Thursday Thoughts - 09/08/2022
In this short newsletter, I share the most interesting things that I’ve read, heard, and/or watched over the past week.
This week is all about nerding out on fantasy shows. I have been deep into the worlds created by George R. R. Martin and J. R. R. Tolkien.
What I Watched:
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon is a prequel to Game of Thrones. It’s set about 200 years before the events of Thrones. The focus on the show is House Targaryen during an age of peace and decadence. However, questions surrounding succession bring forth a civil war between members of the family.
I fell right back into Westeros from the first episode. Everything I loved about the early seasons of Game of Thrones is there. There are gorgeous shots of castles and European backdrops. Dragons fly around and roast people. And best of all, lords and ladies are scheming away and playing the great game.
I also enjoyed the mini documentaries, The House that Dragons Built, that is released as an extra with every episode. These segments go into detail of how the set was created for each scene. The amount of planning, coordinating, and craftsmanship is astounding.
Rings of Power
The Rings of Power is a prequel to Lord of the Rings. The show is set thousands of years before the adventures of Frodo and the rest of the fellowship. From the first two episodes, four distinct storylines are set up. I’m sure that these will converge into an epic journey.
I am not a huge Tolkien fan. I haven’t read Lord of the Ring books and barely remember what happened in the Peter Jackson movies. However, I fully enjoyed the first two episodes of the show. The cast of characters is wonderful. From the immortal Elves, to the lovable Harfoots, and everything in between including the dwarves, humans, and the Stranger.
What I Heard:
House of R
House of R is a podcast on The Ringer-Verse podcast feed. This podcast features Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson diving deep into popular TV shows and movies.
I have been listening to their episodes surrounding House of the Dragon and Rings of Power. The episode run long, with most of the House of the Dragon episode clocking in at over 150 minutes. But their banter and love of the lore is fantastic. I enjoy the additional context into the worlds of GRRM and Tolkien.
What I’m Pondering:
The secret to life is not to take it personally. The things people do and say are not always about you. Usually they’re about their own fears.
Neil Strauss, Rules of the Game