Hulu’s A Court of Thorns and Roses television adaptation promises action-packed sequences and captivating moments, but it still has a major criticism to correct regarding one notorious villain. Antagonists are what make a story interesting, throwing up obstacles for the heroic characters to overcome. The upcoming A Court of Thorns and Roses show is in a bit of a development funk right now, but it has the chance to dive deeper into elements of Maas’ story that will enhance the narrative and make it more captivating in this regard.
The events of the Court of Thorns and Roses books make it clear that the series’ protagonist and her friends can handle dangerous situations and come out victorious; Feyre proved this in the very first book. Yet, the books seemed to miss the mark on one crucial element of the story that would have made conflict during the war against Hybern much higher stakes. While the King of Hybern was a formidable opponent for the Night Court, compared to the rich character development of other players like Amarantha, his character was badly underdeveloped, leading to a somewhat unsatisfying resolution.
The King Of Hybern Doesn’t Inspire Enough Fear In The Court Of Thorns & Roses Books
The King Isn’t As Threatening As A Villain Should Be In The Books
The King of Hybern is a character who mainly exists off the page; most of his action and personality in the story is relayed to the reader by other characters. Partially due to the lack of his looming presence, the King doesn’t come across as scary as Amarantha did when she was the series’ main antagonist. Without knowing more information about his past atrocities or evil acts, the story lacks the context it needs to illustrate why the Inner Circle has to defeat the King of Hybern so desperately. Even after maiming Cassian and putting the Archeron sisters in the Cauldron, the King’s motivation behind conquering Prythian wasn’t thoroughly developed.
Had Maas provided more backstory about Hybern and its ruler, it would’ve created more tension throughout the entire narrative. Building out the King of Hybern’s past more effectively would also make him a larger-than-life villain, fitting in more with Maas’ high-stakes fantasy style. He needs to be less elusive and more deeply explored in the show in order to be memorable. Vaguely described and rarely-seen villains need to effortlessly cultivate an atmosphere of fear to be impactful, like Voldemort from Harry Potter, but the books failed in this regard. The King’s reputation simply didn’t cultivate enough terror to make up for his lack of dialogue or personal involvement throughout the narrative.
The Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Must Make The King Of Hybern A More Daunting Threat
The King Of Hybern Could Be So Much Scarier On-Screen
The ACOTAR show is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the best parts of the series while correcting other common complaints. The King of Hybern has all the makings of any great villain, meaning there’s potential for him to inspire fear on-screen with more scenes showing how villainous and ruthless he can be. To achieve this effect and make his character more captivating, Hulu should include flashbacks or fresh scenes that demonstrate his abilities. As it stands, he doesn’t seem much more powerful than Rhysand or the Inner Circle, so it doesn’t make much sense why he is considered such a terrifying threat.
Hulu could continue by detailing exactly what Hybern envisions for his new world where the Fae reign supreme to solidify his evil nature.
Maas also never explains why Hybern’s territory is heavily associated with war, aggression, and destruction (although those details are relevant to the story). Hybern’s forces have been linked to many acts of violence against the other courts in the past; showing the King take similar actions in real time would make his other threats scarier. Hulu could continue by detailing exactly what Hybern envisions for his new world where the Fae reign supreme to solidify his evil nature.
He also needs clearly illustrated qualities that make him stand out as a villain. For example, Amarantha was cunning, which allowed her to trick the High Lords and trap them Under the Mountain. The King of Hybern doesn’t seem to show his own striking character traits, which makes him less threatening and more generic. Adding in some additional personality quirks to color his character can make the King seem like more of a challenge to defeat and help correct a harsh reality of the original Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy.
How Expanding On Hybern As A Villain Would Raise The Stakes Of Hulu’s ACOTAR Show
More Compelling Villains Tend To Make More Captivating TV
Luckily, a long-form television series presents the perfect opportunity to flesh out the King of Hybern’s involvement in the story so it spans multiple seasons, giving his character much-needed depth. Exploring his powers multiple times in an episodic format can more effectively portray him as a formidable opponent, gradually revealing how he stays one step ahead of ACOTAR‘s protagonists. This extended focus would allow for a deeper psychological impact, making him not just a looming threat, but a truly terrifying force whose cunning and unpredictability leave the characters and audience constantly on edge.
Related
Hulu’s Court Of Thorns & Roses Show Already Has 1 Huge Advantage Over The Books
Hulu’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series has an edge over Sarah J. Maas’ books, using the full series to foreshadow key character arcs early on.
The King of Hybern’s lack of actual involvement in the story makes him seem more like a plot device than a compelling antagonist, with motivation capable of captivating viewers. It can feel like he exists in A Court of Thorns and Roses to inconvenience the Night Court more than actually harm them. Hulu can make choices that show the Hybern king’s wickedness, as well as develop his character beyond being a one-dimensional, moustache-twirling trope of a villain. Not only would this be more high-stakes, but it would give viewers a more developed character to root against.
-
Based on the A Court of Thorns and Roses fantasy novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses is a television adaptation that follows Feyre Archeron, a young woman dragged into the world of faeries after slaying one of their kind. The series will follow her journey through the lands of Prythian and her relationship with one of its lords, Tamlin.
-
A Court of Thorns and Roses (2015)
