Geek Sheets - Rise of Skywalker, Witcher, and GoT Prequel News

by Steve “Targaryen” Monnich, Co-Founder of the Great Geek Refuge

Hello all and welcome to this week’s edition of the Geek sheets.  Tis the Halloween season and with that people are in a position to live out their fantasy for one night by dressing up as characters or monsters or concepts they have always wanted to be.  That idea of fantasy clearly is circulating in the ether, as there was a slew of fantasy related news items popping up worthy of note.  I also want to acknowledge that our own Mike Lunsford has two fantasies coming true: he just saw his beloved Nats win the World Series and he will be building his own lightsaber in Disney’s Galaxy Edge.  Not a joke or anything here, just glad my partner in crime is seeing some wins! Now onto the fantasy related news!

The Rise of Skywalker trailer drops

In what they are claiming is the final trailer for the film, the new Star Wars episode IX trailer has arrived. Setting the tone for a powerful conclusion, the trailer includes voiceover segment from all the key players including Finn, Poe, Rey, Kylo Ren, Palpatine and Luke, as well as some staggeringly heartfelt moments. I mean I won’t cry at anything because I’m a super tough guy, but C-3PO saying he’s taking one last look at his friends just HAPPENED to occur the same time as I got dust in my eyes.  There are a number of intriguing elements that the trailer does not address as well, such as how much Leia will factor in since Carrie Fisher’s footage was limited, how will the Emperor be brought back into the mix and will Reylo live happily ever after?!

The Witcher Trailer also drops

Based on the fantasy book series of the same name, Netflix is unveiling a very high-quality looking series starring the Moustache of Steel himself Henry Cavill. I personally can’t wait to see this series in a live action format, as the stories take a number of classical fantasy tales and tropes and twist them into a unique blend of humor, savagery and mystery.  Andrzej Sapkowski’s world building is not quite the same style and breadth as Martin’s Game of Thrones, but I think (re: hope) that this series has the capability of endearing fantasy fans looking to fill a GOT’s less void now that the series is over.  However, there may be something else on the horizon for those fans!

A Yes and a No for the Game of Thrones Prequels

“I’m not saying it’s dragons, but….Dragons.”

The legacy of Game of Thrones can not be understated, and thinking the rollercoaster ride would never end, a number of prequel series were being floated to HBO.  One involved the pre-history of Westeros during the Age of Heroes while another was set to walk thru the genealogy of the Targaryen House.  Both were looking strong even in the wake of the less than beloved ending to the core series, but recent news reports that the Age of Heroes series is as dead as like 90% of the characters by the end of the series. The House of the Dragon however is being picked up and will be a 10-ish episode series modeled after the Fire and Blood companion novel to the A Song of Ice and Fire series. 

So for the fantasy fan out there everything is looking like an early Christmas…oh no…the department store “now that it’s past Halloween so we can skip right to Santa” curse has extended to GGR!!! We will have to use Christmas’s greatest weapon against itself…the power of nostalgia.  People love Christmas because of all the great memories and past joy it elicit, so we at GGR here will dedicate the month of November to the concept of nostalgia!  It’s the only way, just like it was the last few years. Aww I remember those days, good time.  Until next time, don’t be a juice bag!