‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Rings of Power’ Facing Epic Headaches

As a devoted fantasy enthusiast with over three decades of experience immersed in Tolkien’s Middle-earth and George R.R. Martin’s Westeros, I have to say that this latest chapter in the epic saga of these two titans of television has me both thrilled and perplexed.

Call the banners and muster the dragons, there is trouble in the kingdoms!

HBO’s expensive, grandiose fantasy series “House of the Dragon” and Amazon’s even more extravagant fantasy series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” are facing heavy criticism or negative feedback.

Regarding the TV series “Rings”, the predicament has been noted before. The $715 million production, which made its debut two years ago to impressive viewership and fan disagreement, has revealed the initial four episodes of its new season. Generally, it’s acknowledged that this new chapter is an upgrade, but some critics and viewers believe it’s not as powerful as it could be. Many compare the show to Peter Jackson’s Academy Award-winning trilogy, and it’s hard not to, despite the fact that the earlier saga may have set an unattainably high standard for a prequel series to surpass. The show’s Rotten Tomatoes ratings are reminiscent of the first season — a commendable 83% among critics, but a letdown at 58% among viewers (some percentage of whom appear to be fiercely determined to watch every episode while simultaneously asserting that the series is unwatchable, thereby fostering a niche market for “Rings” critique creators).

According to J.D. Payne, showrunner alongside Patrick McKay, “The Fellowship must turn to one another and their supporters, recalling what they’re battling for.” He continues, “As we observe millions of people engaged with this series, expressing such enthusiasm, it’s them we are fighting for. Even those who criticize on social media or create YouTube videos about their disapproval, we welcome you as well. After all, a journey through Middle-earth wouldn’t be complete without the occasional troll.

Regarding the ratings of Rings, third-party assessments indicate a significant decline compared to its initial season. However, Amazon offers an explanation: Of course, the ratings are lower now because they were exceptionally high previously. There seems to be some truth in this claim. Even popular Prime Video series like Fallout and The Boys have not matched the global success of Rings‘ first season (Fallout surpassed it in the U.S.). Amazon states that the latest season is performing well internationally and is expected to rank among the Top 5 seasons for Prime Video.

As a gamer, I’ve gotta say, it’s been mind-blowing to learn that over 40 million gamers worldwide have tuned in to catch at least some part of the first three episodes from season two of The Rings of Power within just the first eleven days. However, Amazon didn’t specify exactly how much of the season or an individual episode those viewers watched. It’s worth noting that their figure differs from the standard used by many streaming platforms today, which calculates views based on total viewing time divided by each episode’s runtime.

For some time now, discussions have been ongoing about a third season, but it hasn’t been formally confirmed yet. Following the viewing figures of the first episode in season two, insiders at The Hollywood Reporter claim that the company is still dedicated to the initial plan for the series to run for five seasons.

Subsequently, we have the character known as Dragon, whose issues prove to be more intriguing. However, the second season sparked some discontent among fans due to an eight-episode build-up culminating in a jaw-dropping cliffhanger – a pivotal battle scene initially intended for season two but delayed until season three, seemingly due to financial constraints, leading to increased discussions about “David Zaslav spoiling everything” online. Despite this dip, the ratings have stayed relatively strong.

About two weeks ago, George R.R. Martin, renowned author of ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ (also a co-creator and executive producer of ‘Dragon’), who has previously praised ‘Dragon’, expressed on his blog his intention to disclose all the issues he sees with the show. Given the circumstances, many might have thought this wouldn’t occur – undoubtedly, HBO would take measures to prevent such a post.

However, just recently, Martin shared an intriguing insight: a heartfelt analysis of his apprehension regarding the elimination of a juvenile character in the series. In his perspective, this change has already diminished a crucial scene in the second season and may lead to more creative complications in seasons three and four. His post also contained excerpts from his conversations with Ryan Condal (who took over as the sole showrunner after Miguel Sapochnik left) and hinted at the plans that the showrunner has for the upcoming season.

Martin’s post vanished within a few hours. An HBO insider says executives were “frustrated but not surprised.” Martin and HBO have been increasingly at loggerheads, with the author privately making his concerns known for a while. The network also issued a statement saying it supports Condal’s “extraordinary” work. Condal addressed the matter in a podcast in a rather heartfelt-sounding way that basically amounted to: We are trying the very best we can and adapting this material is insanely hard; it’s full of impossible choices — a sentiment the showrunners of Game of Thrones would certainly raise a glass to.

The earlier series casts a silent shadow upon this one. Martin, undeniably, feels deeply connected and protective towards the universe he constructed. He has meticulously visualized how crucial scenes should unfold on-screen, and graciously held his tongue for years as Thrones deviated from his original work in ways that he disagreed with.

As a dedicated gamer, diving into the latest news about my favorite shows, I was asked for thoughts on the ongoing Dragon saga. Instead, I enthusiastically shared my excitement for an upcoming HBO series, “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms,” set to premiere next year. In July, I had the privilege of visiting the set in Northern Ireland and was blown away by what I witnessed. The cast is fantastic, and the lead characters, Dunk and Egg, seem as if they’ve leaped straight from the pages of my book. My readers are going to adore them, and I can’t wait for them to experience it too. Showrunner Ira Parker is doing an exceptional job.

It’s worth noting that the points made earlier haven’t stopped a large number of online enthusiasts from ardently supporting shows like Dragon and Rings. Dive into discussion forums about these series, and you’ll find legions of fans who are passionately invested in every minor detail, to an extent that it’s hard to fathom similar levels of devotion for shows like Presumed Innocent or The Perfect Couple. Frequently, disagreements ensue due to the intense emotional connection these fan bases and creators have with these fictional worlds, treating them not just as stories, but as significant historical artifacts.

Amidst the abundance of 600 scripted series, it’s both encouraging and challenging for Amazon and HBO that there’s significant interest in ‘Rings’ and ‘Dragon’. Producing these shows will consistently present a situation where success can cut both ways.

Kim Masters and Rick Porter contributed to this report.

This tale was published in the September 11th edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To keep up with future issues, consider subscribing here.

2024-09-11 18:25

Read More