Ever since the end of Game of Thrones, fantasy shows have been on every genre fan's mind. Some are looking to The Witcher to get their fill of fantasy, while others prefer Shadow and Bone. The upcoming Amazon Lord of the Rings series, while it may not have the same impact as the Lord of the Rings movies, is another contender to steal Game of Thrones' crown. Now is a great time to be a fan of the fantasy genre. Or is it? Is the increase in fantasy shows actually good for the genre? This might seem like a question with an obvious answer. The more fantasy, the better for genre fans, right? It isn't exactly that simple. There's also another possibility. The possibility that all these fantasy shows are overkill.
Fans of the fantasy genre might get overwhelmed by all the choices there are out there. They might feel that there isn't enough time to watch all of the fantasy shows, no matter how much they might want to. There's also the fact that even within the same genre, fans have different preferences. Some might prefer a more traditional take on fantasy, of good vs. evil, like Lord of the Rings. In contrast, others will prefer the darker versions like Game of Thrones or The Witcher. Still, others might prefer something nicely in the middle. Whether fantasy shows are like Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, or something in between, it is possible that the genre is too full at the moment. It's also possible that even the most diehard fantasy fans will get tired of the genre if it gets overdone.
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However, it is also possible for this increase in fantasy shows to work out well. It all depends on how fantasy fans like the shows overall and their endings and whether or not there are too many shows made so that fantasy genre fans are overwhelmed. How many fantasy shows would be too many? That depends on how good the shows are. There can never be too many well-written takes on the fantasy genre.
On the other hand, there can be too many attempts at capitalizing on the current love for the genre without caring about quality. Even the writers of Game of Thrones ran into that problem in the end. The Game of Thrones writers seemed to learn the wrong lessons from the show's successful surprises like the Red Wedding. They seemed to care more about shocking the audience than writing a show that made sense.
Since the ending of Game of Thrones, fantasy shows have been on the rise. And it makes sense. There is a hole in the market waiting to be filled by another excellent fantasy show. Yet these shows, from Amazon's Lord of the Rings series to The Witcher to Shadow and Bone, can only succeed if they learn a lesson from the Game of Thrones fans' reactions. The story needs to make some sense. Yes, it's a fantasy world, but the characters still need to be a bit realistic. They need to have relevant motivations. Fans need to be able to understand how a character got from point A to point B. Characters shouldn't just change as a result of the writers wanting them to. The writers need to show fans how and why a character changed.
Although there can never be too many good fantasy shows, the stories have to be truly amazing. Will they be? At the moment, it's somewhat hard to tell. The Witcher has potential, as does Shadow and Bone. Amazon's Lord of the Rings series is a different case, fans will see when it's released whether it lives up to the hype. It might, and it might not.
What all of these fantasy shows need to do is focus on writing their characters and plots well. The more sense they make, the more fans will enjoy it. That does not mean the writers can't surprise their audience. Fans welcome surprises; Game of Thrones proved that. It's shocking events that come at the expense of a good story that fans don't want.
Hopefully, the writers of current fantasy shows have learned from past ones like Game of Thrones. Fans of the genre will undoubtedly be hoping for it. Of course, not everyone will agree on what makes a good fantasy show. As is mentioned above, genre fans have different tastes. Some will prefer one type of fantasy story over another. At the same time, others will consume any and all good stories.
However, many fans will probably agree on the fact that stories need to be enjoyable and make some sense. Hopefully, fantasy fans will be able to really enjoy this increase in fantasy shows. It would be nice if the writers of all these shows would focus on the quality of characters and plots and if the entertainment industry wouldn't overdo the genre. Only time will tell what will happen.
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