Why Are There No Velaryons In Game Of Thrones

Why Are There No Velaryons in Game of Thrones?

We love Game of Thrones, right? Dragons, knights, epic battles – it has it all! But sometimes, we wonder about the characters we don’t see. One house that many fans have asked about is House Velaryon. They’re a big deal in the history of Westeros, being an old and powerful family with Valyrian blood, just like the Targaryens. So, why didn’t they show up in the show, except for one mention? Let’s dive into why these seafarers were largely absent from Game of Thrones.

House Velaryon: A Quick Look

Before we get into why they weren’t in Game of Thrones, let’s quickly learn who the Velaryons are. Imagine a family that loves the sea more than anything. That’s the Velaryons! They come from a place called Driftmark, a small island close to Dragonstone where the Targaryens also lived. They were one of the few Valyrian families that escaped the Doom of Valyria – a huge, terrible event that destroyed their homeland.

Their Importance

The Velaryons are important because they’re one of the oldest Valyrian houses, and they controlled much of the sea surrounding Dragonstone. They were known as the “Lords of the Tides” because they ruled the waters. This gave them power and wealth. They were close allies of the Targaryens, often marrying into their family and even using their navy for them. Think of them like the Targaryen’s loyal sea dogs. They provided ships, sailors, and a lot of muscle at sea. This relationship was quite strong, which makes their absence in Game of Thrones even more noticeable.

Throughout history, Velaryons have had a direct impact on the history of the Seven Kingdoms. They were key players in battles like the Dance of the Dragons, a great civil war, and supported Aegon the Conqueror’s invasion. The Velaryon fleet is a big part of the military strength of the Targaryens, as they were the master mariners. So, they have quite the resume, right?

The Show’s Focus and Limited Scope

Now, let’s get to the heart of the matter: Why were they missing from Game of Thrones? Well, the show had a big story to tell, and it couldn’t include everyone, even if they are important in the books. The show’s main focus was on the battle for the Iron Throne and the political maneuvering of the Great Houses like the Starks, Lannisters, and Baratheons.

A Matter of Storytelling

To keep the story moving forward and easy to follow, the showrunners had to make tough choices about who to include. They couldn’t show every family and character from the books. Even many smaller but important houses were cut from the story. The sheer number of families, and the family trees, would make the show confusing for someone not familiar with the source material, George R.R. Martin’s novels. Think of it like a school play; you can’t cast everyone in the school, even if they are all talented.

The Velaryons’ Role in the Main Plot

While the Velaryons are crucial to the Targaryen story, their direct involvement in the main events of Game of Thrones was minimal. They didn’t have a major role in the fight for the Iron Throne during the time period the show focuses on. The war of the five kings, the rise of Daenerys, the fight against white walkers – these are the events that took center stage in the show. The Velaryons were more in the background during this time and were not part of the main battles and political intrigues. It’s like they were in another room, quietly supporting, while the action was happening somewhere else.

Budget and Production Constraints

Making a show like Game of Thrones was very expensive. Every additional character, costume, and set costs money. The show had to manage its budget carefully. Introducing a new, significant family like the Velaryons, complete with their own sigil, characters, costumes, and possible locations, would have added a huge extra cost to an already expensive show.

Visual Representation

The Velaryons have a unique look, often described in the books as having silver-gold hair and pale skin, much like the Targaryens. This would require more costumes, makeup, and possibly even specific hair styling and wigs. They also have a nautical theme that would have added additional cost, in terms of set designs and visual effects. Think of the ships, banners, and locations they would need to be shown with. All these added costs can be reasons for not including them into the series.

Time Limitations

Every episode of Game of Thrones is only so long. That means the show has to make hard choices about what to include. Adding the Velaryons would have added more storylines, more characters, and more dialogue to already packed episodes. This would have taken time away from the main story that the show wanted to tell. Sometimes, less is more, and the showrunners might have felt that the Velaryons’ contribution wasn’t important enough for the limited screentime they had.

The “House of the Dragon” Connection

Here’s a twist – the Velaryons do appear in another show in the same universe: House of the Dragon. This show focuses on the Targaryen family during their golden age, a couple of centuries before Game of Thrones, and the Velaryons play a big role.

Why They Are Important Here

In House of the Dragon, we get to see the Velaryons in all their glory. Corlys Velaryon, called the “Sea Snake,” is a very important character, and his family is central to many plotlines. He is shown as a powerful lord, master of ships, and a key ally to the Targaryens during a massive civil war, called the Dance of the Dragons. Because this is their setting and time, they get to be center stage. This shows us they weren’t just some random family; they were a very influential house in the past, and the show focuses on their importance. This could be one more reason the writers of Game of Thrones chose not to focus on them, as the House of Dragon would be the perfect place for them.

Focusing on a Different Period

The decision to include the Velaryons in House of the Dragon but not prominently in Game of Thrones shows how the creators decided to showcase different eras of the Westeros history. Game of Thrones focused on the power struggle after Robert Baratheon’s rebellion, with characters who are still part of the Targaryens story. While House of the Dragon focuses more on the earlier days when the Velaryons and Targaryens were at their strongest and most closely tied. This decision, makes it understandable why the Velaryons might have been sidelined in Game of Thrones. They had their time, and now it is the turn of other characters and stories.

A Missed Opportunity?

Many fans of the book series were disappointed that the Velaryons didn’t have a bigger role in Game of Thrones. They were hoping to see their cool ships, naval battles, and the unique characters like Corlys Velaryon. They are a big part of the books’ history and they deserve a spot in the show, the fans would argue.

The Potential Stories

There was a lot of potential that could have been shown using the Velaryons. They could have added a naval element to the war against the white walkers, or they could have joined the fight for the Iron Throne. The show missed the opportunity to showcase the vast naval battles that are often depicted in the books. This could have been a way to add another layer to the show’s world and its conflicts. Fans will always wonder what could have been.

Character Development

Many would have loved to explore characters like Monford Velaryon, master of ships for Stannis Baratheon, who did appear briefly in the books. He and his family were only a footnote in Game of Thrones, not explored much. Adding these characters could have brought a fresh perspective to the storyline. For many readers, they have always been fascinated by the sea lord families of Westeros, they could have added more complexity to the show.

So, while the absence of the Velaryons in Game of Thrones might feel like a letdown for some, understanding the reasons, like the storytelling focus, budget limits and the production constraints, provides a clearer picture of why the show made the choices it did. Now, we get to enjoy them in House of the Dragon, finally giving them the spotlight they deserve.