Netflix’s upcomingDungeons & Dragonsshow can level up this amazing recent fantasy trend using one built-in part of its setting.The Forgotten Realmsis one ofDungeons & Dragons' biggest series, its lore and history spanning across the tabletop since its invention in 1987, 13 years after the initial games' conception. ThoughtheForgotten Realmsbook seriesand tabletop rules have a variety of aspects that let them stand apart inD&Dwhile also honoring it, some may not necessarily work in the current fantasy TV landscape.
As a result, Netflix’s upcoming series will need to pick the parts ofThe Forgotten Realmsthat fit these trends, making it easier for non-players to get invested. While some of those details, such as the choice ofvillains for theDungeons & Dragonsshow, are complicated by this, others are an easy fit, as they adhere to these spikes and can still hold audiences if they start to decline. One example can not only let the series really play into a huge fantasy TV trend, but even improve it by adding in a rarely seen twist: dragonliches.
Netflix’s Dungeons & Dragons Show Can Continue Fantasy TV’s Dragon Trend - But Do It Better
The continued popularity of dragons in fantasy TV can be carried over in Netflix’sDungeons & Dragonsshow, which can play with their power and abilities through the fact that they are also undead.Dragons have grown very popular across several stories within fantasy television, from established shows likeGame of Thronesand itsHouse of the Dragonspinoff to upcoming adaptations likeFourth WingandEragon.Their might, fun designs, and abilities help keep them relevant, but the Netflix series can useThe Forgotten Realms’version to take this trend to the next level.
Dragonliches in the Forgotten Realms are powerful undead creatures who have tied their souls to a spirit jar, much like a regular lich, allowing them to transcend death and inhabit any dead draconic creature. This gives them the powers of a dragon alongside of those of the undead, making the notable examples of this type some of themost powerful dragons inDungeons & Dragons. If dragonliches are featured in the Netflix series, it would take this already exciting trend in great new directions, letting the series carve its own place in the fantasy TV sphere.
How Dragonliches Can Help The Live-Action D&D Show Stand Out Against Its Competitors
Dragonliches Can Bring Back The Western Dragons' Original Malevolent Nature
Dragonliches can shift the idea of dragons closer to their original designations as evil monsters from folklore, while also amplifying their threat level, allowing theDungeons & Dragonsshow to stand against other pieces of recent dragon media. As mentioned, many series have used dragons, butmore often than not, they are usually allied with the humans of the story or are somehow neutral.These have yielded fascinating stories, but dragonliches can bring dragons back to their evil folkloric roots, allowing for a great foe that can help get the series thetreatment theDungeons & Dragonsshow deserves.
Witnessing a party attempt to kill a tough creature who is already dead will likely let it stand out.
The creatures can also add to the classic image from the tabletop of a party combating a dragon, as their undead nature makes them even harder to kill. Witnessing a party attempt to kill a tough creature who is already dead will likely let it stand out, as few other series experiment with a similar concept with their dragons. This would draw in a wider audience for theDungeons & Dragonsseries, introducing the genre to a roaring, great twist on a popular trend that takes it to new heights.
Dungeons & Dragons
TheDungeons & Dragonsfranchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent filmDungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves(2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
