'The Rings Of Power' Vs. 'House Of The Dragon' Which Mega Fantasy Show Came Out On Top?
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In 2022, a battle between behemoths of the fantasy genre took place. As soon as Amazon announced its purchase of the television rights to The Lord of the Rings in 2017, Tolkien fans began counting the days until they could again experience Middle Earth. Westeros lovers became similarly excited for HBO's prequel series, although they longed for a return to form after a disappointing final season of Game of Thrones.
The simultaneous release of The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon launched a streaming war. The two shows aired within eleven days of each other, and each property attracted massive, often overlapping, fan bases.
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As the dust settles, fans can argue whether Amazon or HBO emerged victorious from their matchup. To determine the winner of this debate, one can consider four primary criteria: viewership, narrative development, world-building, and fan satisfaction.
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Viewership
The Rings of Power broke Amazon Prime records immediately upon its release. An astronomical 25 million people tuned in on the first day, and viewership climbed to nearly 100 million at its height. However, observers also noticed that the first season of Rings of Power experienced a weekly decline in viewership throughout its eight-episode run.
Although House of the Dragon never matched The Rings of Power's audience, it still delivered an impressive showing. House of the Dragon pulled in 10 million viewers during its first night. This debut was HBO's largest-ever premiere, and the series gained momentum through its finale.
Winner: The Rings of Power
Narrative Building
The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon both faced pressure to expand upon their beloved predecessors. The Rings of Power needed to provide greater context to the good-versus-evil epic of The Lord of the Rings. House of the Dragon sought to demonstrate that adapting the Targaryen family history would work better than numerous alternative spinoff possibilities.
House of the Dragon demonstrated its narrative staying power by doubling down on the palace intrigue and politicking that made Game of Thrones famous. By contrast, The Rings of Power struggled to build momentum and excitement for new characters like the Harfoots even after indulging in multiple setup episodes.
Winner: House of the Dragon
World-Building
Amazon and HBO spared no expense when funding their projects. The Rings of Power ranks as the most expensive television show ever, with a budget of just under $1 billion. House of the Dragon is close behind, costing $20 million per episode.
This jaw-dropping amount of money is evident in the look and feel of both shows. House of the Dragon presents medieval settings such as castles, hunting grounds, and a tiltyard in a grand, yet grounded, fashion. However, House of the Dragon limits its scope mainly to King's Landing and a few surrounding areas. At the same time, The Rings of Power showcases its massive feel as it sprawls over a truly expansive set of environments.
Winner: The Rings of Power
Fan Response
The Rings of Power has been met with a polarizing public response. The audience score for The Rings of Power sits at a mere 39% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have dismissed complaints about trivial issues such as the show's casting choices, but they generally agree that heavy exposition and ponderous tone weigh the shown down.
On the flip side, House of the Dragon stays true to and builds upon George R.R. Martin’s world. Fans generally found the show's writing quality comparable to Game of Thrones and enjoyed seeing the Targaryens establish connections between the past and future storylines. Excitement for future installments has only grown as a new generation of characters prepares to enter a conflict that sets the stage for the War of the Five Kings.
Winner: House of the Dragon
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House Of The Dragon Soars Over The Rings Of Power
No winner has seized the crown yet, and each franchise has only delivered its first of many upcoming installments. The jury is still out on which franchise will reign supreme following the release of forthcoming content.
However, popular and critical consensus favors House of the Dragon. House of the Dragon sets out with a clear narrative purpose and delivers on its central premise. The Rings of Power must travel a longer road than House of Dragon to reach a satisfying destination.
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