Fourth Wing Flies Above Game Of Thrones’ Mistakes: 5 Lessons For Amazon’s Fantasy Hit!

Amazon’s upcoming TV series titled “Fourth Wing” is set to emerge as a significant fantasy adaptation, learning from the mistakes made in “Game of Thrones”. Although there are numerous ongoing fantasy TV shows that could inspire “Fourth Wing”, the popularity and dragon-centric narrative of “Game of Thrones” make it an obvious benchmark. Following its unprecedented mainstream success, “Game of Thrones” has set the bar for fantasy television. However, the later seasons of this HBO show undeniably had flaws, and future projects aiming for a similar impact should be cautious to avoid these pitfalls.

The controversial eighth season of Game of Thrones underscores some of the show’s later flaws, with many issues arising from its deviation from George R.R. Martin’s books and the author’s decreased involvement. However, understanding what went awry in the final episodes of HBO’s series provides Amazon with valuable insights for avoiding similar pitfalls with Fourth Wing. Fortunately, it appears that Fourth Wing will tackle several issues that plagued the previous fantasy series, offering a hopeful outlook for the adaptation’s future.

5. Rebecca Yarros Could Be More Heavily Involved In The Fourth Wing Show

George R.R. Martin Became Less Involved In Later Game Of Thrones Seasons

To ensure that Amazon’s Fourth Wing series doesn’t repeat the blunders made by Game of Thrones, it would be wise to consistently involve Rebecca Yarros in the adaptation process throughout the entire run of the series. This approach was effective for the first four seasons of Game of Thrones, which are generally considered the strongest segments of the fantasy saga. During this time, George R.R. Martin contributed to the show’s scriptwriting and was also part of the creative decision-making process, as reported by Deadline. Sadly, his influence on key decisions seemed to lessen in later seasons, which may have influenced how his characters and story were portrayed.

As a devoted film enthusiast, I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping an author involved in adaptations for faithful representations. With “Fourth Wing,” it’s clear that Yarros, being an executive producer, will likely be part of the process. This involvement gives us hope that the series will stick close to the books’ essence, preserving what readers have come to cherish. Yarros’ updates on the TV show are encouraging, hinting at characters and dialogues that align with the books. Here’s hoping this collaboration continues, easing our minds knowing that “Fourth Wing” is in capable hands.

4. Fourth Wing’s TV Show Won’t Overtake The Books

The Empyrean Series Will Be Finished Before The Series’ Final Seasons

In order for “The Fourth Wing” series to stay true to the original books, it’s crucial to ensure they aren’t left without source material like “Game of Thrones” was in its later seasons when it surpassed George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” novels. Luckily, this shouldn’t pose an issue as the books are still being released.

Given that three out of five books in the Empyrean Series have been published, there’s ample time for Yarros to complete her story before the TV show catches up. Since filming for Fourth Wing hasn’t begun yet, it seems unlikely that Amazon will release three seasons of the TV show before Yarros publishes the next book in the Empyrean Series. In fact, the author herself told Variety that “the show has no chance of reaching Season 4 before I reach Book 4,” which suggests that the Fourth Wing show won’t parallel Game of Thrones in this aspect.

3. Fourth Wing Will Have Greater Representation

Rebecca Yarros’ Books Already Have Greater Diversity

One criticism often leveled against the popular series “Game of Thrones” was its approach to diversity and character representation. Generally speaking, the HBO production tended to fall short in this regard; when diversity was present, it wasn’t always portrayed thoughtfully. The show was criticized for its treatment of women, with many female characters subjected to sexual violence, and its handling of characters of color, who often received uneven or insufficient development. In essence, the show struggled to represent a broad spectrum of perspectives and give them the depth they deserved.

The Fourth Wing series could surpass Game of Thrones in terms of diversity and inclusion, given its thoughtful representation. Characters such as Yarros’ heroine with a disability, various LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color are already integral parts of the storyline in The Empyrean Series. Since Amazon’s adaptation has shown sensitivity towards representation thus far, it is likely to continue this trend, making significant strides for diversity in fantasy television.

2. Fourth Wing Can Handle Its Villains Better Than Game Of Thrones

The Venin Are Already More Fleshed Out Than The White Walkers & Night King

A significant part of why the ending of “Game of Thrones” felt disappointing was due to the fact that it failed to properly address the villains it had spent eight seasons developing. The Night King and his army of White Walkers were dispatched in a mere episode, leaving many unanswered questions about them as undead entities. Moreover, Cersei Lannister, who had caused so much harm throughout the series, didn’t receive the retribution she should have. Instead of facing off against those she had wronged, her character met an untimely end when she was buried under debris in the final season.

To prevent a similar mistake as Game of Thrones in its final season, the Fourth Wing should take care to provide sufficient backstory and development for their villains, and make sure their conclusions are fitting after building up to them for multiple seasons. Fortunately, the expanded venin lore in Onyx Storm indicates that the book series and its adaptation will handle the venin more effectively than Game of Thrones handled the Others. If Fourth Wing provides satisfying conclusions for its human villains, it can avoid one of the most significant errors from Game of Thrones season 8.

1. Fourth Wing Can Avoid Doing A Complete 180 On Its Biggest Character Arcs

Another factor damaging ‘Game of Thrones’ reputation was the abrupt change of direction in season 8 regarding all character developments, without providing adequate reasoning for these changes. The transformation of Jaime Lannister stands out as a prime example, but even Daenerys’ descent into madness and Tyrion’s sudden lack of foresight seem implausible after everything that had been established earlier. These abrupt shifts left viewers feeling disgruntled about the characters’ conclusions.

Amazon’s “Fourth Wing” production could steer clear of the pitfall by not hurrying towards its conclusion, thus forfeiting significant character growth along the way. The gradual transformation of Xaden into a villain in “Onyx Storm” implies that any dramatic twists will be adequately set up, providing the TV series adheres to Yarros’ books. Fingers crossed, this suggests we won’t encounter an unexpected shift in characters becoming villains or drastic changes in their behavior during the final episodes of the series.

2025-04-23 03:40