Fans of the fantasy genre have had a lot of viewing options recently, with HBO’s House of the Dragon, a prequel to Game of Thrones, and now with Prime Video’s highly-anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The series, which is directed by J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, A Monster Calls), is grand in scope and scale. The effects and cinematography are high quality, which speaks to the show’s big budget. Though the story is a bit slow to get started, The Rings of Power’s first two episodes (which were provided for review) show a lot of promise once the story begins taking shape. The characters — and there are so very many — are also compelling enough by the second episode’s end, and the tension in the plot builds so that the cliffhanger will leave audiences wanting more of what’s to come.
Set thousands of years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, The Rings of Power (which is draws a lot from Tolkien's appendices) returns to Middle-earth during the Second Age. After years of fighting and searching for the Orcs and who they serve, the High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) has declared peace. However, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is not convinced that the root of evil is truly gone and defeated, especially with the Orcs making a reappearance. As darkness looms over Middle-earth and threatens its people, the Elves, Dwarves, Men, who have a tense relationship with the Elves, and a plethora of others must work together if they have a chance of surviving the coming darkness that awaits them.
One of the most compelling aspects of The Rings of Power is the theme of peace and how people cope with it. Warriors like Galadriel and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), who have been fighting for years, don’t know what to do with themselves after peace is declared. Where do they go from here? How can they start over? What is their life’s purpose if not for fighting the evil that emerged in Middle-earth? Arondir especially seems lost for a bit, and there’s hope that he could finally have a life outside of being a soldier, even if he doesn’t know exactly how to begin. Galadriel, on the other hand, sees only vengeance, her only goal of destroying a terrible evil she knows has yet to be truly vanquished. What’s more, the first two episodes explore a bit of the tension simmering between the humans and Elves, who do not think kindly of one another due to their history. It’s this tension that helps move the plot forward, while also making certain dynamics more effective. While watching, the audience will ponder the alliances that might evolve later on despite the pain of their pasts and the skepticism that clearly separates them.
It takes a while for The Rings of Power to get going, but when it does, the pieces of the puzzle quickly begin to fall into place. To be sure, season 1’s second episode is stronger than the first, which is primarily focused on establishing the various characters, tensions, and the darkness that has befallen Middle-earth. Episode 2 expands on each of the characters, who start to become more layered and interesting. Arondir and Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) are all longing looks and tension, and their forbidden romance is easily one of the most intriguing aspects. Galadriel’s pride and stubbornness is matched when she is forced to work alongside a stranger (Charlie Vickers), and her dynamic with him and her friend Elrond (Robert Aramayo) have a lot of potential. The second episode delves further into the lives of most of the characters, which is what makes it all the more compelling. Every new piece of information or detail — including the Harfoot Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot’s (Markella Kavenagh) guilt, sense of adventure, and need to help the strange man (Daniel Weyman) who seemingly fell from the sky — adds dimension and intensity to the plot. Spending time with the characters as they attempt to stave off what awaits them allows the tension and suspense to build. Crucially, it allows the audience to care about what might happen to them in the future, which is shaping up to be quite harrowing.
Markella Kavenagh as Elanor ‘Nori’ Brandyfoot in The Rings of Power
The Rings of Power is also cinematic in scope and aesthetically pleasing to look at. Cinematographer Óscar Faura gives each Middle-earth location a distinct color palette, and it makes for a visually stunning viewing experience. There are plenty of action sequences, too, all of which are elevated by the phenomenal score by Bear McCreary. The music adds a heart-pounding element to the suspense, and warmth to calmer, more heartwarming scenes. The action itself is well executed and Bayona makes the most of small spaces, with one tunnel chase sequence and a house fight against a devious creature being a standout.
The Rings of Power has the advantage of being set so long before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy that it has a hope of standing on its own. Its connections to the events of the movies and books, as well as the inclusion of a few familiar characters from the original trilogy, certainly help, but the fantasy series indeed has a life of its own. With so much potential, The Rings of Power’s biggest obstacle is overcoming its semi-slow pacing at the start. If episode 2 is any indication, however, the rest of the season’s episodes will follow suit in balancing character development with action and suspense.
The first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premiere September 2nd on Prime Video.
