Game of Thrones Film Confronts Narrative Hurdle with Targaryen Protagonists
The announcement of a Game of Thrones movie by Warner Bros, based on George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire universe, has sparked excitement and skepticism among fans. While the prospect of a grand fantasy epic featuring massive dragons is undeniably alluring, a significant narrative challenge looms: how to transform the Targaryens, historically portrayed as tyrannical figures, into relatable heroes for blockbuster audiences.
Adapting Aegon's Conquest: A Story of Dragon-Fueled Domination
Reports indicate the film will focus on Aegon Targaryen's conquest, an event set 300 years before the HBO series, where he united six of Westeros's seven kingdoms using three colossal dragons. According to Martin's lore in The World of Ice & Fire and Fire & Blood, this conquest involved Aegon demanding submission from Westerosi kings and incinerating those who refused, essentially establishing the Targaryens as autocratic rulers through sheer military might.
In the original novels, the Targaryens are depicted as inbred, power-hungry autocrats obsessed with dragons, often willing to destroy half the realm to maintain control. This portrayal starkly contrasts with typical blockbuster protagonists, who are usually underdogs or morally upright heroes. The film must therefore perform narrative gymnastics to reframe Aegon's actions as heroic rather than imperialistic.
Reimagining Villains as Heroes: Hollywood's Creative Solutions
Modern audiences generally root for plucky underdogs, not heavily armed dynasties. To address this, the screenplay might portray Aegon as a reluctant unifier, sighing as he burns castles for the realm's greater good, or reinvent a defeated king as a cartoonish tyrant to justify the conquest as regime change. Alternatively, Hollywood could introduce a new hero, such as a humble blacksmith's apprentice or a sceptical courtier, to provide a more traditional protagonist lens.
This approach mirrors tactics seen in other adaptations, like Amazon's Lord of the Rings series, which invented characters to anchor the story. Without such adjustments, the film risks presenting a narrative where audiences cheer for an evil empire's victory, a rare and potentially jarring experience in mainstream cinema.
Potential for Spectacle Amidst Narrative Complexity
Despite these challenges, the movie promises to be a colossal cinematic spectacle, delivering eye-popping moments of dragon warfare and medieval drama that Martin envisioned. The conquest's scale—with dragons blotting out skies and castles melting—offers prime material for visual effects and epic storytelling. However, the ending may feel unconventional, as it culminates in the Targaryens' domination rather than a typical heroic triumph.
As Warner Bros moves forward, balancing historical lore with audience expectations will be crucial. The success of this adaptation hinges on creatively reshaping the Targaryens' image, ensuring that viewers can engage with a story where the baddies ultimately win, yet still feel compelled to root for them.
