Summary
The second season ups the ante on the deep lore, allowing characters to flourish against the rich backdrop of a Middle-earth at a crossroads.
If you are yet to see any of these episodes, please know that this review is positively filled with spoilers. You have been warned. No veren!
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age of Middle-earth was once confined to the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, scattered like artefacts throughout his texts. It was the deep lore handshake that got you into only the geekiest of parties. This might explain why THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER has divided fans so decisively, putting those fragments on display and crafting its own narrative around them.
Where the first season spent its time re-crafting its own world—introducing hitherto unfilmed locations and balancing the desires of both book and film audiences—showrunners J. D. Payne, Patrick McKay, and their writing team waste no time diving into the meat of the story this time. Finally, we come to the forging of the rings, fledgling alliances, and the rise of Sauron.
The second season opens with “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” taking us right back to the dawn of the Second Age. Forodwaith Sauron (Jack Lowden) makes his first grab for power after Morgoth’s fall, but is defeated by Orcs under the command of Adar (Sam Hazeldine). This defeat leads him to adopt the guise of Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), setting in motion the events of Season 1 and the deception that results in Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) forging the three Elven rings.
Though brief, this scene sends ripples throughout the eight episodes of this packed season. As the rings restore the Elves’ power, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) has a vision of Celebrimbor’s death and sets out for Eregion, the Elven realm where the rings were forged. Yet Sauron, posing as Annatar—a supposed emissary of the Valar—tricks Celebrimbor into forging the nine Rings of Power for Men.
Meanwhile, the island kingdom of Númenor faces a leadership crisis. The revelation that Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) has been using an Elvish palantír (remember them?) sparks a power struggle with Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle). At the same time, Mount Doom’s eruption has wreaked havoc in the Dwarven realm of Khazad-dûm, where Durin IV (Owain Arthur) and his wife Disa (Sophia Nomvete) find themselves in a bitter feud with his father, who has succumbed to greed after accepting his own Ring of Power.
While this period of Middle-earth’s history is arguably the least engaging—perhaps why Tolkien wrote so little about it—Brian Sibley’s recent reassembly of Tolkien’s Second Age writings (The Fall of Númenor) shows that the author’s mind often returned to the stately Númenóreans.
Despite this, the season remains thrilling, packing each lengthy episode with new revelations and character development. It’s here that the show really finds its footing. While online detractors may continue to grumble about the portrayal of certain characters, this season leaves little room for complaints that aren’t rooted in prejudice.
For instance, Disa thrives as a key figure in the religious-like rituals of Dwarven mining. Sauron’s character continues to evolve, showcasing how evil can be both alluring and deceptive. Adar is equally complex, with Hazeldine drawing out a surprising pathos for a group we’re conditioned to hate. On the flip side, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) feels somewhat lost following the off-screen death of Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi, who chose not to return). Galadriel also feels somewhat sidelined given her more prominent role in the first season.
From the finely detailed costumes to the sweeping landscapes—now shot in the UK instead of New Zealand—THE RINGS OF POWER remains a visual spectacle. Big creature effects, such as the Sea Worm in “Where Is He?”, display the hefty budget. This is Middle-earth brought to life on an epic scale. They even threw fans a bone by introducing the enigmatic Tom Bombadil (a perfectly cast Rory Kinnear) in “Eldest.”
There are, of course, still pacing issues, which is expected in a multi-threaded narrative like this. Given what we know about the fates of key players such as Elendil (Lloyd Owen), Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Galadriel, and Elrond (Robert Aramayo), there are moments when the series seems to be spinning its wheels, despite its roughly nine-hour runtime. At other times, it bombards the audience with a breathless info dump all at once.
The final two episodes, “Doomed to Die” and “Shadow and Flame,” depict a large-scale assault on Eregion, interspersed with the more personal battles of the major players. While it’s a tall task to rival the epic scale of Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers or The Return of the King, director Charlotte Brändström manages to deliver an impressive array of sequences. Along the way, several major revelations unfold—from the secrets within the Dwarven mountains to the fates and symbols of key figures—ensuring the season concludes on a high note.
For every storyline developed, THE RINGS OF POWER wisely ensures that “the road goes ever on” for many more. Our suspicions about The Stranger’s (Daniel Weyman) identity are confirmed, as he continues his journey with Harfoot companions Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and Poppy (Megan Richards). Meanwhile, the introduction of The Stranger’s “old friend” the Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) suggests something major is coming, and all signs point to something familiar.
Now, we patiently wait for Season 3—and here’s hoping it doesn’t leave us Ringless for another two years.
2024 | USA, UK | DIRECTORS: Charlotte Brändström, Louise Hooper, Sanaa Hamri | CREATORS: J. D. Payne, Patrick McKay (based on The Lord of the Rings and Appendices by J.R.R. Tolkien | WRITERS: J. D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Gennifer Hutchison, Jason Cahill, Helen Shang, Glenise Mullins, Nicholas Adams, Justin Doble | CAST: Charlie Vickers, Sam Hazeldine, Charles Edwards, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Trystan Gravelle, Owain Arthur, Sophia Nomvete, Daniel Weyman, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Ciarán Hinds, Ismael Cruz Córdova | DISTRIBUTOR: Amazon Prime Video | EPISODES: 8
You can read more thoughts on Tolkien in my column The Read Goes Ever On: a structured reading (and in some cases re-reading) of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. For now, Namárië!
