The first season of The Rings of Power was better than I expected, despite some notable stumbles. At the time, its greatest failure was a lack of personality to call its own.
It is with relief and pleasant surprise that season two isn’t just a stronger and more assured continuation, but an even greater departure from the Peter Jackson films altogether. In taking greater liberties with the source material, The Rings of Power proves itself a more emotionally honest and true adaptation than anticipated.
Without the burden of setup, season two charges out of the gate with shocking bravado. We witness Sauron’s first attempts at taking over Mordor, his failures, and how he ended up meeting Galadriel on the open water. In just twenty minutes, season two accomplishes a more compelling and riveting count of his story than in the entirety of the first one.
Galadriel faces the fallout of her own failures. Namely, the treachery inflicted upon her by Sauron in disguise. As the elves prepare to leave Middle-Earth, the arrival of the three rings, and Sauron’s dominion of Mordor, force them into drastic action. As war looms in every direction, every alliance finds itself under strain. What will become of the old world in the face of great treachery and ancient grudges?
The scope and scale remain vast, yet the pacing and structure both feel more refined. Even as we jump from one story to the next, The Rings of Power never becomes confusing. Instead, there’s now forward momentum that makes the action compelling, and the stakes even greater. Even the Harfoot story, which I found thoroughly lackluster before, feels now like the heart of the story.
As The Stranger and his newfound friends sing walking songs on their journey, I felt a lump in my throat. This is the emotional core that J.R.R. Tolkien’s great works stir within us, and for the first time, The Rings of Power captures that magic beautifully.
Visually, certain elements harken stylistically to Jackson’s works, yet far less than before. Even Bear McCreary’s score, which last time struggled to find a voice, soars into new heights.
Most importantly, The Rings of Power is fun. It is exciting and captivating for all eight hours of its runtime. Something that was sorely missing last season, even as I found much to love in it. Every episode of the season serves a purpose, and there is nary a dull moment to be found. By the time the great wars ahead begin, I was gripping the edge of my seat at every turn.
It is not a perfect season, though. There are elements that purists will detest, though it’s unlikely they would like the series even if it didn’t stray from the material this much. But certain changes feel like change for the sake of drama, and there’s a particular romantic subplot I could do without.
But they are minor gripes in the face of a vastly improved series, one that I’m now genuinely excited to return to. Two years ago, I wrote that The Rings of Power has a long road ahead of itself. Especially as it needs to figure out who it is first.
Now, it has done so. The journey ahead is still long, but I’m now excited to see it through. The Rings of Power has proven itself a worthy companion.
It’s interesting sci-fi horror series. I’ve got many good laughs out of it.