In this episode, assassins Blood and Cheese are hired by Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith) is tasked with infiltrating red fort The murder of Prince Eamond (Ivan Mitchell).However, they eventually meet Queen Helana Targaryen (Fea Saban) and her twin sons Jaehaerys and Jaehra. They asked Helena to identify Jaehaerys and then killed the child in his bed.
Condal explained that when adapting scenes from the book, they made some changes. In the books, Blood and Cheese were ordered to kill a young prince, but the show changed that to have them specifically target Aemond, King Aegon’s brother. This switch makes sense, as it’s more direct revenge for Aemond killing Luke in the season 1 finale. Daemon’s instructions to the Assassins about what to do if Aemond is not found are not shown on camera, leaving a sense of mystery and tension.
The show also tweaked family dynamics as the show’s timeline was compressed. In the book, Helana has two young sons and is forced to choose which one to kill. In the show, her children were younger and Mailer didn’t exist yet, so the assassin only found the twins.
Condal said their intention was to make the “Blood and Cheese” sequence feel like a robbery gone wrong, creating suspense and fear as the assassins search for Eamond. This scene is crafted from the assassin’s perspective, unlike the original, which focused primarily on Helana and Allison’s perspectives. This choice was intended to heighten the suspense of the assassin’s journey through the Red Keep.
He also highlighted Helana’s silent reactions and her prophetic abilities, explaining that she was not magical, but on a different frequency than the other characters. Helana’s reactions stem from this unique perception, often realizing the significance of her visions only after the event has occurred. Influenced by her prophetic insight, her reaction throughout was one of shock and a sense of inevitability.
Condal noted that the decision to cut off Daemon’s exact instructions to the assassin was intentional, allowing viewers to interpret his haunting expressions and portions of the dialogue heard later. This ambiguity adds to the intensity of the scene and leaves room for interpretation of Damon’s true intentions.
Overall, the changes and perspective choices were made to enhance the suspense and emotional impact of the “Blood and Cheese” sequence, staying true to the essence of Martin’s work while effectively adapting it for television.
