The Baldur’s Gate TV Series Must Include the Dark Ur

Visual Credit: Larian Studios via Polygon

By now, the headline has likely crossed your radar: Craig Mazin, the acclaimed co-creator of HBO’s The Last of Us, is pivoting back to the world of gaming to adapt the monumental Baldur’s Gate 3. Details remain sparse, though we know Larian Studios isn’t directly involved in this iteration. The most intriguing tidbit? The series, titled simply Baldur’s Gate, is reportedly set to serve as a sequel to the events of the third game.

This premise raises a myriad of questions, primarily because the RPG offers such a vast spectrum of divergent conclusions. The specific ending Mazin chooses to canonize will fundamentally dictate the tone of the show. However, there is one non-negotiable element for a truly high-stakes adaptation: the inclusion of the Dark Urge.

Visual Credit: Larian Studios via Polygon

The Dark Urge—an Origin protagonist and amnesiac Bhaalspawn—is a narrative powerhouse. Beyond the looming threat of Illithid parasites, this character must endure a constant, agonizing tug-of-war against their own macabre instincts. As the literal offspring of the God of Murder, the Dark Urge is faced with a binary choice: embrace a destiny of slaughter or fight for a sliver of redemption. A “evil” playthrough results in a body count so high that it would likely wipe out half the cast Mazin intends to feature, making a “redeemed” path a much more viable backbone for a television series. Regardless of the outcome, that psychological turmoil is too rich to ignore.

While the Dark Urge doesn’t necessarily need to be the central focus, the series could exist in a version of Faerûn where a heroic Bhaalspawn was the one to defeat the Netherbrain. Our new protagonists might cross paths with this legendary figure, discovering a complicated ally with a blood-soaked history. Conversely, Mazin could introduce an unredeemed Dark Urge who has yet to fully succumb to their divine father’s demands.

Visual Credit: Larian Studios via Polygon

There is also massive potential in positioning the Dark Urge as the show’s primary antagonist. If the series begins with a “fallen” hero who took the Absolute’s throne for themselves, we have the perfect inciting incident for a new band of adventurers. A mind-controlling, god-favored cult leader who betrayed the world they were meant to save is the kind of formidable villain a prestige HBO drama thrives on.

Regardless of the creative direction Mazin takes, I hope the Dark Urge receives the screen time they deserve. Whether they serve as a tragic protagonist or a terrifying force of nature, seeing the Bhaalspawn in all their unhinged, blood-soaked glory is an essential part of the Baldur’s Gate experience.

Moreover, omitting the Dark Urge’s loyal and delightfully sinister butler, Sceleritas Fel, would be nothing short of a narrative tragedy.

Source: Polygon