House of the Dragon vs The Rings of Power: Which had the better second season?

As a long-time reader of George R.R. Martin’s works, I must say that I was quite disappointed with the second season of “House of the Dragon.” While I appreciated the show’s initial commitment to sticking close to its source material, this season seemed to have lost its way. The relationship between Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower, which held so much promise in the first season, was handled clumsily and felt like a forced reunion that went against the spirit of the books.

Following the conclusion of “Game of Thrones” in 2019, various networks were quick to step up and attempt to fill the gap left by HBO’s blockbuster series. The question remained: which show would emerge as the new king among epic fantasies?

Since then, numerous shows have attempted to match their quality, and two prominent contenders are frequently contrasted: on one side lies House of the Dragon, HBO’s prequel series based on Game of Thrones; while on the other is The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, a show on Amazon Prime Video that boasts a substantial budget set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, centuries before the Lord of the Rings tale we are familiar with.

Currently, it would be beneficial to clarify that House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power do not require comparison. You’re free to appreciate (or not) both, as they coexist. However, it is understandable why these two high fantasy series are frequently compared. They share similar genre, substantial production budgets, and premiered concurrently in 2022, offering ample chances for viewers to analyze and differentiate between them.

In the recent competition, it appeared that House of the Dragon was favored by both critics and viewers alike. It stood out as having superior writing, acting, plot development, and adherence to its source material. On the other hand, The Rings of Power seemed a bit disjointed in comparison. However, fast forward to 2024, when both shows aired their second seasons, but not simultaneously. Now that we’ve moved past them, who took the victory in round 2? Let’s explore that question below.

The look

In terms of their production costs and visual grandeur, both “House of the Dragon” and “The Rings of Power” rank among the priciest TV series today, with each episode estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars. The lavish budget is evident in the final product. “The Rings of Power” transports us to the Elven kingdom of Eregion, the dwarven mines of Khazad-dûm, and the architectural wonders of the island nation of Númenor. On the other hand, “House of the Dragon” may not visit as many locations, but it delivers on its promise – showcasing some of the best dragons ever depicted on television. A highlight of the season is a spectacular dragon-vs-dragon battle sequence, which, judging from its scale and spectacle, might just be the most impressive such conflict ever filmed, whether in movies or on TV.

Between the two series, I find House of the Dragon more impressively crafted. This might be due to its compact narrative, allowing for a more focused use of resources compared to The Rings of Power, which has a wider scope and thus needs to spread itself thin at times, which can impact the visual quality. While The Rings of Power delivers an exciting Siege of Eregion, it doesn’t quite match the exhilarating battles from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. On the other hand, House of the Dragon pushes boundaries in terms of innovation.

Since there are less plotlines to manage, I find it easier to admire the detail in the costumes and the aesthetics of the sets on “House of the Dragon”, as well as the skillful framing by the directors, particularly the dragon scenes.

Winner: House of the Dragon

Pacing

In the second seasons of both “The Rings of Power” and “House of the Dragon”, we received eight episodes each. This number remained constant for “The Rings of Power”, which also had eight episodes in its debut season. However, “House of the Dragon” reduced from 10 episodes, and the difference in the quantity was noticeable.

In The Rings of Power, the pace isn’t always consistent; for example, events in Rhûn and Númenor appear to jump abruptly between episodes during season 2. Similarly, it seems that Galadriel and her companions seemed to be pausing their journey from Lindon to Eregion earlier in the season. However, The Rings of Power effectively brings everything to a climax in the final two-episode battle sequence, wrapping up the season. Adar, the corrupted elf, is attacking the elven city of Eregion, where Sauron is trying to influence Celebrimbor to create rings of power. Durin IV, the new dwarven king and friend to Elrond, arrives with an army at the last moment to prevent a total defeat. The season concludes with the survivors regrouping and preparing for what’s to come. In summary, the events are well-coordinated in the end.

Instead, one could rephrase it like this: Unlike other shows, House of the Dragon concludes with a sneak peek at episodes yet to be released in years to come. The series begins strongly as Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen and her half-brother King Aegon II Targaryen engage in a power struggle, each attempting to infiltrate the other’s stronghold. The epic dragon-versus-dragon battle at Rook’s Rest serves as an exciting midpoint. However, the season finale leaves us anticipating battles and conflicts that are not immediately resolved.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment that the creators of “House of the Dragon” might have been constrained by budgetary limitations when concluding their first season. It’s hard to imagine they intentionally ended it so anticlimactically. Regardless of the reason behind this, the unsatisfying finale has left a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that unfortunately puts “The Rings of Power” in a stronger position in my eyes.

Winner: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Characters

The television series Game of Thrones stood out by boasting an abundance of intriguing, impactful characters; from Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen to Tyrion Lannister, Arya Stark, Brienne of Tarth, Theon Greyjoy, the Hound, among many others. Each character seemed capable of headlining their own show, and the narrative was skillfully crafted to keep viewers questioning whose tale it truly was until the final moments. I struggle to recall another series with such a wealth of characters deserving our support, opposition, or a mix of both.

The hit series “House of the Dragon” boasts an array of intriguing characters; among my top picks from season 2 are ambitious queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, who holds onto hope, and her adversary and half-brother Aegon, who finds himself caught in a web of influence. Additionally, this year saw the development of notable figures such as Mysaria, the cunning spymaster, and Criston Cole, the once-tarnished knight, stepping more firmly into their roles.

In essence, the secondary characters in House of the Dragon seem less developed compared to those in Game of Thrones. Characters like Baela and Rhaena Targaryen still feel underdeveloped even after two seasons, while Helaena Targaryen remains enigmatic. The captivating characters from season 1, Corlys Velaryon and Daemon Targaryen, were relegated to repetitive storylines this time around, which didn’t fully utilize their potential. There were some intriguing new additions, such as Ulf White, the reckless dragonrider, but House of the Dragon suffers from a lack of variety and depth in its characters that was never an issue on Game of Thrones. However, when they manage to break free from this monotony, the characters can be excellent. Regrettably, many fail to do so.

