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Summary
AGame of Thronesmovie is in the early stage of development at Warner Bros (PerTHR). If executed correctly, theGame of Thronesuniverse would benefit from this project, since the mega-budgetedThronesSeason 8 andHouse of the DragonSeason 2 turned into complete debacles. If aGame of Thronesmovie is greenlit, it has the potential to salvage the franchise.
Given the lackluster ending of the original season and the lack of plot progression ofHouse of the DragonSeason 2, this movie must intend corrective action. The negative imprint of theGame of Thronesfinal seasonand the second innings ofHouse of the Dragoncan be erased. A movie would help the franchise recover and grow.
Game of ThronesSeason 8 AndHouse of the DragonSeason 2
The original series finale that aired in 2019 and concluded its run on May 19 generated mixed responses, with criticism directed at truncated storylines, poor writing, and the inability to structure changes in character arcs, primarily Daenerys Targaryen, and Jaime Lannister. With Daenerys, the negative changes in her arc were sudden and contrasted with the character seen in the previous seven seasons. Furthermore, her dialogues were weak, and evenEmilia Clarke’s descent into the Mad Queenfelt forced and unconvincing. Because of bad writing, Daenerys camaraderie with her aides Tyrion Lannister, Lord Varys, and Jon Snow became incohesive. This had a spillover effect since she was one of the mains.
Jaime Lannister’s character has made impressive progress over the past seasons, especially after meeting Brienne of Tarth. Jaime stood out as a morally grey character, albeit uncompromising on ideals such as defending human lives. He’d killed the Mad King to save the city. Jaime was fine untilGame of ThronesSeason 8, Episode 4 “The Last of the Starks.” He’d left his vicious sister, Cersei, to fight for the living side, but threw everything away for her. “I would have murdered every man, woman, and child in Riverrun for Cersei. She’s hateful and so am I,” said the man who’d previously answered forthe crime of slaying his king, saying:
Then he [Aerys II] turned to his pyromancer. “Burn them all,” he said “Burn them in their homes. Burn them in their beds”. Tell me, if your precious Renly commanded you to kill your own father and stand by while thousands of men, women, and children burned alive, would you have done it? Would you have kept your oath then?
All of these reasons combined with truncated plotlines culminated in a rushed season that led toGame of Thrones' fall from grace.
Thebiggest criticism ofHouse of the DragonSeason 2is that it did not evolve beyond a point. It went here and there but failed to provide a sense of progression. Daemon Targaryen spent the entire season away from the seat of action, only to conclude that his brother’s choice of heir was correct. It took eight episodes to do something he’d already done by way of placing the crown on Rhaenyra’s head the previous season. Rhaenyra deliberated on war, tried to sue for peace, denied her subordinates' actions, and backtracked on her earlier stance when peace came knocking at her door in the season finale.
Amidst everything that went wrong with the high-stakesGame of Thronesfinal seasonandHouse of the Dragonseason 2, the new movie reported to be in the early stages of development could breathe new life into theThronesfranchise.
AGame of ThronesMovie Can Add Depth And Dimension To The Franchise
AGame of Thronesmovie can stitch theGame of Thronesoriginal series toHouse of the Dragonby acting as a balanced point in the spectrum. First and foremost, the makers must utilize George R. R. Martin’s rich lore and world-building to address the criticisms of the original series' finale season. A movie could delve intoThrones' aftermath and address the questions left in its wake. For example, the questions aboutthe fan-favorite Jon Snow, Sansa’s time ruling the North, or Arya’s fate in the West of Westeros could all be addressed if the movie were to act as a sequel toGame of Thrones. If handled carefully, this segue into the next chapter of Starks, or Jon Snow should potentially absolve HBO of the crimes of mishandling Season 8. The makers tried to cash on shock value, with underdeveloped arcs vis-à-vis the direction of the characters took.
House of the DragonSeason 2 was a dull, drab feast that failed to captivate the viewers or appeal to their emotions. TheThrones’fandom is invested in the story ofthe enigmatic Targaryens, and a movie would serve as the perfect entry point into their beginnings as the great power, currently seen inHouse of the Dragon. The makers can start with hooks such as Lord Aenar’s story,the Doom of Valyria, Aegon’s Conquest, or Jaehaerys' reign to keep the fandom interested inHouse of the Dragon.
Tracing Daenerys' story inthe aftermath of Robert’s Rebellionand before her marriage to Khal Drogo, or a glance at the Targaryens at the time of the rebellion, or the tale of Lyanna and Rhaegar and the Mad King will perfectly stitchGame of ThronestoHouse of the Dragon.
With a new movie, theGame of Thronesfranchise has the potential to recover, keep the fandom hooked, and attract new viewers.
