Attack On Titan Vs. Game Of Thrones: Which Show Is Better?
The anime known as Shingeki no Kyojin, or Attack on Titan, is one of the most popular franchises to date. Not only has it been widely applauded by critics for its depiction of human misery and relationships in the seemingly post-apocalyptic era, but has been consistently popular with audiences around the globe.
Similarly, Game of Thrones has made a permanent indentation on the very face of television, having created a complex, mystical world whose survival is ultimately dependent on the political machinations of an elite few. Dragons or not, GoT offers viewers a setting that resembles the coldness of reality — only those who have power can make sweeping changes. Given their similar nature, which of these two shows can be considered superior to the other? Massive spoilers ahead.
10 Attack On Titan: Subverts The Shonen Genre
One of the requirements of a shonen narrative is that its protagonist is an adolescent male, who starts out weak but turns out to be the strongest character in their universe. This is the case with AoT's Eren Jaeger, at least in the beginning. He's not exactly feeble, but he does get beaten up a lot, at least until he joins the Scout Regiment to hunt Titans.
It is revealed that Eren possesses a Titan form himself, but he doesn't use it for good all the time. In fact, it can be argued that Eren is shaping up to be the primary antagonist of his own story, something shonen heroes almost never end up as.
9 Game Of Thrones: The Political Drama Is Both Subtle And Explosive
GoT is not meant as a lighthearted watch, considering its use of graphic imagery for some of the most horrifying scenes in TV history. This aspect of the show, however, is meant to highlight the story's true center — the desire to oppress weaker people.
As such, there are subterfuges within subterfuges, scintillating coups, devastating military tactics, and pretty much everything required to serve up some delicious political drama.
8 Attack On Titan: Minimal Fan Service
GoT has received negative attention for the manner in which it depicts female nudity and other sensitive scenes, with many of its critics accusing the show of fan service. AoT deviates completely from this norm, which further distances it from another shonen trope: the overabundance of borderline sexual scenes.
The anime effortlessly passes the Bechdel test, not to mention depicting its female characters in terms of their strength and skill rather than any audience-pleasing factors.
7 Game Of Thrones: Denies Viewer Expectations
For all its universal fame, GoT has been heavily criticized for its asymmetric storyline and for recklessly killing off popular characters: Ned Stark, Robb Stark, Oberyn Martell, Viserion, and Hodor, to name a few.
On the other hand, these choices are what makes this show unique and each episode completely unpredictable. By denying the viewers what they want for their beloved characters, GoT makes it clear that the story's flow is more important than liberally handing out plot armor to audience favorites.
6 Attack On Titan: Incredibly Complex Storyline
There are so many plot twists in AoT that it can often be impossible to keep track of the countless directions taken by the narrative.
The anime starts simply enough, with a city devastated by an unexpected Titan attack, but the storyline starts taking almost unbelievable turns when it uncovers the power behind the Titans and forces its characters to make some extremely difficult choices. In fact, the final (?) arc of the manga perfectly ties the entire tapestry together, convoluted though it is.
5 Game Of Thrones: The Vastness Of Worldbuilding
AoT is set on an island named Paradis, surrounded by a world that is unbearably hostile towards it. There isn't much to speak of when it comes to geophysical variety, whereas GoT has this aspect well covered (and then some!)
Westeros alone is too complex for any one person to effectively rule it, let alone the other continents, each having been given intimately detailed histories. Essos has been described to a fair extent, but Sothoryos and Ulthos are relatively unknown. Further, Arya is about to find out what lies beyond the west of Westeros, implying that the GoT world is much bigger than people believe.
4 Attack On Titan: No Distinction Between Good And Evil
GoT certainly has a level of ethical complexity to it that cannot be resolved into the binary notions of good and evil very easily. However, the actions of some of its characters indicates the general scope of their personal morals: Ser Davos & Jon Snow are "good," the Night King & Tywin Lannister are "bad," Ser Bronn & Bran Stark are "neutral."
These distinctions do not exist anywhere in AoT, least of all in its supposed hero. It is nigh impossible to tell which of the anime's characters intends to save the world, who wants to see it destroyed, and who simply don't care.
3 Game Of Thrones: Broke Several TV Award Records
AoT has been lauded on a global scale, but the acclaim it has received pales in comparison to GoT. For most of its run, the HBO show has been consistently ranked among the best TV series of the year (maybe excluding the final season.)
In addition to praise for its cinematography and diverse musical score, GoT is best known for the stellar performances offered by its main cast. Peter Dinklage, Diana Rigg, and Lena Headey received multiple Emmy nominations for their respective roles, with Dinklage winning a record four for Best Supporting Actor.
2 Attack On Titan: Incomparable Combat Sequences
Although GoT is packed with a number of exquisitely choreographed battles and fights, live-action shows can hardly be as imaginative and free as their animated counterparts.
AoT's sand-tinted scenery effectively enhances the starkness of its dying world, but it's the portrayal of the Titan antagonists and the humans that try to escape/kill them that make the series such an exhilarating watch. Nearly everyone who is caught by a Titan is eaten, and often gruesomely, but those who survive do so with exceptional swagger.
1 Game Of Thrones: Influence On Television & Pop Culture As A Whole
It is by no means an exaggeration to claim that GoT has influenced public perception of the fantasy genre as a whole, perhaps even more than its cinematic predecessor, The Lord of the Rings. The series has been acknowledged for paving the way for similar shows, as well as for upending the television industry in a number of different ways.
GoT has also inspired popular vocabulary, given that words like "sexposition", "Khaleesi", and "Dothraki" have become common knowledge. Regardless of its weak conclusion, GoT is responsible for more pop-cultural change than any other TV show in history.