House of the Dragon and The Rings of Power did the same scene in one week

Maybe you’ve noticed that the two biggest TV series (or streaming) are fantasy epics. They both draw inspiration from popular novels. While it would be reductive to call HBO’s House of the Dragon and Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power the same kind of show — they Extremely are not — occasionally, in ways big and small, they do some of the same things. As was the case last week, where both episodes featured an episode in which an experienced sword fighter instructed young whippersnappers how to best study the blade.

[Ed. note: This episode discusses the plots through episode 5 of The Rings of Power and episode 6 of House of the Dragon; these moments might be considered spoilers, if you care about that sort of thing.]

A brief summary for those who only watch one show, or neither: In “Partings,” the fifth episode of The Rings of Power, the elven warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) has finally garnered support from the uppity human island nation of Númenor to mount an expedition to the mainland of Middle-earth in an effort to thwart dark forces that may herald the return of Sauron. All manner of youths, inexperienced or not, are volunteering to help with the expedition. They also learn swordsmanship. Galadriel challenges them all to join her expedition at once, then she drives them to school.

Image: Prime Video

Airing just a few more days later House of the Dragon’s “The Princess and the Queen” features a big time jump and a new status quo. As part of its tour of the way things are now, the episode pauses to show the youngest additions to the cast being coached in swordsmanship by Ser Criston Cole, Princess Rhaenyra’s former (secret) paramour, while King Viserys and other members of the court watch. Criston challenged Prince Aegon (the eldest of Queen Alicent, King Viserys) to spare with his teacher with some help from his brother. Unlike Galadriel in The Rings of Power, Ser CrIt iston isn’t having fun with his pupils, but he isYou are disrespectful to them.

This is a great time to look at what each show does differently and see why some may be better for you than others. This is, after all, not a terribly uncommon trope — many medieval/fantasy stories indulge in this kind of scene. This is the type of scene that storytellers will enjoy deconstructing in order to discover the most important things.

Image: Prime Video

The Rings of PowerThis trope serves mostly as an opportunity to relax and have fun. Galadriel is largely on her own at this stage of the series. She has been beaten by storms, and being questioned by people she doesn’t believe. She is now free to go after her goal of killing Sauron and has an army behind her. It’s cathartic, therefore, to see her take the initiative and make forward progress while showing off what she’s capable of. However, this moment in “Partings” does not impart much the viewer does not already know, having already gotten a brief rundown of Galadriel’s centuries-long life thus far and her experience during the first war with Morgoth. The film does little to alter or exacerbate internal struggle, nor do the characters’ dynamics. It’s mainly there for spectacle, something “Partings” reinforces by taking the time to show children excitedly running through the streets to watch.

House of the Dragon’s training scene, however, is doing an absolutely dizzying amount of character work — both for people we have met, and a few we are meeting for the first time. For example, it’s through this scene that we learn teen Aegon Targaryen is a little prick that will AlsoHe bullies those less than him; Jace, Luke, and Luke laugh at Aemond Targaryen because he doesn’t have a dragon. They give him a pig instead.

But there’s a lot going on in this seemingly inconsequential scene. This scene serves two purposes: it introduces the Targaryens to their young sons; it also moves the story in an important way. As the scene escalates, Ser Criston pits Prince Aegon against Princess Rhaenyra’s much younger son, Jacaerys Velaryon (His [scribbles on napkin]… nephew?The story takes an even more bizarre turn. Jacaerys, it’s revealed, is not his father Laenor’s (John Macmillan) son, but secretly the child of Rhaenyra’s new paramour, Ser Harwin Strong — just like her other two kids. Criston is, as it turns, Hates Harwin for this, and uses Aegon’s petulance to indirectly bully Jacaerys.

It is this moment that will make the show’s most important scene. Harwin will It is not stand for this, and because of it, he and Criston come to blows — making a whispered suspicion of parentage all but confirmed in the eyes of the court. It’s what gives power players like Larys Strong (Matthew Needham) leeway to make moves against Rhaenyra, as the question hanging over King’s Landing is whether or not the kingdom will accept the Crown Princess Rhaenyra as Queen when Viserys has a male heir in Aegon.

Halfway through every series The Rings of Power And House of the DragonThey have had enough success to allow audiences to feel connected with them. They both want to be slow but steady, although their scopes vary greatly. House of the Dragon’s narrower focus and intended audience of older viewers affords it the space to try its hand at density, where a sword fighting lesson can externalize a lover’s quarrel in the midst of heaps of palace intrigue. It ends in a place where no-one is the same as when they started it.

Gary Moyes/HBO Photo

The Rings of PowerHowever, aiming to be an epic fantasy adventure for everyone, Spectacle is the name of its game. Spectacle is the name of its game thus far, and Galadriel’s demonstration is a small-scale one that underlines the series’ ambition. Although it’s playing the long-game, it chooses to go from stunning moment to spectacular moment in order to allow it time to connect with the people and places it introduces. It expects more from viewers, which in turn sets greater expectations. That said, since it’s working with perhaps the most widely known fantasy world in existence as its source material, it’s a safer gamble than it would be for any other show. But it’s a gamble nonetheless.

This would be possible if the two swordfighting scenes took place in a friendly match. House of the Dragon’s would have a much easier time holding its own than the one in The Rings of Power. Be careful not to accuse me bias. Ask yourself this question: Does each episode have the same meaning without that sword-training scene? “The Princess and the Queen” hinges on it, while “Partings” does not. What does that mean? House of the DragonWhich is the best show? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t. However, it helps to highlight the variety that exists within fantasy fiction even though they sound the same, particularly when used in broad terms.