George RR Martin red carpet

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With just four episodes to go until the end of the first season of HBO‘s House of the Dragon, Game Of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has said that “the best is yet to come.”

In a recent post on his blog, the writer reflected on the first half of the show’s debut season, referencing how Milly Alcock and Emily Carey have now finished playing younger versions of Rhaenyra and Alicent respectively (Emma d’Arcy and Olivia Cooke took over the roles in the most recent episode).

“The show opened strong and has only been getting stronger,” Martin wrote. “Milly Alcock and Emily Carey were incredible as young Rhaenyra and young Alicent, were they not?

“With Sunday’s episode, Emma d’Arcy and Olivia Cooke took over as the adult versions of the characters. I think you will love them too. Or hate them, maybe. Love/hate. Westeros, like the real world, is full of complex characters, capable of both good and evil.”

The author went on: “Meanwhile, Matt Smith and Paddy Considine and Rhys Ifans and Fabien Frankel and Steve Toussaint and the rest of our cast continue to excel. I would be hard pressed to say which of them I love best.

“I hope you guys are enjoying HOT D as much as I am. And hey, four more episodes to go… the best is yet to come. And then on to season two!”

When recently asked if Alcock and Carey are likely to return for season two, showrunner Ryan Condal replied: “I mean, look, I don’t know.”

With regard to Season 2, he said that young Rhaenyra and Alicent “are not part of the story that we’re telling, yet. That’s not a thing that we’re doing right now.”