In the hit HBO series, House Of The Dragon, one of the main narrative points concerns the strife between the Greens and the Blacks, the two parties at court who are vying for the Iron Throne. Of course, competing factions are nothing new in television storytelling, as it often provides writers, and viewers, with a means of aligning with one side or another.
Sometimes, these sorts of teams are played for fun. In others, as with House Of The Dragon, these sort of alliances are very serious and, as time will show, have tremendous importance for the well-being of the realm as a whole.
The Greens Vs. The Blacks - House Of The Dragon (2022 - )
In House Of The Dragon, the Greens are aligned with Queen Alicent and her children, while the Blacks have thrown their support behind Princess Rhaenyra. What begins as a squabble within the Targaryen family quickly begins to expand outward, and the last two episodes of the series demonstrate just how much this rift will damage the whole of Westeros.
After all, on this particular continent, no one can simply stand by. Instead, in a world in which power is ultimately the only thing that truly matters, everyone is going to have to choose a side, leading the realm to burn.
Pawnee Vs. Eagleton - Parks And Recreation (2009 - 2015)
Parks and Recreation is widely regarded as one of the best feel-good sitcoms. It’s filled with characters who are just trying to do the best that they can to make the world a better place. That being said, there is a notable feud in the series between the residents of Pawnee and those of Eagleton.
It is obviously played for laughs, but beneath this, there is also the series’ engagement with how gentrification and class often shape people's lives. There is, then, some poetic justice in the fact that Pawnee ultimately absorbs its wealthier neighbor.
Vocal Adrenaline Vs. New Directions - Glee (2009 - 2015)
For many, Glee is one of Ryan Murphy’s best shows. For its first couple of seasons, at least, it managed to be like nothing else on television, injecting the utopian pleasures of the musical into the popular culture consciousness.
The early seasons are also particularly marked by the ongoing competition between Vocal Adrenaline and New Directions. While the viewer is led to identify with the latter, there’s no question that the former are, in their own way, the superior group, both because they happen to be more professional and because they also occupy a much more privileged place within their school than do their Lima counterparts.
The Lannisters Vs. The Starks - Game Of Thrones (2011 - 2019)
Game Of Thrones is arguably one of HBO’s best shows. Though it is very much rooted in fantasy, it is also a series about power and about the horrible things that people will do in pursuit of it.
Much of the series is structured around the conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters, two of the most notable houses in Westeros. For the most part, the viewer is led to identify with and cheer for the former, though as the series goes on, it becomes clear that there is more to the Lannisters than meets the eye. As so often in Game of Thrones, the difference between good and evil is not nearly as clean-cut as people might like.
The Cockroaches Vs. The Bad Place Demons - The Good Place (2016 - 2020)
The Good Place is undeniably one of Michael Schur’s best series. It manages to be funny, heartbreaking, and deeply thoughtful all at the same time. What’s more, it also features an iconic set of dueling teams in Team Cockroach (the humans who have been sent to the Bad Place and their unlikely ally Michael) and the demons of the Bad Place.
Obviously, the viewer is meant to identify with Team Cockroach. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the demons of the Bad Place, including and especially Bad Janet, are in their own way just as entertaining as their “good” counterparts.
The 99th Precinct Vs. The Fire Department - Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 - 2021)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like so many other Michael Schur shows, is very much about the good people who do the best they can as police officers in New York City. However, this doesn’t mean that the various officers stationed at the precinct don't have their feuds because they definitely do.
In particular, they are inveterate enemies of the fire department, the latter of which seems to go out of its way to make life more than a little miserable for the Nine-Nine. As with so many other sitcoms, however, it is truly hilarious to see just how many sparks they manage to strike off of one another.
Spartacus Vs. The Romans - Spartacus (2010 - 2013)
The ancient world has long been a source of fascination for popular culture, and there have been many movies and TV shows about ancient Rome in particular. Spartacus is one of the best of these, focusing as it does on the potent conflict between Spartacus and his freed slaves on the one hand and the Romans on the other.
Like all of the best rivalries, this is one with significant consequences. The slaves know quite well that their lives will be forfeit of they are defeated, which gives their fight for freedom even more emotional weight, allowing the audience to cheer them on, even in their darkest hours.
The Scots Vs. The English
Outlander has established itself as one of the best series on Starz. In part, this is because of the powerful romance between its central characters, Claire and Jamie. However, it is also because the first two seasons give the viewer a profound understanding of the conflict between the Scots and the English.
These seasons make it very clear just how much is at stake. For the Scots, their eventual defeat at the hands of the English is truly cataclysmic, and the series allows the viewer to understand, and to feel, just how much of an impact their defeat at Culloden will have on the very future of the Highlands.
Greendale Vs. City College - Community (2009 - 2015)
Though it didn’t always get the network support it deserved, Community was still one of the best sitcoms of the 2010s. And, given that it was focused on a community college, it was inevitable that it was going to feature a team rivalry as a key part of its universe.
In this case, the most prominent rivalry is between that of Greendale vs. City College. And, as is so often the case with sitcoms, Greendale is very much the underdog in this fight, which is precisely what makes audiences cheer for them to succeed.
AFC Richmond Vs. West Ham United - Ted Lasso (2020 - )
Throughout its first two seasons, Ted Lasso consistently showed why it is one of the best series on Apple TV+. It lets its characters grow and change as the episodes progress, and this is particularly true of its title character.
As the second season draws to a close, it’s clear that there is going to be a potent rivalry between Ted’s team of AFC Richmond and West Ham United, which is now being coached by his former protege Nate. While it’s unclear just how bad this rivalry will become, it’s clear that it is going to be emotionally damaging for everyone involved.
Cobra Kai Vs. Miyagi Do - Cobra Kai (2018 - )
There are many reasons to appreciate the series Cobra Kai, not the least of which is that it is a successful sequel to a well-established property (The Karate Kid). In addition to being a skilled blending of comedy and drama, it also features the deep feud between the rival dojos of Cobra Kai and Miyagi Do.
These two groups are markedly different in almost every aspect, ranging from their governing philosophies to their fighting techniques. It is precisely this which gives this rivalry such potency, and it structures much of the drama and the stories.
Source:gamerant.com