With season six behind us and the endgame in sight, fans will soon have to live in the void of a post Game of Thrones world. While book fans patiently await the release of book six, The Winds of Winter, the television adaptation is on its way out with only two short seasons remaining. Author George R.R. Martin has created such a vast history and culture for the Game of Thrones universe that there is enough content to keep the world alive through spin-offs or prologues for years. So here are four ideas for A Song of Ice and Fire spin-offs/prologues that I would love to see make it onto paper or the screen.
Warning: Spoilers!
1. Robert's Rebellion
Robert's Rebellion, also known as the War of the Usurper, was a rebellion against the Targaryen dynasty lead by Robert Baratheon. Everything started when the prince, Rhaegar Targaryen, abducts Ned Stark's sister Lyanna after a jousting tournament. Ned's brother Brandon, and father Rickard rode to Kings Landing to try and rescue her, but the Mad King Aerys Targaryen (living up to his name) burned them both alive. This resulted in Ned Stark, Robert Baratheon (who was betrothed to Lyanna) and their good friend Jon Arryn of the Vale to rise up in rebellion against the crown.
This one would probably be the most likely to happen if George R.R. Martin wanted to do a spin-off. Most of the major characters at play are ones that we already know from the show and the events that transpire during the war, which are often talked about in the show, set the stage for where the books and show take off.
Major events that we would get to see would include the Battle of the Trident, where Robert Baratheon defeats Rhaegar Targaryen in one-on-one combat and the Sack of King's Landing, where Tywin Lannister betrays the Mad King and sacks the city. The sack would include the murder of the Mad King by Jamie Lannister, and the murder of the royal family by The Mountain.
I think this is what fans would want to see the most since it is already so familiar to us and would also let us see the R+L=J reveal in real time.
2. Aegon's Conquest
Approximately 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones, Aegon Targaryen, his two sister-wives and their three dragons traveled across the Narrow Sea from Dragonstone and launched a war that resulted in Aegon conquering the Seven Kingdoms and uniting them under his rule, starting the Targaryen dynasty that would last until Robert's Rebellion.
Aegon Targaryen's conquest of Westeros would be one hell of a show, jam-packed with dragon-fire and war. It would most likely have to be animated since I don't think any studio's CGI budget would be enough to show Balerion, Meraxes, and Vhagar (the dragons Aegon used during his war) laying waste to Westeros every week. But it would certainly be a sight to see.
Major events that we would get to see would be the burning of Harrenhal, a location that we visit several times in both the books and the show, and the forging of the Iron Throne. Aegon forged the throne from the swords of his enemies using his dragon Balerion's fire. Being able to witness the origins of the object that fuels the desires of nearly every major player in the story is something that every fan would enjoy.
3. Literally anything in Essos
Since the plot of A Song of Ice and Fire is told through the point of view of those in Westeros we don't get that much of a sense of what has been going on on the other continent, Essos. We get some information on the Free Cities, especially from Arya's time in Braavos, or Daenerys' tenure with the Dothraki and her battles in Slaver's Bay. But Essos is huge. I would love to see something like Melisandre's backstory growing up in Asshai, a city shrouded in legend and mystery, or the formation of the House of Black and White and the Faceless Men. Also, something that follows the Valyrian freehold leading up to and after the Doom (the series of natural disasters that destroyed the region) would be incredible to watch/read.
4. The Long Night
The Long Night was a period of darkness that occurred approximately 8,000 years before Aegon's conquest. It was during the Long Night that the White Walkers (or Others, as they are referred to as in the novels) first appeared. What followed was a period of darkness, terror, and famine that lasted a generation.
A prologue involving the Long Night would give fans insight into the origins of the White Walkers and would show them at the peak of their power. It would also let us see the formation of the Night's Watch.
Now, of course, the chances of any of these seeing the light of day are slim to none. I having a feeling that George R.R. Martin will be so burnt out whenever he finally finishes the novels that it is unlikely that he will revisit the story or allow anyone else to. But hey, a fan can dream.
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