The Dungeons & Dragons, as Honor Among Thieves only really scratched the surface of the tabletop's expansive settings, lore, and monsters. It can also feature the well-known characters within that lore, bringing them to life, in some cases, for the very first time.
Many of the NPCs within Dungeons & Dragons are often set aside for onscreen adaptations, the nature of the game allowing studios to craft their own stories with original characters. While that has yielded some compelling narratives, it would be great for the series to include the various characters from the Forgotten Realms that could fill in the roles of a traditional fantasy story. A major example of this could allow the Netflix series to include a mentor character on par with Gandalf the Grey or Dumbledore, with regard to both ability and temperament, who can enhance that storyline: Elminster.
Netflix's Dungeons & Dragons Show Can Use Elminster As Its Gandalf Or Dumbledore
Elminster Was First Introduced In 1994
The Netflix Dungeons & Dragons show could use Elminster to act as its mentor character, as he shares many similarities to Gandalf and Dumbledore. Elminster is one of the most famous wizards in the realm and the favored Chosen of Mystra, Goddess of Magic, much like Gandalf was favored by the Valar in The Lord of the Rings movies and books. He is also an active adventurer like Gandalf, protecting the realm from threats using a variety of light and fire-based spells, while also gathering fame and recognition everywhere he goes.
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Elminster's temperament, though, is closer to Dumbledore's, as he can be both fearsome and gentle depending on the situation. He often extols the virtues of peace and freedom, his wonderment at the world a mirror to Hogwarts' Heaster. This combination of traits makes Elminster a great mentor character for the Dungeons & Dragons series, especially as he has had so little screen time in recent adaptations. That being said, his characterization could lead the series to make a mistake that could hurt the legendary Forgotten Realms characters' arc if they are not careful.
The Series Must Avoid One Mistake With The Forgotten Realms Character
Elminster Could Become Forgettable If Played Too Close To The Archetype
Netflix's Dungeons & Dragons series needs to make sure Elminster's arc and personality do not follow too closely to the mentor archetype, as it would result in him becoming a carbon copy of other characters. As mentioned, Elminster does share some details with other wizard mentors, but the series needs to add a twist that would let him stand apart from them. Otherwise, he will simply be yet another kind mentor who ends up getting forgotten about despite his power and reputation in favor of other characters in the story.
Leaning into his powerful reputation in Dungeons & Dragons could do this as well, showcasing why Elminster is so well-known and creating many amazing moments for his arc beyond the tropes.
To avoid this, the Netflix show needs to balance humor and fantasy, subverting the tropes by either making fun of them or making Elminster a more active party member. The series could easily go the parody route as Elminster's humor is just as legendary as his power, so making him more of a trickster archetype could add a new twist while still being true to the source material. Leaning into his powerful reputation in Dungeons & Dragons could do this as well, showcasing why Elminster is so well-known and creating many amazing moments for his arc beyond the tropes.
- Created by
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley
- First Film
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Latest Film
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- First TV Show
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Latest TV Show
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Cast
- Bradley Cooper, Jason Wong
The Dungeons & Dragons franchise is a fantasy adventure series based on the iconic tabletop role-playing game. The franchise includes both live-action and animated adaptations, with the most notable being the recent film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023), which brought the fantasy world of D&D to a broader audience with its blend of humor, action, and classic D&D elements. The franchise explores themes of heroism, friendship, and the unpredictable nature of adventuring in a magical world filled with dragons, wizards, and mythical creatures.
- TV Show(s)
- Dungeons & Dragons
