Tolkien: and then the Good King came and cast out the Evil Stewards who were corrupt because they ruled without the correct bloodline. Everything was peaceful after that and there was no more evil. There are two women in this story. Monarchy is good. The actual singular God who created everything wants you to be ruled by a 300 year old nobleman. The End.
GRRM: Feudalism is inherently destructive. Even the Noble Good Guys cause unimaginable suffering due to the structures of the system they operate within. Women are no more than brood mares under Feudalism. There is a Good King whose father was deposed. This Good King has spent his life living amongst the common people in order to become a good ruler. He is being manipulated by cynical actors and will bring devastation to the world when he begins his conquest. Thirty years ago the Hero of Prophecy acted to save the world from the Great Evil. He unleashed devastation on the land, died, and destroyed his own dynasty, possibly dooming the world. There are no gods, only powerful forces beyond our understanding that operate through the power of blood. Once upon a time there was a Good King who ruled justly. He brought peace to the land and improved the common folks' lot tremendously. Due the nature of Feudalism, the succession crisis that succeeded his reign led to the most bloodshed in 300 years. No one who wants war understands its cost.
People who dislike things because they're popular: Wow these are exactly the same!
Sure, because Tolkien, and by extension every fucking fantasy author ever, would never wax lyrical about mundane and plot inconsequential stuff just to establish lore or atmosphere...
I distinctly remember a part in the LOTR where the fellowship enters a small forest, and Tolkien does nothing but talk about the flowers growing on the side of the path, their color, their smell, in which part of Middle Earth these flowers usually grow, how some ancient king died, and the flowers were growing on his grave....and on and on and on, for three full pages, only to end the whole paragraph with "and then they left the forest".
GRRM is so much more sharp and precise than most of these other classic fantasy authors, it's just fat shaming when people have to constantly make the same joke about "20 course dinners". It's the attack helicopter joke of fantasy writing.
Contrarian edgelord bullshit is what it is.
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