cases, this episode is worth watching. Tune in to ITV at 9:00 Pm on Monday, October 23, 2023, for “The Long Shadow: Season 1, Episode 5.” It provides insights into the police work to uncover the truth and sheds light on a historic case that has had a lasting impact.

Release Date & Time: 9:00 Pm Monday 23 October 2023 on ITV

The Long Shadow Cast – Season...

On Monday, October 16, 2023, at 9:00 Pm on ITV, the crime drama series “The Long Shadow” continues with Season 1, Episode 4. In this episode, the detectives investigate a new lead in their ongoing case. Another woman survives an attack, raising hopes that they are getting closer to identifying the perpetrator.

The focus of the investigation shifts to a driver in Leeds, who emerges as the prime suspect in the case. The detectives work diligently to gather evidence and build a case against this individual.

“The Long Shadow” is a gripping crime drama that follows the efforts of law enforcement to solve a series of crimes and bring the culprits to justice. Viewers can expect to see how this new development in the investigation unfolds and if it leads to a breakthrough in the case.

Tune in to witness the latest developments in the pursuit of justice on “The Long Shadow” this Monday evening.

At this point last year, the world had already witnessed the first half of the inaugural season of HBO's highly acclaimed fantasy drama, House of the Dragon.

However, as of now, the much anticipated second season of the Game of Thrones prequel is nowhere near its premiere, or even the marketing. Featuring a stellar cast including Emma D’Arcy, Matt Smith, and Olivia Cooke, the upcoming season, which will consist of only eight episodes, is nearing its final stages of production at Leavesden Studios, which is set to conclude filming by the end of September.

Related: House of the Dragon Explains Recreating Westeros While Respecting GoT's 'Visual Legacy'

The first season ended on a high note as Prince Aemond's dragon, Vhagar, killed Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Laenor Velaryon's son, Prince Lucerys "Luke" Velaryon. As per reports, fans can now catch a glimpse of what's in store, as recent reports reveal the season premiere's plot line.

In his latest interview/podcast, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright interviews writer/director Gerard Johnson about his latest feature film, the neo – ‘Newcastle’ – noir thriller Muscle.

Simon is a young man who has been working in an ordinary office for a long time. He leads a measured lifestyle, in which every day he repeats the previous one. Routine tightens deeper and deeper, and it seems that he will never get out of it. But one day a personal trainer named Terry bursts into his everyday life. From that moment on, everything changes in the most dramatic way.

Muscle, which Craig Fairbrass, Cavan Clerkin, Peter Ferdinando, Polly Maberly, Sinead Matthews and Mark Stobbart, is in selected UK cinemas and available across most on demand platforms including BFI Player and Curzon Player now.

Though Andrew Hulme's sophomore effort The Devil Outside garnered mixed feelings from our contributor Simon who saw the film last year at Eiff, he did note that the psychological thriller is a "sombre British reflection on faith, insanity and questionable parenting techniques" with great performances and frankly, after seeing this trailer, I'm completely sold.

Noah Carson stars as Robert, a young man with an unhappy family life, including a mother who is a fanatical evangelical Christian and a father who is largely removed from their lives.

Robert's mother is taken with the new preacher in town named David, played by Mark Stobbart, and begins inviting the recovering-addict-turned-preac...

There’s been repeated talk in Brexit-era Britain — much of it grimly reactionary — of long-silenced, tradition-bound communities raising their voices against a so-called “liberal elite,” yet rarely has it centered on matters of faith: Secularism has long been accepted as the standard in a society less steered by Christian fervor than the United States. Yet if Andrew Hulme’s agitated, symbol-riddled drama “The Devil Outside” is to be believed, that’s not a state of affairs with which the Church’s most extreme followers are content: A dark streak of socio-political warning cuts through this solemn coming-of-age story, in which an ultra-sheltered adolescent boy begins to assert an religious identity separate from that of his obsessively Bible-bashing mother, though the film stops cautiously short of a more decisive reckoning.

Intelligent and emotionally full-blooded, Hulme’s sophomore feature makes no claims for even-handedness. Inspired by the director’s own experience of...

Making its debut at the Edinburgh Film Festival today is Andrew Hulme’s newest project, The Devil Outside. We have an exclusive first look at the new poster for the film, below.

Written and directed by Snow in Paradise’s Andrew Hulme, the story is a coming of age film about religion, madness and repressed sexuality. The film stars Noah Carson, Keeley Forsyth, Mark Stobbart, Daniel Frogson.

If you are lucky enough to be at the Festival, why not head on down to catch a public screening of the film either today Friday 22 June at 18:00 at Cineworld 11 or tomorrow the 23rd June at 18:00 at Vue Omni 12.

Also in the news – Westworld showrunners on making puzzle TV – “We’re dismantling the mystery box”

The Devil Outside Official Synopsis

Brought up in the world of evangelical Christianity, teenager Robert (Carson) has been raised believing that evil is lurking just outside his front door.

Louisa Mellor Mar 26, 2017

Line Of Duty series 4 hits the ground running with a terrifically confident opening episode. Major spoilers ahead…

This review contains spoilers.

See related Marvel Studios movies: UK release date calendar Thor: Ragnarok - Natalie Portman's absence explained Guardians Of The Galaxy 2: 7 new international posters land

A confession: when Thandie Newton’s head hit that kitchen worktop my faith wavered. Line Of Duty’s heavily trailed new lead isn’t going to make it past episode one again? Surely not?

Surely not, and shame on me for entertaining the idea that writer Jed Mercurio (who also directed the first two episodes of series three) didn’t have this all wrapped up as tightly as Ted Hastings’ sandwiches. Newton’s eyes flicked open as Jason Watkins loomed over her with that reciprocating saw and all doubt vanished from my mind.

It was the most breath-taking cliff-hanger yet.

Exclusive: First look at Andrew Hulme’s follow up to Cannes 2014 entry Snow In Paradise.

UK sales outfit Protagonist, riding high off the success of Toronto hit Lady Macbeth, has boarded world sales on Andrew Hulme’s recently wrapped crime-horror The Devil Outside.

Writer-director Hulme’s BFI-backed follow up to his 2014 Cannes Official Selection debut Snow In Paradise charts the story of a young boy (Robert) brought up in a world of evangelical Christianity that has taught him to look for signs and to believe that evil is waiting just outside the front door.

Caught between his mother, who’s determined to bring Jesus’s love to a dead mining town, and his best friend who has introduced him to teenage rebellion, Robert becomes embroiled in a spiritual tug of war as he tries to escape his religious beliefs. It’s then that he discovers a dead body in the woods and realises that God has sent...

Having made a name for herself in hit television series The Inbetweeners, Emily Atack is now pursuing a career in cinema, in a film that’s somewhat similar to, well, The Inbetweeners. However where the ingenious comedy shines in it’s vulgarity, Ben Cookson’s debut feature falls flat. Simply because the protagonists, to be completely honest, are just a little too old to get away with it.

Atack plays Lydia, a beleaguered bride to be, readying herself to marry the calamitous Kyle (Philip McGinley). However when the latter was whisked away on a stag do in Newcastle by his best man Jarvis (Mark Stobbart), a disastrous trip to a brothel resulted in the groom catching a sexually transmitted disease. Ashamed of his adulterous actions, Kyle remains silent on the issue – though while he’s waiting for the infection to clear up, Lydia begins to get suspicious as to why...

★★☆☆☆ The very fact that the lead star of Vince Woods' hardboiled, alternative seventies crime drama Harrigan - British actor Stephen Tompkinson - is best-known for his work in several prime-time TV dramas gives a fair indication of the scale of this low-budget first feature. That's not to say that Woods lacks ambition; Harrigan is, for the most part, a serviceable genre piece that skews history for its own means, creating a northern dystopia rife with criminality and racial distrust. Unfortunately, such world-building exercises often require a certain level of funding, and there's something undeniably televisual about proceedings.

Following an ill-fated stint fighting corruption in British-held Hong Kong, self-styled detective Harrigan (Tompkinson) returns home to Newcastle to find not only the city but the entire country up to its neck in economic woe and social disorder. As the maverick cop rejoins his former constabulary, he finds the force on its...