Many fans have been vocal about how disappointing the ending of House of the Dragon season 2 was. Furthermore, it only has eight episodes, while it was originally supposed to be 10. Fans are naturally wondering why episodes 9 and 10 were canceled. Those familiar with George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the primary source material for the series, were hoping that the Battle of the Gullet, one of the key events from the book, would be included in this season. That did not happen, as season 2 ended with only the build-up to said conflict.

Here's everything we learned about why HBO canceled House of the Dragon season 2 episodes 9 and 10. Read on to find out why the show's creators left the Battle of the Gullet out of season two.

In March 2023, Deadline reported that House of the Dragon Season 2 initially featured a 10-episode arc to unfold the story. However, the creators later shortened it to eight episodes.

While the outlet speculated whether the shorter season had anything to do with Warner Bros. Discovery's overall cost-cutting plans, a spokesperson for the company reportedly told them it was a story-driven decision.