George R.R. Martin Almost Planned a Very Different Kind of Targaryen Power for 'Game of Thrones'

George R.R. Martin Initially Considered a Very Different Power Set for Targaryens in Game of Thrones.

In an interview at the Oxford Union, George R.R. Martin revealed that when he was conceptualizing the world that would become A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation, Game of Thrones, he had a different power set in mind for the Targaryen family. The initial idea was inspired by his interest in science fiction and his focus on writing more fantastical stories.

Martin initially considered giving the Targaryens pyro powers, allowing them to harness their mental abilities to wield fire. This concept would have deviated significantly from the dragons that ultimately became a staple of the series. However, Martin's friend Phyllis Eisenstein convinced him that real dragons were necessary for the narrative, and this decision has become an integral part of the show.

The idea of Targaryens with pyro powers had its roots in Martin's science fiction writing experience. He drew inspiration from stories about people with psionic abilities, such as telepathy and empathy. Eisenstein encouraged Martin to incorporate these elements into his world-building, leading him to develop the concept of the Targaryen family possessing a unique connection to fire.

Although this initial idea did not come to fruition, its influence can still be seen in the show's mythology. The Lannisters have lions as their symbol, the Starks have wolves, and the Targaryens have dragons. Martin has stated that he wanted to create an unexpected narrative with twists and turns, and including dragons was a crucial decision that ultimately shaped the story.

The inclusion of real dragons in Game of Thrones has had a lasting impact on the series. The return of dragons shifted the balance of power once again, and their presence has become synonymous with the Targaryen legacy. With new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon airing on HBO and HBO Max, fans can look forward to experiencing more of the world that George R.R. Martin created.

I love how this idea could've played out with pyro powers for the Targaryens ! It's wild to think about how different Westeros would be if they had a power like that. I can imagine Daenerys being able to summon fire from her fingertips and Jon Snow trying to keep up with her ️. But you're right, it's cool to see how Martin changed his mind and went with the real deal - dragons are just so epic in this world . And I'm loving all the new episodes coming out of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon - can't wait to dive back into Westeros again !

I'm just imaginein what it'd be like if Targs had pyro powers lol like whoa! But I guess dragons are way cooler, right? Phyllis must've been a total lifesaver, convincing George to go with the real deal. And I love how that initial idea influenced the show's mythology - the symbol thing is so clever. Now it's gonna be awesome seein' more of Westeros on HBO and Max!

So what's up with this whole dragon thing? I mean, come on, Targaryens just 'happened' to have these crazy powers? It's like a perfect example of how power can be wielded in a system – it's all about who's got the biggest influence and control. Martin was trying to shake things up by giving them pyro powers, but his friend convinced him that taking a risk on real-life dragons would pay off in the long run . And boy did it! The Lannisters may have lions, but let's be real, who needs some bland symbol when you can have fire-breathing dragons? This whole thing just goes to show how power plays out in our society – those with more resources and influence always seem to come out on top.

omg i cant even so like martin had a diff power set 4 the targaryens & it wasnt dragons at all lol pyro powers wldve been lit but phyllis said no to real dragons & thats whats made game of thrones so iconic imo dragons r just the best & its not just about power they add this whole mystic vibe 2 the show i mean martin wanted to subvert expectations & twists n turns r the best anyway im hyped for the new ep's of house of the dragon & a knight of the seven kingdoms

I'm telling you, I was like totally obsessed with the show back in 2011 . The whole dragon thing was so new and fresh, I loved how it added this extra layer of complexity to the story. I remember watching Season 1 for the first time and being like "whoa, fire-breathing dragons?!" . It's crazy to think that George R.R. Martin initially wanted pyro powers instead – can you imagine Daenerys just casually setting things ablaze with her mind? . Anyway, I'm stoked they went with the dragon route and it's become such an iconic part of the show. Bring on those new episodes!

Man, I'm still thinking about this Targaryen power set thing... I mean, pyro powers would've been so cool! Can you imagine Daenerys just waltzing in with a fiery blast? But at the same time, I can see how real dragons are way more epic. I love how George R.R. Martin's friend convinced him to go for it – it really paid off. The dragons have become such an iconic part of the show, and I'm glad he went with that instead. Now we get to enjoy the return of new episodes... Bring on the dragon-filled adventures!

I gotta say, it's wild to think about how different Game of Thrones would've been with pyro powers for the Targaryens ! I mean, who wouldn't want to see Daenerys breathing fire and ice on her enemies? It's crazy that Martin initially considered that idea but Phyllis convinced him to go with real dragons instead. Now we're stuck loving these majestic creatures forever .

I think it's awesome how Martin experimented with different concepts before landing on the dragons. It shows he was willing to take risks and try new things, which ultimately made the show so unique. And let's be real, the return of dragons has become synonymous with the Targaryen legacy - who can forget that epic "Rhaegal vs. Euron" battle from season 8?

I'm excited for new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, though! It's gonna be cool to see more of Westeros' history unfold.

I'm like totally stoked that we're finally getting to see more of Westeros in action ! I mean, think about it, if Targaryens had pyro powers instead of dragons, Game of Thrones would be an entirely different show . It's crazy to imagine Daenerys and Jon Snow summoning flames with just a thought . But, you know what? I'm glad we got the dragon thing instead – those beasts are seriously epic .

And can we talk about how awesome it is that George R.R. Martin took inspiration from sci-fi stories about psionic powers? It's so cool to see how he wove that into the Targaryen mythology . Okay, so maybe pyro powers would've been kinda lit , but I think dragons are where it's at .

