The fantasy series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power came out in 2022 with mixed reviews from critics and worse reactions from viewers. Despite its hefty budget and intriguing storylines, it didn’t seem to appeal to longtime franchise fans, who were eager to point out every flaw they perceived during the first eight episodes.
Overall, season 1 only had a 38% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, proving that the audience wasn’t smitten with The Lord of the Rings prequel after all. Fast-forward to right now, and the series might have hit a turning point. Critics and viewers alike agree that Season 2 of Rings of Power is stronger than its predecessor. In other words, fans who didn’t bother to tune in might want to reconsider.
What Rings of Power Is About
An epic fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power takes place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth universe and streams on Amazon’s Prime Video platform. The show is a prequel to the beloved Peter Jackson movies, set years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It kicks off during the Second Age of Middle-earth and tackles the creation of the Rings of Power and the rise of Dark Lord Sauron.
Some of the Rings of Power characters are younger versions of the iconic figures from The Lord of the Rings, like Galadriel and Elrond. Others are newly introduced, original to the series, or drawn from Tolkien’s additional works. The show aims to explore Middle-earth’s ancient history and themes like heroism or corruption. This should make it appealing to fantasy fans in general, whether or not they’re familiar with this world and its many inhabitants.
Rings of Power Season 2 Improves Upon Season 1
The show’s impressive production values didn’t do much for longtime Middle-earth enthusiasts. Many Lord of the Rings fans were unhappy with Rings of Power’s freshman season, calling it “boring” and “lackluster.” Critics were kinder, noting its incredible potential. They turned out to be right, as the prequel gets better in season 2. The balance between intimate character moments and sweeping action sequences is more finely tuned in the new installments, fixing some of the pacing issues the first episodes struggled with. Additionally, the series explores the dynamics between Elves, Dwarves, and Men in more depth, creating suspense around the alliances that will shape Middle-earth’s fate.
In even better news, Rings of Power achieves all this without sacrificing style. Visually, the series continues to be stunning. Not only that, but the tension is palpable, and it keeps building up as the season progresses. The finale, currently streaming, is an exciting mix of action and horror. Expect character deaths sprinkled in for good measure and a not-so-surprising reveal a long time in the making.
Final Thoughts
All in all, season 2 improves upon the storytelling and spectacle of the first season. Unfortunately, many viewers tuned out before they could notice, with the show’s viewership dropping between seasons. Those who did stream the new episodes appreciated the storytelling more, to the point where season 2 currently has a 58% Popcornmeter. It’s not stellar, but given how nitpicky fans of the franchise are, it definitely signals a bump in quality.
In today’s competitive streaming landscape, many promising series are canceled too quickly if they fail to generate enough hype. They don’t get a chance to fully develop or gain momentum. An expansive series like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, in particular, needs time to lay a solid foundation, especially for viewers new to this universe. Sticking around is likely to pay off. While Amazon hasn’t officially confirmed that the show will return for season 3 yet, here’s hoping.
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