HBO is developing 4 potential Game of Thrones spinoff series.

We look at where they might take things.

The previous hand was the pairs mutual father figure John Arryn, who had recently died in mysterious circumstances.

These events set in motion the Stark/Lannister ruckus and eventually the tumultuous War of the Five Kings.

With this war, the foundations for the present dayGame of Throneswere laid.

Likewise, the beloved and charismatic Rhaegar Targaryen would play a pivotal role in proceedings.

Next there are the events at the Tower of Joy a pivotal incident returned to in season 6.

However Aegon Targaryen had something different in mind.

The use of dragons proved pivotal in the conflicts that followed and meant that resistance was extremely difficult.

Eventually, even Torrhen Stark of Winterfell knelt, and the Targaryens dominated six of the seven kingdoms.

The only one that successfully resisted was the Dornish seat of House Martell.

As a series, this would mark a sharp change of era from the traditionalGame of Thronessaga.

In this regard, the Starks in the north and the Martells in the south would make interesting counterpoints.

One bending the knee, the other remaining resolutely unbowed, unbent, and unbroken.

When he consummated the unholy union, it was said that he gave away his soul.

The Nights King himself would be a gloom-ridden but terrifying creature.

Their development from petty bandits, to cutthroat vessels of vengeance would make for dramatic television.

Martin which take place in Westeros some 90 years before the events ofGame of Thrones.

Aegon earned the Egg nickname in his youth thanks to his appearance as a small, shaved-head boy.

In the TV show, they have skipped out a generation, making him the Mad Kings father instead.

The Targaryen family tree really is every bit as complicated and confusing as it sounds.

This was also presumably included the mysterious events that eventually transpired during the infamous tragedy at Summerhall.

Which I will avoid spoiling here and leave to your discretion once more.

These stories thus provide an interesting snapshot of the state of Westeros at this very different era.

This would at its core be their story, with the broader Westerosi story playing out in the background.

Never a good nickname to earn really).

He is generally regarded as one of the very worst of Targaryen monarchs.

The Blackfyre Rebellion is another great chance to focus on the fascinating Targaryen dynasty and their brutal inner-workings.

Until the Andals invaded, the make-up of Westeros remained largely unchanged for those several thousand years.

However, the great migration from Essos brought with it years of insurmountable destruction.

The Andals were a warrior people, traditionally tall and fair of hair.

Arya Stark even named her beloved MIA direwolf after her.

They were plagued by unfriendly locals, harsh conditions and deadly diseases at every turn.

Nymeria had her remaining ships ritually burned to emphasise that her people would not continue searching any more.

As a TV show, this story would have a definiteBattlestar Galacticaquality to it.

A beleaguered armada desperately searching for a home against insurmountable odds.

This feature originally appeared in June 2016 onDen of Geek UK.