Anyway, with new episodes of House of the Dragon coming out, I'm super hyped to dive back into the world that Martin created . Bring on the fire, blood, and magic – I'm ready for whatever Westeros throws our way!

I love how this is being brought up again, it's wild to think about how different Game of Thrones would've been if Martin had gone with pyro powers for the Targaryens. I mean, can you imagine Daenerys just casually setting stuff on fire all over Westeros? But in all seriousness, it's cool that Martin got to experiment with this idea and eventually landed on something even better – dragons! It's amazing how a single concept can shape the entire world and its mythology. I'm excited for House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms too, love seeing more of the world come to life

I was just rewatching GoT and I keep thinking about this idea of Targaryens having pyro powers lol. It would've been so cool to see Daenerys or Jon summoning flames from her hands or something But at the same time, I'm glad they went with dragons in the end. It's definitely made for some epic scenes and world-changing moments in the show. Can you imagine if they'd just had a bunch of pyromancers running around Westeros instead?

I mean, can you even imagine a world where the Targaryens had pyro powers instead of dragons?! It's wild to think about how different the series would be with that twist . But you know what's even crazier? George R.R. Martin was actually inspired by science fiction and psychic abilities when creating the Targaryen family! Mind blown, right? I love how it shows how his friend Phyllis Eisenstein encouraged him to add real dragons to the story, which ended up becoming such a huge part of the show's mythology . It just goes to show that even small decisions can have a huge impact on the narrative. Anyway, I'm super excited for the new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon - it's gonna be epic!

I feel like if the Targaryens had pyro powers back in the day, it would've been pretty cool to see Jon Snow, aka Aegon's trueborn son, using his abilities to take down enemies instead of just wielding a sword Martin's decision to go with real dragons was a game-changer (pun intended) and I'm glad he listened to Phyllis' advice. Can you imagine the symbolism with the pyro powers? Like, would they be more connected to Daenerys' fire-and-blood vibe or something entirely different?

idk why martin had 2 change his mind lol i wasnt expecting 2 hear about this tho so nice 4 us latecomers 2 know anyway its kinda cool 2 think abt what couldve b if the targaryens had pyro powers instead of dragons might b a bit too sci-fi 4 me tho but i guess its all good cuz we got dragons now lol

you know what's wild is how much the idea of pyro powers would've changed the whole vibe of the show... it's like, imagine Daenerys being a telepathic fire-wielder instead of a dragon rider... and I think that's what I love about Martin's approach to world-building - he's always experimenting with new ideas, even if they don't end up working out. it's like, the concept of pyro powers has this weird, sci-fi-y feel to it, you know? but then again, dragons are way more epic... and I mean, have you seen those dragon scenes in the show? they're just... wow.

Man, it's crazy to think about how different Game of Thrones would've been if the Targaryens had pyro powers ! I mean, can you even imagine Daenerys breathing fire and ice instead of just ruling with her dragons? It's wild to see how Martin went from that sci-fi inspired idea to real-life fire-breathing beasts . And Phyllis Eisenstein was totally right to convince him to stick with the dragons - it's been a huge part of what makes the show so iconic .

I love how even though this initial idea didn't make it into the final product, its influence can still be seen in all the symbolism and world-building throughout the series . From the lions to the wolves to the dragons themselves, Martin really knew how to create an immersive experience that draws you in from the get-go. Now I'm super hyped for new episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon - can't wait to see more of Westeros!

I'm so done with these fantasy shows trying to reinvent themselves 100% of the time lol . Like I get it, originality is key but sometimes it's better to stick w/ what works, you feel? The pyro powers thing was a cool idea but I can see how having real dragons in the show made everything more epic & memorable . Martin should still be commended for his world-building skills tho - that whole lion-wolf-dragon thing is fire (pun intended)

Like, I gotta say, I'm not surprised George R.R. Martin had a different power set in mind for Targaryens. I mean, pyro powers would've been pretty cool! But you know what they say, the rest is history, and dragons are still the way to go. It's always interesting to see how ideas evolve (or not) during the creative process. I guess Phyllis Eisenstein played a role in convincing Martin that real dragons were necessary for the narrative, which ultimately worked out pretty well! The show wouldn't be the same without those fire-breathing creatures. And can we talk about how awesome it is to see the Lannisters and Starks having lion and wolf symbols? It's like they're trying to say something... anyway, I'm excited to watch more of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon on HBO Max!

I think it's pretty cool that George R.R. Martin had a different direction for the Targaryens powers back in the day . I mean, who wouldn't want to see them wielding fire with their minds? It's definitely not as dragon-obsessed as we are now . But hey, Phyllis Eisenstein was right on point about how real dragons would elevate the story so much more . The whole mythology thing is just so rich and immersive... I'm loving how A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon are bringing it all back to life! The twists and turns in the Targaryen history are still mind-blowing, even after multiple retcons .

I'm still in awe of how different the show could've been with pyro powers for Targaryens . I mean, it's interesting to think about how George R.R. Martin's love for science fiction influenced his world-building, but in hindsight, those real dragons are a game-changer . I love how Phyllis Eisenstein convinced him that they needed to be more grounded in reality, and now we get the epic battles and breathtaking visuals we know and love . It's amazing how these decisions can alter the course of storytelling, but it's also reassuring to see how Martin's vision has become an integral part of Game of Thrones' DNA .