Today’s major studios use their intellectual properties as the centerpieces of their streaming platforms. House of the Dragon released 4 episodes on HBO, and it’s safe to say it was a success… The series kicked off well and only promises to improve. Amazon came up with its fantasy series: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power which has also already aired its 4 episodes. Both debuted a few weeks apart.
While excitement for House of the Dragon was pretty high ahead of the show’s premiere earlier this month, the hype for The Rings of Power has cooled down, although there are plenty of reasons to become excited. The Lord of the Rings is a beloved franchise anyway, and Jeff Bezos has spent a pretty good amount of money making sure the series is at least worth mentioning.
Comparison between HBO’s “House of the Dragon” and Amazon’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” – two epic new fantasy series, two prequels, both big budgets, and the fanbase that’s ready to come out – it’s probably inevitable. And in fact, the Internet is already providing overwhelming responses.
However, for those who haven’t caught up, it might be a difficult period. It takes major dedication to see all of the Game of Thrones or the whole Lord of the Rings epic.
Budget Comparison
The enthusiasm and anticipation, especially among fans of The Lord of the Rings, are at an all-time high as The Rings of Power premieres this week. The first season will consist of 8 episodes and have a US$716 million total production budget, making it the costliest show ever produced. In contrast, each season of “Game of Thrones” cost HBO about $100 million. The cost of each episode increased from around $6 million in Season 1 to $15 million in the final and eighth seasons of the program. According to “Variety” (An American Media House), the cost of each episode of House of the Dragon is under US$20 million. The budget estimation for the production of the first season of House of the Dragon was nearly $200 million, while the marketing budget according to “Deadline Hollywood” was more than $100 million.
Sources For Both Prequels
Prequels to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon both exist. Both shows are based on existing material. As for “House of the Dragon”, it’s Martin’s fantasy story, the book “Fire & Blood”. And “The Rings of Power”, is based on the novel “The Lord of the Rings” and its appendices by J.R.R Tolkien.
For devoted followers of George R.R. Martin and Tolkien, respectfully, the first few episodes of both shows have been satisfying. However, House of the Dragon has a far lower entry hurdle for first-time viewers.
Two centuries have passed since the events of Game of Thrones when House of the Dragon is set. There are no characters from other Westerosi series, even though the story takes place in a familiar Westeros. In reality, there aren’t many references to characters from House of the Dragon in Game of Thrones. Only because elves live long lives, The Rings of Power includes a lot of characters from the first movies. Knowing who Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Elrond (Robert Aramayo) become as adults make watching their younger selves more enjoyable.
Storyline
Rings of Power does not devote enough time to clarifying the details Of the Devil. The House of the Dragon’s narrative is somewhat constrained in comparison. The conflict inside one family is the sole topic of discussion in the first episode, “The Heirs of the throne.” King Viserys I (Paddy Considine), who is devastated by the deaths of his wife and children, is in an intriguing dilemma. We can see a dispute developing. Even though Daemon (Matt Smith) is the traditional next male successor to the Iron Throne, Viserys names Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) as his heir. It addresses universal issues such as family dynasties, patriarchal constraints, and the obliviousness of the wealthy. House of the Dragon is much more contained, while The Rings of Power is required to do too much work.
Both shows begin with a sort of prologue that introduces the plot. The title card for House of the Dragon makes it abundantly obvious why Viserys is in power, why this line of succession is significant, and how it relates to Game of Thrones. The Rings of Power begins with a grand storyline that thoroughly describes the beginnings and ascent of Middle-earth. If you’re unfamiliar with Tolkien’s lore, you’ll need to pay great attention because the plot cannot be understood without an understanding of the effects of the conflict against Morgoth.
Controversies And Assessment
Because of the debate surrounding the race of some characters, many people have dismissed complaints about “The Rings of Power,” but a cursory assessment of the show’s ratings on Rotten Tomatoes reveals that many were more critical of the acting, the story, and the overall aesthetic. Given that this was the costliest series ever produced, it felt downright cheap, which is saying something.
It’s commendable that both shows have decided to prioritize their female protagonists. Galadriel and Rhaenyra are both fascinating personalities, but the young princess is more approachable than the immortal elf warrior. Rhaenyra has to deal with a burden she didn’t ask for, and men who undervalue her regularly put her down. The audience can, though, see why she must assume the challenge because they have witnessed what a kingdom ruled by Daemon looks like following the bloody Goldcloaks campaign.
Overall, both series are products of immense hard work, creativity, high budget, top-notch VFX effects, and entertainment too. So please do leave your experience with both these drama series.
