After this discussion about Amazon’s upcomingFourth Wingadaptation, I am a bit worried that the executives do not get what made the series so popular with fans. BetweenRebecca Yarros’Fourth Wingteaseon Instagram and Amazon executive Vernon Sanders' discussion of the adaptation,fans ofThe Empyrean Serieshave recently gotten alot of news regarding the series' future.
That being said, Sanders' comments regardingFourth Wing’s Amazon adaptationwere somewhat concerning to me despite the fact that no specifically bad information was imparted. What troubles me, though, is the way Sanders views genre andFourth Wing’s place in it, which are both worrying and a bit contradictory overall for the series' storyline.
Amazon’s Explanation Of How They View “YA” Vs. “Adult” Doesn’t Make Much Sense
Sanders' Genre Ideals And Strategies Contradict Themselves
Sanders' explanation of how Amazon views the YA and adult fantasy genres does not make much sense, especially regardingFourth Wing’s narrative. In an interview withVariety,Sanders mentions how they look at the age of the protagonist and the audience’s ages to define a YA storyline, yet also states how they adapt these stories to appeal to various groups.
Not only does this make little sense generally but also forFourth Wingspecifically.While the story does focus on a young woman’s journey, it also features very adult themes and graphic moments, which is one of the factors that drew readers into the series upon its debut and long after it became incredibly popular.
The Fourth Wing Series Is Beloved Because It’s Spicy & Adult
Fourth Wing Is Unafraid Of Consequences
The reason whyFourth Winghas appealed to so many audiences is because, alongside of having spicy scenes, it also tackles adult themes in a powerful way.More often than not, what defines an adult story is the level of sensuality and violence within it, even if the protagonist is what would be considered a “young adult.”
Yarros forces audiences to see each consequence and choice, sparking conversations that modern teens are hungry to engage with.
Though theFourth Wingbooks do focus on lovelike other YA stories,Yarros' series also contains themes of redemption, trauma, identity, and courage.The narrative never shies away from these ideas, highlighting the real-world level consequences each time Violet is faced with a difficult decision.
As a result,audiences loveFourth Wingbecause it respects them enough to talk about these ideas between spicy scenesand does not delude them behind a standard coming-of-age plotline. Yarros forces audiences to see each consequence and choice, sparking conversations that modern teens are hungry to engage with.
Older Teenagers Are Far More Mature Now Than They Used To Be (And BookTook Hits Prove It)
The Romantasy Genre Overall Showcases The Balance Teen Audiences Want
Fourth Wing’s high status on BookTok highlights how older teens are looking for series that balance whimsy and intellect rather than avoiding them in favor of more traditional “teen” storylines. If Amazon were to water down these themes in the adaptation, it would take away why both this story and romantasy as a whole have become so popular.
Moments like seeingFourth Wing’s Basgiath’s recruitmentor one of Violet and Xaden’s fights showcase howteens want a balance of the fantasy they grew up with and the respect to be talked to like intellectuals.They want to engage with a story that both reflects the world around them and gives them the escapism that fairytales provided years ago.
That is why romantasy as a whole works, because it balances those desires through its use of necessary violence and sensualityalongside more classic identity discovery narratives. If Amazon’sFourth Wingseries tries to get rid of that to fit a vague genre mold, it could destroy what made the story so well-loved before the opening credits even roll.
