The Epic Fantasy Face-Off of This Year Had No Winners

TUNING INTO AMAZON’S J.R.R. TOLKIEN adaptation of The Lord of the Rings it was almost like being on a yacht or in a Four Seasons. It looks expensive, people could almost hear Galadriel trudging through Middle-earth. Every castle wall and every underground dwelling was strewn with fanciness. It’s true that Amazon has spent hundreds of millions on this show, and plans to spend more.

Are you also looking for something more expensive? HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon. It looked great thanks to CGI advances. It was inevitable because two of the most important fantasy franchises ever, George R. R. Martin and Tolkien, were battling it out this year. One of them seemed certain to win.

Except, none did.

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