Which fantasy book series deserves to get the Game Of Thrones treatment next?
We think it’s David Eddings' The Belgariad…
TV networks and online providers dont ask for much.
They simply want their next tentpole program to be massively successful.
When they do, its slaps on the back for everyone.
When the audiences dont manifest, the project is quickly canned.
A few years ago any series with a corset was the nextDownton Abbey.
Now several properties includingThe Last KingdomandThe Bastard Executionerare predicted to be the nextGame Of Thrones.
Not to advocate piracy in any way shape or form.
FXXs forthcomingThe Bastard Executionerand the BBCsThe Last Kingdomare getting a lot of interest, and rightly so.
They look epic, inspiring, and handsomely cast.
There will be battles, carousing, plotting, twists, turns, downfalls and empire building.
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Which is all well and good.
But which property truly deserves to be the nextGame Of Thrones?
It has to beThe Belgariad.
In other words, theres plenty of source material to create season after season of fantasy awesomeness.
Plus the two prequels.
Twelve books equals plenty of seasons.
The Belgariadis accessible fantasy on a large scale, a gateway into the fantasy genre if you will.
Like many time-honoured tropes, the ending ofThe Belgariadis never really in doubt.
In a whodunnit, they find out who did it.
In a Bond film, the villains lair blows up.
In a romance, we get a happily ever after.
With fantasy, the prophecy is fulfilled.
Millions of readers have already enjoyed the books.
Those who read the books in their teens cough now have avidly reading younglings of their own.
Those who havent read the books will get it because the tropes and structure are so familiar.
If youve ever visitedtvtropes.orgyoull see just how many common plot and character devices the story uses.
This is both criticism and part of the charm.
The characters are memorable because they are painted with such broad brushstrokes.
Unless you have a blunt-force head trauma, youll pick it up pretty quickly.
It would make a nice change from hating him as Westeros super-punchable teen King.
Meanwhile, how about we give the Belgariad character of Lord Barak a gender switch and cast Miriam Margoyles?
She turns into a bear any time Garion is in strife.
I can totally see her both protecting and keeping the chosen one in line.
The Belgariadis far more family friendly thanGame Of Thrones; nobody gets his or her head explodey-crushed in trial-by-combat.
(Reading the book was confronting enough.)
All of which makesThe Belgariada perfect candidate for the Saturday night family slot.
Then he takes it easy for a few decades before meeting his third challenge.
I wouldnt dare spoil the ending for anyone who hasnt yet had the pleasure.
Beowulfbegan a long and illustrious storytelling tradition in western culture of a chosen hero marching off to battle enemies.
Adapted from the first of Bernard CornwellsThe Saxon Stories,there is no shortage of Viking-versus-Saxon source material.
Book nine of Cornwells series comes out in October.
The main cast has eighteen players, four of them women, none of whom made the trailer.
Among the dozen main men inThe Belgariadare four pivotal female roles; Polgara, CeNedra, Velvet and Taiba.
A clever gender change or two could create even better balance.
Lets face it, casting Starbuck as a woman in theBattlestar Galaticareboot was awesome.
It created a stronger dynamic and made the show more interesting.
The further change of not knowing whether someone was a Cylon sleeper agent only added to the magnificent paranoia.
I cant wait for the inevitable who would win in a tri-wizard tournament between Dumbledore, Belgarath and Gandalf?
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