House of the Dragonwas the firstGame of Thronesspinoff, but it certainly won’t be the last. Even beforeGame of Thrones' ending, HBO was exploring ways to continue telling stories in Westeros. Now thatHouse of the Dragonitself is a great success (even if season 2 was somewhat divisive on account of its shorter episode count), that will only further embolden plans for the franchise, which will expand withA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' release sometime in 2025.
Beyond that,HBO is developing multipleGame of Thronesspinoffs, ranging from one about Aegon’s Conquest to an animated series following Corlys Velaryon on adventures around the known world, and more.House of the Dragonseason 3has also been confirmed, and the show will then end with season 4. However, there’s one story within George R.R. Martin’s world that isn’t currently set for adaptation, but would be a particularly perfect replacement forHOTD.
The Blackfyre Rebellions Explained
It’s A Key Part Of House Targaryen’s History
The First Blackfyre Rebellion, which was a civil war between the Targaryens and the Blackfyres, took place in 196 AC, roughly 100 years beforeGame of Thronestimeline, and over 60 years afterHouse of the Dragonseason 2 takes place. The conflict is rooted in the actions of King Aegon IV Targaryen, aka Aegon the Unworthy, who is the son of Viserys II Targaryen, and thus the grandson of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen.Aegon IV had multiple bastards and legitimized them on his deathbed, sparking a battle of succession.
Serenei of Lys
Targaryen
Aegon’s firstborn son was a bastard named Daemon Waters, who later took the name Daemon Blackfyre, beginning a cadet branch of House Targaryen. Daemon had been acknowledged by his father, and even granted the Valyrian steel sword, Blackfyre (from which he took the name). However, Aegon was succeeded on the Iron Throne by his trueborn heir, Daeron, but his reign did not go entirely smoothly.
House Targaryen Explained: Origins, Dragons, Kings & Game Of Thrones History
There’s more to House Targaryen’s history than what’s depicted in House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. Here’s what we know from the books.
A confluence of factors, including a feeling of Daemon’s own greater claim, legitimacy due to having the Conqueror’s sword, and Daeron giving greater influence to Dorne upsetting others, eventually led toDaemon making his own claim on the throne, over a decade after Daeron had been crowned king. This started a fierce civil war that dividedthe Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, lasting around a year and resulting in major casualties and, eventually, the exile of the Blackfyres to Essos. However, that was not the end of the story, as a further four Blackfyre rebellions occurred across the next 64 years.
A Blackfyre Rebellions Show Could Be The Perfect House Of The Dragon Replacement
It Offers Similar Drama To HOTD And Game Of Thrones
As another Targaryen civil war,the Blackfyre Rebellion feels like a natural choice for following on fromHouse of the Dragon, showing once again how the Targaryens will so often be their own downfall, extending the theme from the current prequel. The story has a lot of similar elements to bothHOTDandGame of Thrones,with family drama, political intrigue, and great battles, but with its own unique beats and characters that can make it stand apart.
Daemon Blackfyre is at the heart of it, a character who is smart, charming, fierce, beautiful, and among the greatest warriors to have ever lived, in particular with the sword Blackfyre in his hand.
There are several key players, and a few of them could be among the best we’ve seen in theGame of Thronesfranchise. Daemon Blackfyre is at the heart of it, a character who is smart, charming, fierce, beautiful, and among the greatest warriors to have ever lived, in particular with the sword Blackfyre in his hand. King Daeron, in contrast, is wise and good-natured, but relies more on his words and his intelligence than he does skill on a battlefield, allowing for a different kind of rivalry.
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For thousands of years, the Targaryen dynasty ruled Westeros with an iron fist, and that is thanks to their most impressive members.
There’s also the rivalry between Brynden Rivers, aka Bloodraven, and his half-brother Aegor Rivers, aka Bittersteel, two great warriors themselves who are important parts ofGame of Throneshistory:Brynden becomes the Three-Eyed Raven, and Aegor is the founder of sellsword group The Golden Company. Both Bloodraven and Bittersteel held romantic feelings for their half-sister, Shiera, herself a fascinating character, considered the most beautiful woman alive and a practitioner of dark magics.
With the deeply personal drama, the various machinations, and a clear opportunity for spectacle -one key fight, the Battle of the Redgrass Field, could include the best swordfight in anyGame of Thronesshow- then there’s a lot of potential to this story. At the same time, it can differ fromHouse of the Dragonsincethe Targaryens' dragons have all died outby this point (actually around 50 years earlier), and because it’s a tighter narrative.
With five rebellions in total, what I’d really love is an anthology-style show telling each one in turn, which would have some returning characters and actors.
With five rebellions in total, what I’d really love is an anthology-style show telling each one in turn, which would have some returning characters and actors. That would allow it to be a long-running series, but also keep it fresh and do something different to any other show in the franchise.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms Can Set Up The Blackfyre Rebellions
The Rebellions Are Important In The Tales Of Dunk & Egg
The First Blackfyre Rebellion is an important part of the background toA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' storyand timeline. The first book in Martin’sThe Tales of Dunk and Eggnovellas,The Hedge Knight, takes place in 209 AC, just thirteen years after the rebellion. It’s also what would be the final year of Daeron II’s life and reign, and not all the wounds from the civil war have completely healed. Multiple characters in the novellas fought in the rebellion, and it still defines them in many ways.
Status
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
An adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s The Tales of Dunk & Egg novellas
Season 1 releasing in 2025 on HBO and Max
House of the Dragon
Ongoing Game of Thrones prequel, telling the story of the Targaryen civil war, the Dance of the Dragons
Season 3 expected in 2026; season 4 will be the last
Aegon’s Conquest
The story of King Aegon I Targaryen and the conquest of Westeros with his sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya
In-development
10,000 Ships
A spinoff about Princess Nymeria, who led her people the Rhoynar to Dorne after a war with the Valyrian Freehold
Nine Voyages
An animated show about Corlys Velaryon’s Great Voyages, where he sailed around the Known World
The Golden Empire (unofficial)
An animated show set in empire of Yi Ti, which is in the far East of Essos
Another live-action Game of Thrones spinoff
Another animated Game of Thrones spinoff
The Blackfyre Rebellions are an even bigger part of the second novella,The Sworn Sword, since it revolves around a rivalry with a very direct connection to the war, and we get a lot more of that history relayed straight to us. Then, in the third novella,The Mystery Knight, Bloodraven himself actually appears.A Knight of the Seven Kingdomswould be able to offer tantalizing teases and a taste of the Blackfyre Rebellion, which would then be perfect if HBO makes a show about it afterHouse of the Dragon.
Cast
House of the Dragon is a 2022 fantasy drama set in the world of Westeros, chronicling the Targaryen dynasty at its height. The story revolves around King Viserys’s controversial decision to name his daughter Rhaenyra as heir to the Iron Throne, sparking tensions and divisions within the realm.
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
Based on a set of prequel novellas by George R. R. Martin, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place almost one hundred years before Game of Thrones. The series follows a knight and a squire who travel across the lands of Westeros during one of the most tumultuous times in the nation’s history.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
