Benioff and Weiss hit the nail on the head with the Azor Ahai prophecy in ‘Game of Thrones’

The big picture

• Benioff and Weiss have faced criticism for their poor writing
  game of Thrones
  especially in season eight.
• Difficulties in resolving major plots and prophecies have exacerbated criticism of the showrunners.
• However, Jon Snow’s actions in season eight are in line with Azor Ahai’s prophecy, potentially validating Benioff and Weiss’s choices.

game of Thrones launched the careers of David Benioff AND DB Weiss into the stratosphere after the success of their HBO series. Benioff and Weiss have become Hollywood’s most sought-after talent and even landed a Star Wars project before wrapping up game of ThronesHowever, when the last few seasons didn’t deliver the results they had hoped for, Benioff and Weiss’ schedule quickly fell apart and their reputation took a hit. game of Thrones Season 8 has received a lot of negative attention for failing to resolve plots, questionable character decisions, and overall poor writing. While there are countless complaints about Season 8, such as Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) leaving Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) for Cersei (Lena Head), or Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) becoming completely useless to the story, the most controversial moment was when Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) killed the Night King during season 8, episode 3.

While the criticisms against Benioff and Weiss are well-founded, they were in a difficult position towards the end. game of Thrones. Author George R.R. Martin had promised to write more books before the series reached him, but no books were released. Even today, nearly twelve years after the premiere of game of Thrones, The Winds of Winter has yet to be released. Benioff and Weiss had to end the show with limited information about how the story of Westeros would end. “The Prince That Was Promised” was a major plot that needed to be resolved before the end of the series.which was ruined when Arya killed the Night King. But upon closer inspection, it seems like Benioff and Weiss may have gotten some undeserved hate for this aspect of the story.

“Game of Thrones” prophecies have always been complicated

The Prince Who Was Promised is a hero prophesied by the game of Thrones universe destined to lead the battle against the Others and end the Long Night. The hero is otherwise known as “Azor Ahai” to the Red Priestess, Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) who tries to predict the hero’s identity throughout the series. There are a variety of religions in the game of Thrones universe. Each has unique customs and myths, but nearly every belief system has its equivalent of Azor Ahai. “The Prince Who Was Promised” is a term that dates back to ancient Valyria. The First Men believed in the “Last Hero”, who joined the Children of the Forest to stop the Long Night. The Dothraki also have their own equivalent of the prophecy, although they live completely contradictory lifestyles compared to Westeros. In game of Thrones Season 1, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) expects to give birth to “The Stallion Who Mounts the World”. While Dothraki stories do not mention the Others, they believe that the Ghost Grass will one day cover the world. The Ghost Grass is a tall, pale plant that glows at night, said to contain the spirits of the dead. The Dothraki believe that the grass will eventually cover the world and leave nothing left alive. There are countless names for Azor Ahai, from Hyrkoon the Hero and Eldric Shadowchaser to Yin-Tar and Neferion. Every culture traces back to this belief, emphasizing the importance of the Long Night. It is an integral concept for game of Thrones which cannot be avoided when adapting a series for television.

Melisandre initially believes that Stannis (Stephen Dillane) to be Azor Ahai, before moving on to Jon Snow (Kit Harington), and later Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). game of Thrones presents a case for numerous characters eventually becoming Azor Ahai, ButJon Snow emerged as the most likely candidate. Jon has come face to face with the Night King on several occasions throughout the series, including Hardhome. Jon’s character arc has centered on uniting the people of Westeros against the Others, so it made sense for him to fight the Night King during the Battle of Winterfell in Season 8, Episode 3. However, when all seemed lost, Arya Stark appeared out of nowhere and personally killed the Night King, ruining Jon’s plot. Benioff and Weiss said Arya subverted audience expectations, but it didn’t make sense. But Jon’s story isn’t over, and he may have fulfilled the prophecy in a different way.

Prophecy has always been a complicated concept in game of Thrones. Prophecies often come true in a figurative sense or occur under completely different circumstances. Martin explained, “Prophecies are, you know, a double-edged sword… You don’t want to be too literal or too facile…” Cersei Lannister is an example of a prophecy that plays out in a non-traditional way. Cersei’s prophecy stated that a younger, more beautiful queen would abandon her. As a result, Cersei becomes antagonistic towards Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner) and Margaery Tyrell (Natalie Dormer), but it is Daenerys who ultimately destroys her. In Cersei’s attempt to prevent the prophecy, she isolates herself from potential allies who might have protected her from her fate.

