Prime Video’s God of War Is Breaking Tradition With Its Villains

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The live-action version of the story is currently being developed, so we probably won’t learn much about what will happen for some time.

The three villains weren’t introduced until the 2022 game, God of War: Ragnarök, though Thor made a quick appearance at the end of the 2018 game. If the show sticks to the games’ timeline, they might not be in the first season, which makes the recent casting announcement unusual. This isn’t just about changing when they appear; it could alter a core element of the 2018 game and significantly change how the story unfolds.

Odin Manipulated the Events of God of War From Behind the Scenes

The 2018 God of War reimagined the series with a more cinematic and emotionally powerful approach. The game heavily focused on Kratos, and uniquely, it presented the entire experience as one unbroken shot – seamlessly blending gameplay and cutscenes. Players saw and learned everything solely through the eyes of the main characters, creating a deeply immersive story.

In the 2018 game, Odin and Thor were central figures in the story. Baldur served as the primary villain, relentlessly pursuing Kratos, and Thor’s sons, Magni and Modi, were also involved. However, the game focused on staying with Kratos, so players only heard about Odin and Thor through what other characters said.

This approach was highly effective in the game because it helped players feel more connected to Kratos’s thoughts and emotions. However, that level of connection isn’t needed for the TV show. Unlike gamers who actively participate, viewers generally watch from a distance, so they don’t require the same deep, personal link to the main character.

Letting players experience stories focused on Odin, Thor, and Heimdall – even when Kratos isn’t the main character – would create exciting new possibilities. We could finally see events the games have hinted at, like how Odin imprisoned Mimir or a battle between Odin and Kratos.

The God of War Series Can Expand Upon the Lore of the Games

Bringing in characters like Odin, Thor, and Heimdall sooner would help the story feel more connected. While the 2018 game had some unresolved plot points that were eventually addressed, it largely stood on its own, which was a smart move considering there was no certainty the new version would be popular enough to deserve a follow-up.

Prime Video successfully adapted the first two games into two seasons, and it has the remaining games to guide future seasons. It could potentially combine the plots of those games into a single, cohesive storyline. While staying true to the original games is crucial, some changes will be necessary to make the story work well as a TV show.

While a show simply retelling Kratos’ story like the games could work, it wouldn’t feel fresh and would largely repeat what we already know. To truly succeed, a God of War TV series needs to leverage the unique possibilities of television – doing things the games couldn’t – to offer fans a new and exciting way to experience this world and justify its existence as a separate piece of storytelling.

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God of War TV: Norse Gods, Kratos, and Epic Twists Revealed
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2026-02-15 04:36