I honestly don’t know what to expect from this. It’s somewhat comforting that GRRM is involved, but I’m still really doubtful since it’s adapting material from Fire & Blood. I absolutely adore the book, it’s one of my favorites. The book works because of how it’s written. It’s vague, historical (fantasy) book. Not everything there is meant to be fully shown or explained, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Plus it doesn’t have good track record of screen adaptation so far (thanks to C&H khm khm).
The reason why A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms worked so well is because Dunk and Egg stories are structured, character-driven, and actually suited for adaptation. Plus it also helps when the director like Ira Parker actually understands and respects both the source material and GRRM’s vision. This, on the other hand, feels like it risks taking something that functions better as legend and turning it into something overly defined and spectacular.
In my opinion, events from Fire & Blood, especially those predating the Blackfyre rebellions, don’t really need screen adaptations. They already work best in the form they were written in. The Conquest and the Conquerors, in particular, are more compelling as enigmas, stories that neither we nor the characters in-universe will ever fully know. I also really hope they don’t turn it into Targaryen propaganda. If they’re going to tell this story, then they should be honest about what the Conquest actually was. And more than that, I hope we get perspectives beyond just the Targaryens. Lords/kings, ladies, soldiers, and especially smallfolk, so it actually feels like a lived-in, complex event rather than a one-sided retelling.
It’s also pretty obvious this is happening because HBO wants to keep expanding the franchise. And while that’s not surprising, more ASOIAF content doesn’t automatically mean it’s necessary. Especially when the source material wasn’t meant to carry a full narrative like this. But alright…
That being said, I do have some hopes (though not much). My main hope and concern being that Visenya is cast well and that her character isn’t flattened or reshaped into something she definitely isn’t. I’ve always pictured Visenya as Kathryn Winnick and Thea Sofie Loch Næss, so I just hope the final casting at least comes close to that kind of presence and intensity. I have no doubt she’ll be incredible with Vhagar on screen though. As for Aegon I and Rhaenys, I honestly don’t care much about them. What I also really don’t want is for the adaptation to lean too heavily into certain fandom interpretations ifykyk.
Either way, we’ll see how it turns out.
I honestly don’t know what to expect from this. It’s somewhat comforting that GRRM is involved, but I’m still really doubtful since it’s adapting material from Fire & Blood. I absolutely adore the book, it’s one of my favorites. The book works because of how it’s written. It’s vague, historical (fantasy) book. Not everything there is meant to be fully shown or explained, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. Plus it doesn’t have good track record of screen adaptation so far (thanks to C&H khm khm).
The reason why A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms worked so well is because Dunk and Egg stories are structured, character-driven, and actually suited for adaptation. Plus it also helps when the director like Ira Parker actually understands and respects both the source material and GRRM’s vision. This, on the other hand, feels like it risks taking something that functions better as legend and turning it into something overly defined and spectacular.
In my opinion, events from Fire & Blood, especially those predating the Blackfyre rebellions, don’t really need screen adaptations. They already work best in the form they were written in. The Conquest and the Conquerors, in particular, are more compelling as enigmas, stories that neither we nor the characters in-universe will ever fully know. I also really hope they don’t turn it into Targaryen propaganda. If they’re going to tell this story, then they should be honest about what the Conquest actually was. And more than that, I hope we get perspectives beyond just the Targaryens. Lords/kings, ladies, soldiers, and especially smallfolk, so it actually feels like a lived-in, complex event rather than a one-sided retelling.
It’s also pretty obvious this is happening because HBO wants to keep expanding the franchise. And while that’s not surprising, more ASOIAF content doesn’t automatically mean it’s necessary. Especially when the source material wasn’t meant to carry a full narrative like this. But alright…
That being said, I do have some hopes (though not much). My main hope and concern being that Visenya is cast well and that her character isn’t flattened or reshaped into something she definitely isn’t. I’ve always pictured Visenya as Kathryn Winnick and Thea Sofie Loch Næss, so I just hope the final casting at least comes close to that kind of presence and intensity. I have no doubt she’ll be incredible with Vhagar on screen though. As for Aegon I and Rhaenys, I honestly don’t care much about them. What I also really don’t want is for the adaptation to lean too heavily into certain fandom interpretations ifykyk.
Either way, we’ll see how it turns out.
