If you’ve been doing the Game of Thrones rewatch with me, then you’ve seen the first round of spinoff ideas, clues from early seasons that Tyrion is a Targaryen, and refreshed yourself on who The Lord of Light is. [CAUTION: Spoilers ahead if you aren’t caught up] As the rewatch continues (I’m currently on season 6), we’re venturing into the Hall of Faces after Arya’s journey to Braavos. Reliving the epic seasons 5 and 6 (we can say that now that we know Jon comes back to life), it makes the idea of a Braavos-centered spinoff all the more intriguing.
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Background of Braavos: What we know so far
Here’s a quick reminder of the background of the free city of Braavos, a-la Game of Thrones Wikia:
Braavos is one of the Free Cities located to the east of Westeros. It is the northern-most, the richest, and arguably the most powerful of the Free Cities. A giant statue known as the Titan of Braavos guards the harbor entrance to the city. The people of Braavos are known as Braavosi.
Here’s a quote about the city from one of our favorite Northern-rebels-turned-good, Ser Jorah Mormont:
“Braavos is the strangest, a city erected not by the Freehold, but against it. A labyrinth of illusion and deceit to hide the refugees from Valyria’s slave-lords. After the Doom, the city emerged from the shadows to become one of the greatest banking centers in the world.”
Elaborating on Ser Jorah’s quote, in season 6 episode 5 “The Door”, Jaqen H’ghar, Arya’s “mentor”, tells Arya a little more detail into who founded Braavos after Valyria’s doom. Of course, I didn’t remember this until watching it again, because we all remember that episode for something else entirely…
Jaquen shares with Arya how the first “no one’s” were not lords and ladies, but men and women from the mines of Valyria. He tells her that the first was “no one”, and that the many-faced God taught him the gift. Jaquen also shares that they founded the free city of Braavos, and that the faces in the hall are the first faceless men.
Let’s break down why a Braavos-centric Game of Thrones spinoff would be kickass for the franchise, and of course, the fans.
The history
Aside of what’s in GRR’s A World of Ice and Fire book, fans would love to know the history behind the many-faced God. Who is this joker, anyways? How old are Jaqen and the other “no-one’s”? Imagine the backstories that could come out of the characters that live in the House of Black and White. I imagine it like Lost, but sans polar bears.
The allure of the city of Braavos
The city of Braavos is kind of like the city of Atlantis—it has that kind of magical-vibe to it. If there’s the House of Black and White, imagine the other mystical energies/magics that live among the city. We could get some more Lord of Light action, plus if the century is right, we could even have citizens from Valyria as recurring characters, since Braavos rose after the Doom of Valyria. GRR has mentioned that magic other than dragons once lived in the great city of Valyria before its fall, so fans can be hopeful that at least some of that magic survived and lived on through this free city.
Jaqen H’ghar: He/she must be a leading character
No, you didn’t read that wrong. Jaquen could very well be a she—at least, before he/she joined the temple of the many faced god. The actor that plays Jaqen is badass and could very well hold a lead in the spinoff. Even if the spinoff is centuries before the world of Westeros as we fans know it now, Jaqen could still be a leading character. If you’re “no one”, you could possibly live forever (or at least a couple of hundred years), right? Take a look at Melisandre’s big reveal in season 6 for reference—we’re guessing her natural life would have ended many, many, MANY winters ago.
The Iron Bank
The Iron Bank owns everyone—even Tywin Lannister didn’t f*ck with them. Remember the scene with Tywin and Cersei where he reveals the crown owes the Iron Bank a “tremendous amount of money”, how much gold is NOT being mined in the Lannister mines, and that no one messes with the Iron Bank? Cersei and Tywin also discuss who “them” are— a temple and every-lasting force that no one can out-swindle or bargain with. (View the video here.)
How did The Iron Bank come to be? And why are “they” the force that even Tywin Lannister and leaders before him didn’t mess with? These are the questions that could be answered through a spinoff filled with politics, drama, twists, turns—count me in!
Would you like to see a Braavos spinoff? Comment below and share your thoughts with us @Pure_Fandom.
Want more Game of Thrones?
Check out our Talking TV With Liz and Lindi Podcast, where my Pure Fandom co-founder Lindi and I break down the latest Game of Thrones theories and recapping the new season:
This ‘Game of Thrones’ theory claims Jaime is the Prince That Was Promised—not Jon
5 mind-blowing ‘Game of Thrones’ theories that could happen in the final seasons
Featured image: HBO
Written by Liz Prugh