In a nutshell, the characters from “The Rings of Power” are diverse. Standout figures include various dwarves, particularly Durin IV, his wife Disa, and his father Durin III, who provide some compelling family drama for season 2. Among all the characters, the dwarves seem more authentic and relatable. Additionally, Sauron, the antagonist, was captivating in season 2 as he began a plot to dominate Middle-earth by crafting rings imbued with power.

Simultaneously, the human and elven characters often gaze off in the distance, delivering solemn comments about the state of affairs. Their personalities can be hard to discern beneath this serious demeanor. I found myself drawn to the characters of the Stranger and Nori, his harfoot companion, but the show tended to keep them apart for extended periods during the second season, causing both characters to fade into the backdrop.

In essence, the characters in “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” appear less complex compared to those in “House of the Dragon.” This simplicity in character development might be a deliberate choice to reflect the simpler moral universe in “The Lord of the Rings,” but it seems that the show is attempting to delve deeper than it manages. Once again, “House of the Dragons” takes the lead in this aspect.

Winner: House of the Dragon

Faithfulness to the source material

In terms of crafting engaging adaptations, both “House of the Dragon” and “The Rings of Power” face significant challenges. While “The Rings of Power” is set during the Second Age of Middle-earth, which predates the events of the widely recognized “Lord of the Rings” story by many thousands of years, the original creator, J.R.R. Tolkien, only provided essential details about the Second Age in the appendices of his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and his book “The Silmarillion”. Consequently, the team behind “The Rings of Power” must fill in many of the blanks.

This reinterpretation significantly alters our understanding of the Second Age. It condenses events that happened over centuries into what seems like just a few months, introduces new characters such as Adar and Disa, and uses figures like Gandalf and Tom Bombadil in manners that Tolkien himself never considered.

While Disa shines brightly, much like all the dwarves in it, “The Rings of Power” only loosely resembles its source material a significant portion of the time. Some plots do stick closer to the original than others, but this allows the series to forge its own path. Comparing it to the original text can often be futile, so it’s best to appreciate “The Rings of Power” as an entirely new story. However, a show bearing the “Lord of the Rings” label could strive to maintain a closer connection to the original tales, given their enduring popularity and timeless appeal.

The TV series “House of the Dragon” is derived from George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire & Blood.” The book has an unusual format: it appears as if an in-world historian is writing about events that occurred years ago, using fragmented accounts. This structure intentionally leaves certain narrative gaps. The first season skillfully maintained the essence and mood of the original while adding captivating details to fill these gaps. However, the second season veered away from the source material excessively, at times seeming to purposely contradict it, which was somewhat detrimental to the story.

In “Fire & Blood,” Daemon swiftly assembles an army after arriving at Harrenhal. However, in “House of the Dragon,” his journey to Harrenhal and army-building are interrupted by long, monotonous dream sequences that slow down the pace of the show. Furthermore, when he’s conscious, he commits simple mistakes that contradict his portrayal as an astute leader in both the book and the series, making viewers question why anyone would trust him in this world.

In the book and the show, Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower have a complex relationship. Initially portrayed as friends in the first season, they become adversaries later on. However, the second season seems to contradict this development by reuniting them, which not only goes against the original narrative but also requires the show to present some rather implausible scenarios. For instance, Rhaenyra risking her life by sneaking into King’s Landing, a city hostile towards her, just to meet with Alicent, who lacks the power to significantly aid Rhaenyra’s cause. Similarly, it is hard to believe that Alicent would put her own children at risk for an alliance with someone she was friends with decades ago. The producers argue that these implausible events may not have been included in the historical records of Fire & Blood, but their inclusion seems to dilute the tension, lower the stakes, and leave viewers feeling unimpressed.

In summary, “House of the Dragon” maintains a stronger connection to its original content compared to “The Rings of Power”. However, I’m more disappointed by the alterations in “House of the Dragon”, because while I expected “The Rings of Power” to deviate from its source text, I assumed “House of the Dragon” would be more faithful. When it veered off course, the outcome was only mediocre. If you’re going to modify the original work, your adaptation should surpass the original, and this didn’t. The works of George R.R. Martin are cherished for a good reason, just as Tolkien’s works are.

Winner: House of the Dragon

Conclusion

Overall, I believe that “House of the Dragon” surpassed “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” in its second season, offering more captivating characters and gripping storylines. While both series have their merits, “House of the Dragon” manages to keep me hooked even without a conclusive ending, whereas “The Rings of Power” can shift from entertaining and engaging to mere background noise, depending on which narrative thread is being explored at any given moment.

Although House of the Dragon outperformed The Rings of Power in their 2022 showdown, I believe this time the win was more tight. Overall, my opinion is that while The Rings of Power maintained its level of entertainment consistency from season 1 to 2 – it’s been enjoyable but inconsistent both then and now – House of the Dragon has seen a decline in quality. It still manages to create stunning scenes such as the Battle of Rook’s Rest, which is my favorite sequence of the year, but its character development was less consistent compared to the first season, and the absence of a climax was disappointing.

The series House of the Dragon has been confirmed for a third installment. As for The Rings of Power, it hasn’t been officially renewed but there’s an air of optimism surrounding it. For The Rings of Power, I hope the creators take lessons from their first two seasons to focus on what resonates with viewers. As for House of the Dragon, I hope the producers carefully consider the production process and strive to maintain a steady pace throughout the season, while also having the courage and humility to fully embrace the source material.

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2024-10-25 17:42