The upcoming Amazon TV series based on Fourth Wing is generating a lot of buzz as a promising fantasy show. Considering how popular the original books are, it could become even more successful than The Wheel of Time and The Rings of Power on Prime Video. The series, adapted from Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean Series, already has a strong foundation with its exciting plot, intriguing mysteries, romantic storylines, and, of course, dragons. If the show captures these elements well, it’s likely to be a hit.
Turning Rebecca Yarros’s novel into a TV series is a big challenge. Adapting books is often tricky, and fantasy shows have their own unique hurdles. Luckily, there are several successful fantasy series already out there that Fourth Wing can learn from. The upcoming Amazon series would be smart to pay attention to what these shows have done right.
8) Shadow and Bone
Although Netflix’s Shadow and Bone only lasted two seasons, it’s a fantastic example of how to adapt a book to the screen with perfect casting. Every actor, from Jessie Mei Li as Alina Starkov to Ben Barnes as General Kirigan, and all those playing the Crows, truly embodies their characters from Leigh Bardugo’s novels. This is especially important because the characters are central to Bardugo’s stories.
Like Leigh Bardugo’s novels, The Empyrean Series truly shines because of its characters. While the exciting dragon battles and political intrigue are fantastic, it’s the people that keep readers hooked. That’s why the upcoming Fourth Wing show needs to focus on strong casting, just like Shadow and Bone did. Finding the right actors to play Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson is crucial, but the success of the show depends on getting the whole cast right – there are so many beloved characters from Rebecca Yarros’ books that Amazon needs to nail!
7) Wednesday
Although Wednesday is geared towards a younger crowd than Fourth Wing, both series are set in magical schools. Wednesday really excels at using this setting to its advantage. While many shows and movies feature similar school environments, Nevermore Academy in Wednesday is particularly well-developed and memorable. The school remains important to the story even when characters leave, and its unique atmosphere perfectly matches the show’s overall mood.
While different in style from Fourth Wing, the upcoming Amazon series should learn from the success of Wednesday. Basgiath War College isn’t as immediately appealing as Nevermore or Hogwarts, but creating a believable and detailed world is crucial. The series needs to fully immerse viewers in the daily lives of Violet and her fellow recruits to feel authentic.
6) House of the Dragon
If Fourth Wing draws inspiration from any other fantasy series, it’s most similar to House of the Dragon. Both stories center around the same key ingredients: dragons and political intrigue. Dragons are notoriously expensive to bring to life on screen, requiring a significant budget for visual effects, even when they aren’t actively featured. Because Fourth Wing includes large-scale battles right from the first book, Amazon will need to invest heavily in creating believable dragons to do the story justice.
The show can take inspiration from the epic battles and high production values of series like Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon. It’s also really important that the first season of Fourth Wing doesn’t shy away from a powerful and dramatic finale – that’s what will likely generate buzz and increase the chances of getting a second season made.
5) Outlander
I’m such a big fan of The Empyrean Series because the romance is a huge part of what makes it so good – that’s why everyone calls it “romantasy!” What I really appreciate is that it’s written for adults, unlike a lot of fantasy romances from a few years ago. That allows the relationship between Violet and Xaden to be really complex and mature, and I think capturing that chemistry will be essential for the show. Honestly, Fourth Wing needs to nail the balance between the fantasy world and the romance, just like the books do. If they can do that, I think fans will be thrilled!
It’s rare to find fantasy TV shows that truly focus on romance, but Outlander is a notable exception. Unlike many fantasy series, it doesn’t rely on magic or mythical creatures. Instead, it skillfully combines an exciting, time-traveling story with a captivating love story – a formula the creators of Fourth Wing could benefit from.
4) Percy Jackson & the Olympians
The Disney+ series Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a remarkably well-done adaptation of the books, and it’s earned the positive attention it’s been receiving. A key to its success is how closely it follows the source material, largely thanks to author Rick Riordan’s creative input. This stands in stark contrast to the previous Percy Jackson movies, which demonstrate how easily adaptations can fail when they stray from the original story. The difference between the two is huge, and it’s a valuable lesson for future adaptations, including the popular new series Fourth Wing.
Rebecca Yarros is a producer on the new series, so hopefully, the creative team will consult with her, particularly if they plan to deviate from the original story. Overall, the people making the Amazon show should remember that fans want a faithful adaptation, not one with changes that don’t add to the story.
3) Stranger Things
One of the main reasons Stranger Things became so popular is its well-developed characters and how they interact. The show does a great job of giving each character enough screen time and a compelling story, making viewers truly care about them. Even when characters are apart, their storylines connect in a way that feels rewarding. This careful attention to character development and interconnected plots is something other fantasy shows could really learn from, especially since the genre often features large casts and many different storylines.
Violet and Xaden are central to the story of Fourth Wing, but the upcoming Amazon series needs to develop a large cast of supporting characters – and it would be great if they spent more time on the most compelling ones. To help make these characters memorable and fit them well into the plot, the series should look at how Stranger Things handles its ensemble cast. Clearly, that show’s approach is effective.
2) The Wheel of Time
As a fantasy fan, I’ve been following the cancellation of The Wheel of Time, and it reminds me a lot of the reaction to the Percy Jackson show. A big part of the problem seems to be how much the series deviated from the original books. While there were also issues with things like production quality, I think the biggest mistake was straying too far from Robert Jordan’s story. So many fans, myself included, felt that the show just didn’t capture the spirit of the books, and that’s a tough thing to overcome when you have a dedicated fanbase.
The upcoming Fourth Wing adaptation should learn from past mistakes and only make changes when truly needed. While staying true to the story’s core is most important, the creators should carefully consider what fans expect and what can be altered without causing backlash.
1) Game of Thrones
As a huge fantasy fan, I’ve seen a lot of shows try to fill the void left by Game of Thrones – it really set the bar, and nothing has quite matched its impact. With Fourth Wing coming up, it’s natural they’d look to Thrones for inspiration, and I’m hoping they learn from what worked, and what didn’t. Honestly, Game of Thrones started to lose its way when it ran out of source material from George R.R. Martin. We’re all still waiting for The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, and once the show moved beyond the books, things just weren’t the same.
Even though the Fourth Wing adaptation is still early in production, it’s probably safe to say it won’t go beyond the source material written by Rebecca Yarros—but it’s still worth watching. Currently, three out of five books in the Empyrean Series have been released, and the breaks between seasons should help the show avoid the issues that plagued Game of Thrones. Most importantly, fans want the show to stay true to the books, so Amazon should avoid creating an entirely original ending.
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2025-11-23 04:14