People don't seem to like each other much in Westeros, not even those married to each other. Perhaps especially not those married to each other. HBO's "House of the Dragon" has nearly as much shouting as "The Bear" but without the delicious food (except for a quick glimpse of a lemon cake that Rhaenyra doesn't even eat, only steals the garnish from). There's backstabbing, regular stabbing, treachery and misery.
Given the timing and both shows' epic aims, it's inevitable that the "Game of Thrones" prequel has been compared to Amazon Prime Video's "The Rings of Power." The shows premiered within days of each other, and both are steeped in fantasy. "The Rings of Power" lacks those dragons – but also, lacks the sexual violence that has come to define Westeros. And it has likewise failed to attract the huge viewership of HBO's show, with demand for viewing "The Rings of Power" falling by 13% this week.
