House of the Dragon: TV Show vs. Book Differences
8 Ways "House of the Dragon" Puts a Spin on Plot Points From the Book
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In the book, the exact nature of Rhaenyra and Criston's relationship is gossiped about but never confirmed. Different sources report different things: some say she tried to seduce him but he rejected her, while others say she was the one doing the rejecting.
The TV adaptation creates a version where all of those stories are a little bit true. Rhaenyra and Criston seem to like one another, and she first has a crush on him. She does seduce him, and he's initially reluctant because of his Kingsguard vows. Later, however, he begs her to elope with him, and she turns him down to fulfil her royal duty, and an angry Criston becomes one of her nastiest enemies.