‘God of War’s TV Adaptation Has To Get This One Thing About Kratos Right

Sony PlayStation’s mega-popular God of War video game franchise jumps into the live-action world with a new television show in the works for Prime Video. The series is currently undergoing some casting changes. Sadly, The Odyssey star Ryan Hurst, who previously portrayed Thor in the God of War: Ragnarök video game, will no longer portray Kratos in the series as originally planned, after suffering an injury during production. Deadline recently reported that former MCU star and WWE World Champion Dave Bautista is currently in negotiations to take over the role, but the recasting has not yet been made official. With the series undergoing production delays due to the recasting situation, it’s now a good time to reinforce the most important aspect of the series that showrunner Ronald D. Moore must get right to make this series work: Kratos’ Greek origins.

The ‘God of War’ Series Picks Up Much Later in Kratos’ Story

It’s important to note that the new live-action God of War show is not starting at the beginning of Kratos’ story, but instead, much later. The new show adapts the franchise’s Norse saga, which began with the 2018 video game God of War, which was a direct sequel to God of War III that concluded Kratos’ saga in the Greek pantheon. God of War in 2018 picks up years after Kratos arrived in Midgard, married Faye, who has recently departed, and had a son, Atreus. In both the 2018 game and the new series, Kratos and Atreus embark on a journey together to fulfill Faye’s last wishes and spread her ashes.

It’s easy to see why Sony PlayStation Productions and Amazon MGM Studios opted to base the new series on Kratos’ Norse adventures. In addition to recency bias and its undoubted popularity, the newer God of War games depict a Kratos who is very different from his earlier Greek adventures. In the Norse saga, Kratos has become far more tempered since arriving in Midgard, his relationship with Faye, and becoming a father to Atreus. Kratos regrets his past transgressions and no longer seeks violence and war, merely wanting to raise his son in peace and tranquility. Kratos in the Norse saga resembles Clint Eastwood‘s William Munny in Unforgiven, making him a much more well-rounded, introspective character. However, Kratos’ newfound introspection will mean nothing if the series avoids his tormented, blood-soaked past by ignoring his Spartan backstory and only embraces his Norse adventures.

Kratos’ Past in Greece Defines His Present

Although God of War is adapting the Norse chapter of the saga, the television series needs to nail Kratos’ backstory as a Spartan warrior, a demigod son of Zeus, the eventual new Greek God of War, and his connection to the rest of the Greek pantheon. Kratos’ origins define his character in the present, explaining why Kratos has become less violent and seeks to become a “better” man and example for his son. The shame of Kratos’ past is literally engraved on his skin, as his pale complexion is the result of how he once mistakenly slaughtered his own wife and daughter while in a blind rage. Their ashes were literally fused to his skin, a permanent reminder of the unforgivable atrocities he previously committed.

The concerning aspect of the television series is how it picks up in the middle of Kratos’ story. The original gamers who have been playing as Kratos since the first game came out in 2005 know the narrative from start to finish. They experienced every major milestone and event with the eponymous protagonist. However, the new television series basically picks up in the middle, without showing the audience the proper sequence of events and how Kratos arrived at this point. Essentially, the series could potentially rob viewers of Kratos’ most formative events and moments of character development. Imagine watching Dragon Ball Z, and Vegeta is introduced as a grumpy good guy from the beginning, rather than an outright detestable villain.

The ‘God of War’ Series Must Embrace and Depict Kratos’ Dark Past

Image via Prime Video

The upcoming television show cannot downplay or avoid Kratos’ past sins; otherwise, it will come off like Ronald D. Moore and the writers are trying to make Kratos more traditionally heroic or likable. Part of what makes Kratos such an interesting character is that in the early games, he was not traditionally heroic or virtuous, but an antihero. Kratos frequently committed unforgivable acts, slaughtered innocents, and would kill anyone who stood in his way, whether they were deserving of his rage or not.

Although the original games leaned heavily into the catharsis of bloody vengeance and Kratos’ sometimes hedonistic ways, they also showed the hollow comfort of Kratos’ path for retribution. Kratos must eventually learn that he is his own worst enemy and the cause of his own torment, regardless of whether he was manipulated and tricked by the Gods of Mount Olympus. If Moore does not handle Kratos’ Greek backstory with care, it will prove detrimental to his new series. Showcasing Kratos’ origins in flashbacks remains crucial to the show’s success because it will highlight the character’s progression from a bloodthirsty demigod who is willing to kill innocent bystanders into a penitent father who wants to do right by his son and teach him a better path than senseless violence. Hopefully, Moore and the writers will find the right balance in God of War.