Some fans were disappointed with the Season 2 finale of House of the Dragon. The finale led up to a climactic battle but ended before the actual fight began. This means we won’t see that conflict, most likely the Battle of the Gullet, until two years from now.
Showrunner Ryan Condal addressed the battle’s exclusion in a recent press conference. He explained that budget restrictions influenced the finale’s pacing. The show features numerous dragons and extensive visual effects. Therefore, it had to balance storytelling with the financial resources available across seasons.
Why the House of the Dragon Season finale felt anti-climactic
House of the Dragon Season 2 ended felt like it was building up to a climactic season 2 battle. But when it ended, viewers realized they’ll have to wait two years to see that battle. Showrunner Ryan Condal explained that budget constraints played a significant role in this decision. Despite the show’s large budget, the resources had to be carefully allocated throughout the season.
Condal emphasized that the Battle of the Gullet, a significant event in the story, deserved “time and space” to be fully realized. Unfortunately, the finale had to be scaled back, and the battle was pushed to Season 3. Condal said:
“One of the challenges of making television at any scale [is] nobody has infinite time and resources. When you’re a showrunner, you’re always in the position of having to balance storytelling and the resources that you have to tell that story.”
Fans have expressed frustration over the pacing, feeling that the season did not deliver the action they were hoping for.