After four months of maintaining consistent popularity on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been knocked off the Top 10 of the streaming service in the US. The series follows an ensemble cast of characters during the Second Age of Middle-earth, showcasing the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the Rings of Power. The Rings of Power season 1 acted as the setup for the five planned seasons the series will use to show Sauron's rise to power, as well as the battles and wars fought against him. The Rings of Power first entered the Top 10 on Prime Video when it premiered in September.
According to Comicbook, The Rings of Power is no longer in the Top 10 for Prime Video. The Rings of Power maintained a spot in the Top 10 for the last 4 months, only being knocked down following newer releases such as Three Pines and Jack Ryan season 3. The fact that The Rings of Power managed to stay in Prime Video's Top 10 for so long is a testament to how popular and successful the series was for Amazon.
How The Rings Of Power Maintained Popularity For So Long
The Rings of Power maintaining a spot in Prime Video's Top 10 for so long illustrates the show's popularity, making it yet another memorable adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. One of the biggest reasons why The Rings of Power may have stayed in the Top 10 for so long is the sheer spectacle of the series. The Rings of Power is one of the most expensive TV series ever produced, with Amazon investing $462 million into season 1 alone. Wide shots of the island of Númenor and the detailed practical effects used for armor, Orcs, and more make the show feel like a lived-in world. By bringing Middle-earth to life with cinematic production typically saved for the big screen, the team behind The Rings of Power showed their dedication to the world Tolkien had crafted so long ago.
Some of The Rings of Power's popularity may also derive from the discourse surrounding the series. Sadly, there were many racist online trolls who decried the show for its inclusion of actors of color in major roles, such as Ismael Cruz Córdova's Elf archer Arondir and Cynthia Addai-Robinson's Queen-Regent Míriel. Racist responses to The Rings of Power were lambasted by actress Whoopi Goldberg and author Neil Gaiman, among others. While the discourse surrounding the show's diverse casting may have drummed up negative emotions, it's possible that some viewers gave the series a chance to stand in solidarity against the backlash it was receiving. This may have led to them watching and enjoying the show, keeping it in the top spot for longer as they viewed each episode.
With The Rings of Power season 2 on the horizon, though, it's likely the series will see a resurgence in popularity when it returns next year. Amazon Studios' TV head Vernon Sanders has already hinted that The Rings of Power season 2 will be faster-paced, while showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay teased a multi-episode battle to be featured in the next season as well. The Rings of Power's impressive ability to stay in Prime Video's Top 10 for so long is likely to be replicated during season 2 and beyond.
Source: Comicbook.com