House of the Dragon was the first Game of Thrones spinoff, but it certainly won’t be the last. Even before Game of Thrones’ ending, HBO was exploring ways to continue telling stories in Westeros. Now that House of the Dragon itself 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 with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ release sometime in 2025.
Beyond that, HBO is developing multiple Game of Thrones spinoffs, 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 Dragon season 3 has 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 for HOTD.
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 before Game of Thrones timeline, and over 60 years after House of the Dragon season 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.
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.
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 to Daemon making his own claim on the throne, over a decade after Daeron had been crowned king. This started a fierce civil war that divided the 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 follow ing on from House 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 both HOTD and Game 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 the Game of Thrones franchise. 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.
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 of Game of Thrones history: 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 any Game of Thrones show – then there’s a lot of potential to this story. At the same time, it can differ from House of the Dragon since the Targaryens’ dragons have all died out by 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 to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ story and timeline. The first book in Martin’s The Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, 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.
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 Kingdoms would 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 after House of the Dragon.