Disney’s Eragon Has Better Dragons Than Game of Thrones

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For years, Game of Thrones has rightfully been a major force in the fantasy genre, captivating viewers with its compelling stories. However, despite the impressive dragons featured in the show, they aren’t the best dragons fantasy has to offer. Surprisingly, the dragons from the Eragon books and film are actually more memorable.

The popular TV series Game of Thrones began as an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series. However, as the show progressed, it significantly deviated from the books, ultimately creating its own ending due to the unfinished nature of the source material. Before Disney’s acquisition, 20th Century Fox released the film Eragon, based on the first book in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle. Many fans find the dragons featured in both the Eragon books and film to be more compelling and unique than those in Game of Thrones.

How Smart Are the Dragons in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon?

While Game of Thrones features impressive dragons, their actions and intelligence aren’t always consistent, particularly within the show itself. These inconsistencies can be a bit puzzling for viewers.

Stories often portray dragons as intelligent creatures capable of forming close relationships with their riders. They can understand simple instructions and even seem to grasp emotions. This is particularly evident in shows like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, where dragons and their riders share deep connections, sometimes even mirroring each other’s personalities.

Despite their power, Westeros’ dragons aren’t truly individual or imaginative. They act on instinct, simply hunting, killing, and surviving. They are defined by their fire and rage.

Dragons, despite their intelligence, aren’t truly independent thinkers like humans. They’re essentially powerful, intimidating versions of animals like dogs or horses. Though their fangs and fire make them fearsome, Daenerys basically controls incredibly dangerous and difficult-to-train beasts.

This highlights the intelligence of the dragons in the series. A prime example is Drogon’s reaction to Jon Snow killing Daenerys. Despite Jon killing his mother, Drogon appeared to understand it was necessary. He powerfully demonstrated this understanding by destroying the Iron Throne, effectively signaling the end of Targaryen rule.

Throughout the show, the dragons often act like simply enraged beasts, mindlessly destroying things whenever ordered to. This consistent portrayal makes the rare moments where they seem to think and feel deeply feel strange and inconsistent with the rest of the series.

Why Saphira and Other Dragons in Eragon Are the Better

As a huge fan of both series, I’ve always noticed a big difference between the dragons in Eragon and the Inheritance Cycle compared to those in Game of Thrones. While both are definitely powerful and dangerous, the dragons in Alagaësia are on another level. They’re not just beasts; they actually think for themselves, with their own personalities and independent minds. It’s a really key difference that makes the dragons in Eragon so special.

Saphira is a richly developed character in both the books and the movie. Even before she hatched, she had a significant impact on the world around her. In Eragon, dragons are born fully formed inside their eggs, but they won’t hatch until the right conditions are met – whether it’s the right environment or the arrival of the Rider they are destined to bond with.

When a dragon hatches with a Rider, they form an extraordinary connection, becoming deeply intertwined as if they were one being. For example, Eragon and Saphira can communicate telepathically, constantly sharing thoughts and images. Their bond is incredibly strong and as meaningful as any close human relationship depicted in stories.

Saphira is incredibly capable on her own, able to defeat enemies with ease and even negotiate with other creatures. Dragons in Alagaësia were highly intelligent, and they once made a peace treaty with the elves to prevent war between their two peoples.

The dragons in the Eragon series are more compelling than those in Game of Thrones because of their intelligence and individuality. In Game of Thrones, dragons are simply weapons used to gain power. But in Eragon, they are fully developed characters – creatures readers can connect with, and that the other characters genuinely care for and respect.

Disney Can Beat Game of Thrones With Its Eragon TV Series

Disney’s recent track record has been mixed, particularly with fantasy projects. While the 2022 Willow series didn’t quite succeed, the Eragon adaptation has the potential to establish Disney as a leading studio for fantasy. The Eragon books offer compelling stories, building a detailed and immersive fantasy world that’s still easy for most viewers to enjoy.

The success of HBO’s Game of Thrones came down to this formula: while set in a fantastical world of swords and magic, the show focused on relatable political issues and compelling characters. This allowed it to appeal to viewers who don’t typically enjoy fantasy, expanding its audience far beyond the usual genre boundaries.

Just like Eragon, the upcoming series can also build a strong connection with viewers through its dragons. A key to this is the dragons themselves – audiences quickly grew fond of Drogon and his siblings, even though they didn’t have much personality. Saphira, in particular, has the potential to become as popular a character as Jon Snow or Tyrion Lannister.

Look, Saphira the dragon is going to be a huge draw for this series, absolutely. But honestly, everyone else feels just as vibrant and alive on screen – Eragon, Arya, Brom, even Thorn, Angela, and Murtagh. They’re all fully fleshed-out characters, each with their own distinct personality. From the grumpy old storyteller to the cheerful witch, and the dragon and Rider burdened by their history, I truly believe Eragon has the potential to completely overshadow Game of Thrones and become the definitive fantasy series.

The dragons in Game of Thrones are visually impressive, especially during battle scenes, but they don’t play a significant role in the story. In contrast, the dragons in Eragon are well-developed characters that contribute to a much richer and more engaging fantasy world.

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2025-11-30 18:14