HBO confirmed what fans had long suspected: Game of Thrones Season 8 will be the show's last. Yes, that means there are just two seasons left in Daenerys, Tyrion, and Jon's story. While this news is definitely worth sobbing over, all is not lost just yet. According to TV Line, HBO is mulling a Game of Thrones spinoff. The network has no firm plans yet, but they noted both they and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss "are not opposed" to the idea.
Given the wealth of characters and history driving Game of Thrones , a spinoff not only makes business sense, it also makes creative sense. Westeros' past, present, and future offer a multitude of stories just waiting to be told. If HBO ultimately decides to stay in the Game of Thrones business, then they will have plenty of options for a spinoff. The major question is, who should a spinoff follow?
While it is tempting to say Tyrion, Bronn, or any one of the other characters currently embroiled in Westeros intrigue, HBO would do well to steer clear of a spinoff based on a major or minor character from the current series — with one exception. A spinoff needs to be distinct, and it is hard to imagine a story set in the aftermath of the current series ever being as intriguing as what is currently being offered up. If HBO really wants to turn Game of Thrones into a franchise then reaching into Westeros' past is the way to go.
Robert's Rebellion
If HBO is looking to capitalize on the audience's attachment to the Starks, Baratheons, Targaryens, and Lannisters, then a show about the events leading up to Robert's Rebellion would do the trick. All of the fan favorite houses were major players, and the glimpses the show has offered of a young Ned and Lyanna Stark have been enthralling. The only downside is, everyone knows how Robert's Rebellion plays out and there would be little to no surprise in watching the story in full.
Dunk & Egg
George R. R. Martin has a series of novellas about a traveling knight and his squire that are just waiting for an adaptation. The stories are set 90 years before the events in Game of Thrones, and cover some of the meatiest history, including the Blackfyre Rebellion. All of the great houses are name checked, and Dunk is a Targaryen who ultimately becomes the commander of the Kingsguard. With a little fleshing out, the tales of Dunk and Egg could be Game of Thrones' very own Better Call Saul.
The First Men
The small glimpse of the creation of the first white walker was enough to make me dream of a show chronicling the clash between the first men, the children of the forest, and the white walkers. The early era is rich with magic and would undoubtedly be full on fantasy, but it could also be like nothing else on TV. In the end, isn't that what everyone wants from a Game of Thrones story?
Melisandre & Asshai
Melisandre is not the obvious choice for a spinoff character, but the Season 6 reveal of her true form raised a whole lot of questions. Melisandre has clearly been around for a long, long time. In that time, there is no telling what she has seen. Add in the part where she is from Asshai, a place shrouded in dark magic where only a select few merchants will visit and you have a recipe for a female-centric story that could span decades of history while diving deep into the process of becoming a Red Priestess.
Those are just a few Game of Thrones spinoff ideas. The possibilities truly are endless and that is why HBO needs to make sure the world of Game of Thrones lives on after Season 8.
Images: HBO; Giphy (4)
