AceShowbiz - George R.R. Martin, the author and executive producer of "House of the Dragon", has raved about the second season's initial episodes. Martin visited the show's impressive sets at Leavesden Studios and praised the directing of Alan Taylor and Clare Kilner. He also commended the performances of the cast, particularly Emma D'Arcy, Tom Glynn-Carney, Rhys Ifans and the Tittensor twins (Luke Tittensor and Elliott Tittensor).

However, one unexpected element stood out for Martin, a dog added to the story by showrunner Ryan Condal. Martin initially hesitated about screenwriters altering his source material, but admitted that the addition of the canine companion was "brilliant." The dog's presence humanized the ratcatcher, Cheese, and demonstrated the complexity of human nature, even in those capable of terrible acts.

While Martin was generally impressed with the series, he hinted at reservations about how the "Blood & Cheese" storyline was resolved on screen, promising to address the issue in a future post.

Overall, Martin's review conveys his strong support for the second season of House of the Dragon, praising its directing, acting, and even its innovative use of a canine character.