Game of Thrones is one of the most beloved television shows in recent history. The dragons and kingdoms, swords and sandals saga was a somewhat-faithful adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones book series. Game of Thrones introduced HBO audiences to a plethora of unique characters, lands, and narratives. From knights to assassins and kings, there was no shortage in all of Westeros for characters that made audiences feel every emotion under the sun.
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline was that of Daenerys Targaryen, a woman from a proud family line who finds herself in a foreign land. From an arranged marriage to the breaker of slave chains, the veritable Mother of Dragons herself has a unique character arc. She is more influential to the entire show than any other character.
Speaking of Targaryens and dragons, a new HBO show is on the horizon: House of the Dragon. It will be a prequel and spinoff series, taking place 300 years before the events portrayed in Game of Thrones. House of the Dragon should incorporate some of what made Game of Thrones such a great show, specifically concerning dynamic characters and intriguing worldbuilding. However, not everything that Game of Thrones did was fantastic. In fact, there are some arenas that Game of Thrones traversed in that House of the Dragon would be wise to avoid altogether.
Focus on the Targaryens
There are many great houses in the lands of Westeros in Game of Thrones. From the noble Starks to the dastardly Lannisters and the cold Greyjoys, each family has its own unique way of making its mark on the blockbuster show.
However, House of the Dragon would do well to focus almost exclusively on the Targaryens. The Targaryen motto is “Fire and Blood” and that is what Game of Thrones fans would tune in for every Sunday evening when the show was running. House of the Dragon’s marketing suggests the show will focus on the Targaryen civil war, and it should. The Starks, Lannisters, and Greyjoys should be peripheral players in the drama, at best.
Do Not Kill Off Main Characters so Quickly
Game of Thrones is famous for several elements within the show. Gratuitous sex, detailed violence, and a beautiful use of dragons. It is also famous for killing off many of its main characters, from season one to the finale of season eight. Ned Stark was the head of House Stark on Game of Thrones. He was the most noble and perhaps most likable character on the entire show. He showed mercy where others were brutal. He displayed forthrightness where other characters used lies and deception. It cost Ned his head at the end of Game of Thrones’ inaugural season.
If House of the Dragon repeats this penchant for killing off main characters without much hesitation, it would be the wrong move. This is because at this point, doing so would be less of a shock and more of a mainstay with the franchise. It would be wiser to tease deaths of main characters, and then save them to die another day. Subverting audience expectations would be to the show’s benefit.
Drop The Most Problematic Element
Unfortunately, another aspect that Game of Thrones was famous for was on-screen sexual assault. Much like killing off main characters, this aspect of the show was to induce a sense of shock in its viewership. This very likely worked, with several women assaulted over the course of the show’s eight seasons.
This has to end with House of the Dragon. Game of Thrones debuted just 11 years ago, but it may as well have been a lifetime. The discourse and awareness around sexual assault has shifted, and society writ large is more sensitive to it. There is simply no need for any kind of sexual assault on the prequel spinoff. In Game of Thrones, sexual assault was never off-screen, it was always right there for the viewers to watch with dropped jaws. It never aided the storyline and was just downright grotesque. House of the Dragon would be wise to avoid sexual assault altogether.
Do Not Make the Audience Root for Anyone
Game of Thrones coerced its fanbase to root for two separate entities: the Stark family and Daenerys Targaryen. This is largely because every other character or family was so insufferably flawed that seeking out ‘the good guys’ became an effortless task.
Given that House of the Dragon will be about a family’s civil war, it should take a nuanced approach. To do otherwise would be formulaic and predictable. The showrunners would be wise to approach the spinoff series with nuance, leaving the audience in knots guessing who they should be pulling for, if they should be pulling for any side at all.
Do Not Rush the Ending
Game of Thrones was a special show. Despite over-the-top sex and violence in a fantasy setting, it attracted millions of viewers and became a massive success. However, the last two seasons spoiled the show for many. This is because Game of Thrones absolutely rushed to wrap up the show in seasons seven and eight. While the ending made sense, it happened at far too brisk a pace, making otherwise logical character arcs seem out of left field. House of the Dragon should learn a wise lesson from Game of Thrones and take its time with pacing and its conclusion.
Legions of Game of Thrones fans are excited for House of the Dragon. It promises an in-depth look at a storied family, ferocious battles, and of course, dragons. The show will stream on HBO later this year.