Artificial intelligence has been talked about a lot this year. Will it usher in a new utopian era where robots do everything for us while we lounge about counting our blessing? Will it result in a Terminator-like nightmare scenario where the human race is hunted to extinction? Maybe it will just take our jobs and end our privacy? Or perhaps we’ll absorb it into our society and move on like nothing has happened.
I remain unsure of the particulars. But I do know one thing we can do with AI: ask it random questions about Game of Thrones and see what it says. For this particular exercise, we asked OpenAI’s program ChatGPT to come up with a variety of Game of Thrones spinoff ideas. HBO already one spinoff — House of the Dragon — on the air and another — A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms — on the way. But we know they want more. What unexplored corner of Westeros might we look into next? Let’s ask the robot.
We also wanted to see how different prompts would change what responses we get. For our first question, we kept the prompt very simple:
“Come up with a spinoff idea for Game of Thrones”
From here on out, everything in italics is what ChatGPT told us.
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Certainly! How about a spinoff set in the distant past of the Game of Thrones world, during the height of the Valyrian Freehold, long before the events of the main series? This spinoff could be called “The Valyrian Chronicles.”
“The Valyrian Chronicles” would explore the rise and fall of the Valyrian Freehold, a powerful and enigmatic civilization known for its mastery of dragon-riding, sorcery, and expansion across Essos. Here are some key elements and plot points for this spinoff:
- The Valyrian Empire: The series would focus on the Valyrian Freehold at its zenith, showcasing its powerful families, dragonlords, and their dominion over the known world. The Valyrians are known for their dragon-riding skills and their famous Valyrian steel swords.
- Origins and Mysteries: The show would delve into the enigmatic origins of Valyria, the forging of Valyrian steel, the secrets of their magical practices, and the mysterious Doom that ultimately led to the fall of the Valyrian civilization.
- Political Intrigue: Similar to the political complexity of the original series, “The Valyrian Chronicles” would explore the political intrigues, power struggles, and rivalries among Valyrian noble houses and the various colonies and vassals under their control.
- The Targaryen House: The Targaryens, known for their connection to dragons, would be one of the central families in the spinoff. The show could focus on their rise to power, their initial dragon bonding, and their eventual escape from the Doom of Valyria, setting the stage for their future conquest of Westeros.
- Ancient Magic: The spinoff would delve deep into the Valyrian magical practices, including fire and blood rituals, as well as their relationship with dragons and sorcery. This would add a rich and mystical element to the series.
- Exploration of Essos: “The Valyrian Chronicles” could take viewers to various regions of Essos under Valyrian rule, from the Free Cities to Slaver’s Bay, showing the cultural diversity and challenges of ruling such a vast empire.
- The Doom: The catastrophic event known as the Doom of Valyria would serve as a central turning point in the series. The causes and immediate aftermath of this disaster would be a key storyline, creating suspense and intrigue.
- Legacy and Prophecy: The spinoff could explore prophecies and legends surrounding Valyria, foreshadowing events that may have implications for the future of Westeros, making it a bridge to the original series.
Overall, “The Valyrian Chronicles” would provide an opportunity to expand the rich lore and history of the Game of Thrones world while offering a fresh perspective on a fascinating and mysterious civilization. It would combine epic battles, complex characters, and a deep exploration of magic and politics, drawing in both longtime fans and new viewers.
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Alright, not bad; I’d watch a show about what happened in the Valyrian empire hundreds of years before the events of Game of Thrones, back when there were thousands of dragons flying around everywhere and the Valyrians held sway over all of Essos. What led to the Doom of Valyria? What made the Targaryen family want to leave Valyria to set up shop on the island of Dragonstone near Westeros? A series like this could answer those questions and be a lot of fun besides.
Rumor has it that HBO was once considering making a show like this, and who knows; perhaps they still are.
I was pretty happy with this response, so I kept the next prompt in line with the first: