House Of The Dragon vs. Rings Of Power: How do they stack up?

Despite the presence of dragons and some magical elements at the fringes of society, The Song of Ice and Fire is set in a world not dissimilar to our own. The fictional history in George R.R. Martin’s novels was inspired by the actual history of our world, and history isn’t always nice or comforting. It’s full of complexities and nuance. Few people in this series are purely good or purely evil. They’re mostly just humans, with basic human needs, prone to human failings. Some are more damaged than others, and they in turn inflict damage themselves, either purposefully or inadvertently. Most of them are doing the best they can. It may be realistic, but it’s not the place to look to if you want to be optimistic about the potential of mankind.Tolkien’s world is more black and white. Evil in Middle-earth is pure, and it’s easy to spot. There’s no need to explain it or justify the reasons why Sauron is evil. He just is. There’s room for nuance, sure, but it’s not hard to tell the good guys from the villains. The elves and the good-hearted harfoots are bathed in radiant light, while the orcs and trolls are shadowed in darkness. We know from the beginning what kind of story this is and who the heroes will be. Admirable qualities like love, loyalty, and kindness are rewarded. And the story always assures us, even through each setback, that good will eventually prevail. It’s refreshingly uplifting.