Forging Rings, But Missing the Magic

The second season of Amazon Prime’s The Rings of Power continues the journey through Middle-earth’s Second Age, following the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the forging of the Rings of Power. Based primarily on material from the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, Season 2 picks up where Season 1 left off, with Sauron (disguised as Halbrand) returning to manipulate events in Middle-earth. The season spans eight episodes, showcasing the ongoing tensions between Elves, Dwarves, and Men, as they all slowly fall under Sauron’s influence, leading to the creation of the Rings and the mounting threat of war.

The season opens with Sauron, still disguised as the enigmatic Halbrand, influencing Celebrimbor, the elven smith, to forge more Rings of Power. Galadriel continues her relentless pursuit of Sauron, unaware of his true identity, while Elrond struggles to navigate the political and personal tensions between the Elves and Dwarves. In Númenor, political turmoil brews as the island nation grapples with the growing influence of Sauron’s evil. Meanwhile, the Harfoots—nomadic predecessors of Hobbits—continue their journey eastward, led by Nori Brandyfoot and the mysterious Stranger, who begins to discover more about his true identity as a Wizard.

Filming for Season 2 took place in the United Kingdom, moving from New Zealand, which had been the location for Peter Jackson’s iconic Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The production remains impressive, with lavish sets and breathtaking locations that bring Middle-earth to life. Filming was completed in June 2023, amid the Writers Guild of America strike, with directors Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri, and Louise Hooper at the helm for different episodes. The season premiered on August 29, 2024, and continued to release weekly episodes until October 3.

Despite the impressive production values, including high-budget special effects and sweeping visuals that match blockbuster films, The Rings of Power still struggles with its narrative, particularly in how it adapts Tolkien’s lore.

Amazon acquired the global television rights to Tolkien’s works in 2017, with the intention of producing a multi-season series. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay return for the second season, as does composer Bear McCreary, whose score remains one of the highlights of the show. The season also brought back much of the large ensemble cast, including Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, Robert Aramayo as Elrond, and Charlie Vickers as Sauron. Despite this continuity, several key creative team members from Season 1, such as costume designer Kate Hawley and production designer Ramsey Avery, did not return.

So, here we go again. After a lackluster first season that attempted to capture the same magic as Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy, Season 2 stumbles through another convoluted series of events as the story of the forging of the rings continues. Unfortunately, I believe the central problem with The Rings of Power lies in its subject matter.

Of all the stories set in Middle-earth, the forging of the Rings of Power doesn’t strike me as being the most compelling. There are so many richer, more exciting stories from Tolkien’s legendarium—particularly those from the First Age—that would have made for a far more gripping adaptation. Beren and Lúthien, The Children of Húrin, and The Fall of Gondolin are just three examples of tales filled with epic battles, tragic love stories, and the kind of high stakes that would have made Amazon’s massive investment required viewing. Instead, we get a series that feels more like fan fiction, building up to the events of the First War of the Ring without the same sense of urgency or importance.

Perhaps, when the war begins in future seasons and the stakes are finally raised, I’ll have a reason to invest more fully in this show. But for now, Season 2 feels like a continuation of the same slow-paced, meandering storytelling that plagued Season 1. It’s a real shame because the production quality is there—The Rings of Power certainly looks like a blockbuster with stunning visuals and intricate set design. The cast is also talented, with Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, and Robert Aramayo doing their best to breathe life into their characters. Markella Kavenagh and other supporting actors also add to the ensemble, but ultimately, the show’s pacing, cringe-worthy dialogue, and laborious storytelling prevent it from reaching the standard set by Tolkien’s work.

Tolkien’s stories were rich with depth, weighty themes, and dialogue that felt both profound and natural. His writing was epic and tragic but always left room for reflection and moments of humor. The Rings of Power tries to emulate that, but it doesn’t quite succeed. It feels as though the writers are attempting to write in Tolkien’s style without having lived through the same life experiences that shaped his works. Tolkien was a soldier, a scholar, and a man who lived through two world wars—his stories are imbued with a gravitas that this show lacks.

It truly breaks my heart to say it, but The Rings of Power is terrible. And I say this as someone who wants to like the show. I’m more than willing to give writers the freedom to put their own spin on Tolkien’s material, but what Amazon is delivering feels like a bland, generic fantasy series. It’s full of awkward exposition and philosophical mumbo-jumbo that sounds more like it belongs in a self-help book than the mouths of ancient, wise Elves.

Much like Amazon’s adaptation of The Wheel of Time, the showrunners for The Rings of Power don’t seem to understand what makes Middle-earth so special. Instead of delivering a satisfying, thrilling fantasy epic, we’re left with a show that lacks the magic, depth, and heart that defined Tolkien’s works.