9 periods in Westeros history perfect for another Game of Thrones spinoff
By Michael East
The Blackfyre Rebellion
The Blackfyre Rebellion was fought between King Daeron II Targaryen and rebels led by his half-brother, Daemon I Blackfyre.
House Blackfyre was a cadet branch of House Targaryen founded by Aegon IV, who gave his bastard son Daemon one of House’s ancestral Valyrian steel swords: Blackfyre. The sword had been wielded by every king from House Targaryen since the Conquest, and its possession was seen by many as proof of Daemon’s legitimacy.
On his deathbed, Aegon IV legitimized his bastards, including Daemon. Once his father died, Daemon revolted, claiming his half-brother was also a bastard but that he had the better claim to the Iron Throne. Cutting a long story short, the rebellion was unsuccessful, and Daemon was killed.
The Blackfyre Rebellion is rich ground for storytelling. From scheming and intrigue over the succession to outright war, this show has everything it needs to succeed in the World of Ice and Fire universe. Taking place around 100 years before Game of Thrones, HBO would have no worries about effectively creating the Westeros of the age, with viewers being instantly familiar with the locations and houses involved.
Much like House of the Dragon, there is an opportunity for a multi-episode prequel that leads into the major events, with the reigns of Baelor I and Viserys II offering significant background to the rebellion. Equally, the Battle of the Redgrass Field, which ended the first rebellion, has the potential to be a major set-piece ending a second or third season.
We also get a closer look at the Free Cities as Daemon’s heirs attempt to carry on his legacy with further rebellions. As always with George R.R. Martin, much of this story is based on real history, in this case the Jacobites who believed they were the rightful heirs to the Scottish crown in 18th century Britain.
Finally, Maelys I Blackfyre’s War of the Ninepenny Kings could conclude the show in an explosive fashion. Taking place just 28 years before Game of Thrones, familiar names such as Tywin Lannister and Barristan Selmy would be introduced as young men, which would tie this series back to the original.
