The first three episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 gorgeously set the stage for what’s to come while still cramming a bit too much in for those who might not be as well-versed in the lore. Brimming with theological allegory, J. R. R. Tolkien’s world is a fantasy-genre blueprint for a reason. There’s a plethora of depth hidden beyond every character’s action and the general extent of worldbuilding, which unfortunately makes the source material a bit dense for people with limited bandwidth. Nevertheless, if nothing else, the Prime Video series is a stunning spectacle in more ways than one, making it worthy to sit through.
For fantasy series, the set design, visuals, costumes, and music matter as much as the narrative and the performances. In this way, The Rings of Power Season 2 is yet another triumph, bringing to our screens something genuinely appealing. The first three episodes pack an influx of storytelling beats, reminding viewers where the elves, dwarves, and humans are since the reveal of Sauron’s identity in the Season 1 finale. In truth, my biggest gripe with the series is that it overexplains some stretches of time while it undercuts crucial details. Or, perhaps it’s because subtitles weren’t available during my initial watch, making it far more challenging to grasp some of the content.
The Rings of Power Season 2, like its debut season, presumes that every viewer is well-versed in the mythology to understand every little thing that transpires. Yet, this approach isolates new fans who might want to start watching but feel as though they’re too far removed from everything. While the second season provides ample content to at least ensure that returning viewers know what’s happening, this is still the type of show where consulting additional information is necessary. In retrospect, where the show takes brief liberties, we get some fascinating content to examine.
Still, it’s clear as day that the first three episodes are the beginning of a darker narrative arc. (Most of us have seen the films; we know where this is going.) With Sauron taking a new form (as evidenced in the trailers), we are bound to witness more lives lost and destruction in the process of creating the rings. In some ways, this could make the story more gripping as the losses will become tangible aches to make the end result of the films richer. However, there’s always the unfortunate outcome of getting attached to characters only to then deal with their death.
The Rings of Power Season 2 has a primarily riveting start, and how the series moves forward from here will determine whether it falls in the category of a sophomore slump. It seems unlikely that’ll be the case (though, who’s to say), yet where the series could never flounder is its means of shining through visuals. With the elves especially, every moment casts a breathtaking glow that’s hard to look away from. The performances are all impeccable, especially thus far from Morfydd Clark, who continues to be a standout in more ways than one. Plenty of stories are yet to be told, and we’re on the right track toward pulling back from the heartaches of last season.
The first three episodes of The Rings of Power Season 2 are now streaming on Prime Video.
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