The fate of House Martell in Game of Thrones is one of the most frustrating "betrayals" of the book canon. In the series, viewers only got a glimpse of the dynasty’s true greatness before its key members were swiftly and absurdly eliminated. However, George R.R. Martin has yet to finish his story, meaning the "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken" still have a chance to return to the game.
A Song of Ice and Fire makes it clear that House Martell plays a crucial role in Westeros’ future, yet Game of Thrones completely fails to illustrate this idea, reducing this great family to near irrelevance.
How the Show Failed Dorne
At first, things seemed promising: the arrival of the charming yet deadly Oberyn in Season 4 was a highlight, and Pedro Pascal’s character instantly won over audiences. However, after his unjust death, the writers essentially abandoned House Martell’s storyline.
Prince Doran was portrayed as a weak ruler who was easily eliminated by Ellaria Sand and her alluring Sand Snakes. Instead of an intriguing power struggle, viewers got a simplistic revenge plot, followed by complete neglect of Dorne until the very end — where, notably, Ellaria was given little significance.
Book Canon: Schemes, Ambitions, and Targaryens
In A Song of Ice and Fire, Dorne plays a much more significant role. Prince Doran is not a peace-loving weakling but a shrewd strategist carefully plotting revenge against the Lannisters. His daughter, Arianne, is a strong and ambitious leader who doesn’t even exist in the show. His son, Quentyn, even ventures to Daenerys, hoping to secure an alliance.
Martin has repeatedly emphasized that his books differ significantly from the show, meaning that in his upcoming novels, House Martell still has a chance to reclaim its rightful place in Westeros.
