Fourth Wing: The Fantasy Series Poised To Beat Game Of Thrones

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A new fantasy series coming to Prime Video, adapted from a popular book series, could surpass Game of Thrones if it’s well-made.

While the final season of Game of Thrones wasn’t perfect, the show remains incredibly popular and influential years later, and its spin-offs are also performing well. Achieving even a fraction of Game of Thrones‘ success and positive reviews – especially during its first seven seasons – would be a major accomplishment for any fantasy series today.

A new fantasy TV series is generating excitement and could become even more popular than Game of Thrones, if it lives up to expectations.

What Is Fourth Wing About?

Credit: Entangled Publishing

Rebecca Yarros’s novel, Fourth Wing, is a fantasy romance for adults. It follows Violet Sorrengail, a 20-year-old who prefers studying and hoped to become a scribe. But her mother insists she join the Dragon Riders, despite Violet’s lack of physical strength and the dangerous training she’ll face at Basgiath War College.

Violet relies on her intelligence and resourcefulness to succeed at the academy, especially as she learns to connect with dragons.

Throughout her adventures, Violet finds herself powerfully drawn to Xaden Riorson, a strong and intimidating leader whose father was killed by her own mother. As the story unfolds, Violet uncovers secrets about the kingdom of Navarre and the wider world, realizing how much of what she thought she knew was based on deception and political maneuvering—all while struggling with her blossoming feelings for Xaden.

How Fourth Wing Compares To Game Of Thrones

As a critic, I’ve been seeing a lot of comparisons between Game of Thrones and Fourth Wing, and while both series definitely deliver on dragons, political intrigue, and, let’s be honest, a lot of death, they approach storytelling in very different ways. Game of Thrones was massive in scope, jumping between tons of characters and storylines across an entire world. Fourth Wing, though, feels much more focused. It really stays with our main heroine and her journey, making it a more intimate and contained experience than the sprawling epic of Westeros.

I’ve noticed a big difference in how magic and dragons are handled in Fourth Wing compared to other fantasy worlds. The dragons aren’t just powerful creatures—they feel like real characters with their own thoughts and society. Unlike the dragons in Game of Thrones, these ones have their own rules, politics, and can even talk directly into your mind! It’s a really cool take on dragon lore.

In short, Game of Thrones is known for its complex politics and intricate web of relationships between different groups vying for power. Fourth Wing, on the other hand, focuses more on relatable characters, a strong romantic storyline, and the main character’s personal growth.

Why Fourth Wing Can Be Even Bigger Than Game Of Thrones

Although Fourth Wing and Game of Thrones tell very different stories, it’s not accurate to say Fourth Wing is simply replacing Game of Thrones. However, Fourth Wing has the potential to become just as popular and influential if it focuses on what makes it unique. The upcoming Prime Video adaptation will benefit from modern CGI, allowing it to realistically portray the wide variety of dragons described in the books.

If the show accurately portrays the romantic relationships in the books, it could attract a large audience from the popular online community called “BookTok” and significantly increase viewership for Prime Video.

Unlike the understated magic in Game of Thrones, Fourth Wing features a bolder, more prominent magical system, especially in battles. The upcoming Prime Video series needs to reflect this energetic fantasy from the books and avoid toning it down. While this will likely require a larger budget, faithfully recreating the book’s impressive magical displays will be worth the investment.

One of the reasons Fourth Wing is so popular is because the central conflict is easy to understand, and the ‘Dark Academia’ setting adds to the drama. Plus, the main character lives with a long-term illness, which makes her more relatable. This could lead to a more inclusive and realistic adaptation when it comes to Prime Video, unlike Game of Thrones.

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2026-02-08 04:08