The Fall of Valyria: Explained

From Valyrian steel to the Targaryen family’s distinctive, epic look and dragonrider stylings, many of the franchise’s most prominent high fantasy elements are remnants of Old Valyria and stand out compared to the gritty overall tone. Of course, this is George R.R. Martin’s franchise, so the very fact that Valyria was such an amazing fantasy location means that it never had a chance.

The author’s writing is known for skewing toward the darker, bloodier side of the fantasy spectrum, as the most devastating deaths in “House of the Dragon” readily demonstrate. As such, the fact that he chose to destroy the single most epic location in the franchise’s history in the most brutal way possible is perfectly on brand … as is the way that on “Game of Thrones,” the untold truth of Valyria contains a sad epilogue where greyscale-addled people lurk in the ruins.

In “Game of Thrones” Season 5, Episode 5, Ser Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) travel through the ruins of Valyria by boat to avoid pirates, and they solemnly recount some of the lore about the Doom of Valyria before Drogon decides to add to the atmosphere with a strategically timed flyover. It’s clear that even these two comparatively level-headed characters are deeply in awe of, yet concerned about, the location—which gives the viewer some idea of how the average person in this universe must dread the ruins of Valyria.