Similarly, Bran (Dr. Isaac Hempstead-Wright)dreams that Winterfell will flood and drown all its inhabitants, like Ser Rodrik Cassel (Ron Donachie). Bran takes the dream too literally, but in the end, Theon (Alfie Allen) brings the Ironborn to Winterfell and lays siege to the capital, beheading Rodrik Cassel. During Daenerys’ visions in the House of the Undying, she walks through the snow-covered throne room, foreshadowing winter and the Long Night. However, Season 8 reveals that this vision foreshadows an event after the Long Night, where Daenerys blanketed King’s Landing in ash after burning the city. The prophecy of Azor Ahai was similarly fulfilled.

How Jon Fulfills Azor Ahai’s Prophecy

The prophecy of Azor Ahai describes the hero forging his legendary sword, Lightbringer, which he uses to fight the Others. The hero first tries to temper the sword in water, then again in the heart of a lion, before finally plunging it into the heart of his great love, who tempers the steel. As we have seen with previous prophecies, they are often intended to be interpreted metaphoricallyrather than literally. Although the A Song of Ice and Fire Even if the books eventually resolve Azor Ahai’s prophecy, it’s unlikely that any character will literally slay a lion or forge a divine sword to defeat the Others.

Jon’s journey in seasons 7 and 8 fits the parameters of the prophecy.Jon initially fails to stop the Others at the frozen lake beyond the Wall, which serves as an attempt to temper steel in water. Jon is associated with many images of water during this sequence, including falling into the frozen lake during the battle. Jon then travels to King’s Landing where he fails to kill Cersei Lannister, a lion. Then finally, in Season 8 Episode 6, he stabs his great love, Daenerys, to end her rule. In this scenario, the prophesied “Long Night” was not just about the Others, but about the era of tyranny that could be brought about by Daenerys and her new dynasty of oppressive rule. In Episode 6, King’s Landing is completely covered in a cloud of ash, further emphasizing the idea of ​​a Long Night. By killing Daenerys, Jon killed his great love and ended a new era of Targaryen tyranny before it could further damage Westeros.

“House of the Dragon” takes the prophecy of the promised prince further

House of the Dragon added more depth to the prophecy, revealing that Aegon the Conqueror had a vision of the Long Night that he called “A Song of Ice and Fire.” Aegon’s prophecy states that a Targaryen must sit on the Iron Throne when the prophecy comes true. While Cersei Lannister was Queen of Westeros when Arya killed the Night King, it was Daenerys Targaryen who sat on the throne when Jon finally killed her. House of the DragonThe change in prophecy only lends credence to the theory that Jon has indeed fulfilled Azor Ahai’s prophecy.

Given the negative response to season 8, it’s surprising to see House of the Dragon further exploring the Long Night and the Prince That Was Promised. In Season 2 Episode 8, Daemon (Matt Smith) experiences a vision of Weirwood with the Three-Eyed Raven (Joshua Ben Tovim), the White Walkers and the birth of Daenerys’ dragons. House of the Dragon could have avoided any connection to the original series, but instead chose to delve deeper into the prophecy. So perhaps we will learn more about Azor Ahai as the series progresses.

The books could support the prophecy we see in “Game of Thrones”

George R.R. Martin’s books add further credibility to Jon being the Prince That Was Promised. We know that Benioff and Weiss had long discussions with Martin about the endings of his novels to try to emulate a similar conclusion. While the showrunners made many narrative missteps on their way to the finale, we can assume that the The broader strokes of the season eight finale remain the sameJon will likely form a relationship with Daenerys and eventually kill her, thus fulfilling the prophecy.

Jon’s heritage also makes him a perfect candidate for Azor Ahai. The Targaryens have become a centerpiece of the fandom, especially with shows like House of the Dragon and the in-development spin-off series Aegon’s Conquest. There’s a common misconception that the Targaryens represent fire and the Others represent ice, making up the two halves of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” but the truth is a little more complicated. The Starks are an equally important house in the general story. The Starks built the Wall and brought knowledge of the Others through their lineage, just as the Targaryens brought prophetic visions. The culmination of both houses provides a solution to the Long Night. Jon is that culmination, being half Stark (ice) and half Targaryen (fire), he carries the blood of both the First Men and the Valyrians, making him the ideal candidate to lead the war against the White Walkers.

It is uncertain whether Benioff and Weiss intended this prophecy to come true in Jon’s arc, but that does not excuse the many other mistakes made in the series. Events will undoubtedly play out differently in the books and The Winds of Winter it is no closer to being finished than it was when game of Thrones on the air. However, HBO has recently begun work on a new spin-off about Aegon the Conqueror, where we may learn more about his ancient prophecy and the history of Azor Ahai.

Both game of Thrones AND House of the Dragon are available for streaming on Max in the US

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