With the rise of evil looming, the only way to fight back is for those with the common goal to unite and face the devil head-on. After the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which ended with a shocking twist and major character developments, the first three episodes of the second season have now been released on Amazon Prime Video. From the initial glimpses, it’s evident that the battle isn’t just between good and evil, but within the ranks of the good too, as friendships are tested and kingdoms begin to fracture.
While Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) must work to regain the trust of others, particularly Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and the elves’ High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), Sauron (Charlie Vickers) faces an even more challenging path now that his disguise as the human Halbrand has been exposed by Galadriel, especially with Adar on the hunt for him.
The new season kicks off in Forodwaith at the dawn of the Second Age, following Morgoth’s downfall. Sauron has gathered all the Orcs, declaring himself their new master. He reveals his desire for a new kind of power, “not of the flesh, but over the flesh,” which he believes will lead them to be revered as saviours of Middle-earth rather than its destroyers. Right from the beginning, The Rings of Power makes it clear that Sauron’s most powerful weapon at the moment is his skill in manipulation and psychological tactics. He declares, “I am your only future and my path your only path,” but is soon ‘killed’ by Adar and the Orcs, only to reemerge in a new human form as Halbrand.
From the outset, creators JD Payne and Patrick McKay, along with writer Gennifer Hutchison, set a clear tone, indicating that this season will be darker than the last. The introduction in a dimly lit hall filled with Orcs and the initial sequence set there highlights the focus on the rise of evil in this chapter. Director Charlotte Brändström’s staging of each scene in the first episode, titled “Elven Kings Under the Sky,” effectively conveys the chilling atmosphere, making viewers feel the coldness in the air. In one scene, a large group of Southlanders is shown walking down a path, with Sauron standing at its beginning, towering over them, symbolising the fate awaiting them and their land. Sauron then walks the path with them, as if diving into the depths before ascending.
Watch Charlie Vickers and Charles Edwards interview for The Rings of Power Season 2 here:
Meanwhile, in Lindon, Elrond is taking extra precautions to prevent Galadriel from using the Rings, fearing it may be part of another plot by Sauron. He argues that Galadriel wasn’t deceived by Sauron but was blinded by her own pride. However, the High King decides to use the Rings to revive the Tree in Lindon, without which the Elves would have to leave Middle-earth. Elrond, unwilling to hand over the Rings, flees with them, straining his relationships with both the King and Galadriel. As Sauron extends his deceit to cover Adar as well, the Istari (Daniel Weyman) and Nori (Markella Kavenagh) continue their journey to Rhûn, soon joined by Poppy (Megan Richards).
As the elves begin to realise the power of the three Rings, Sauron arrives at the gates of Eregion to “negotiate” with Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). Unlike the usual practice, the first episode doesn’t conclude with a cliffhanger but rather resembles a well-set chessboard, ready for the players to begin the game.
The episode “Where the Stars Are Strange” starts with a poorly executed visual of boiling lava in Mount Doom. The overuse of maps to indicate changes in location continues, just like in the first season but a bit less. In Khazad-dûm, we see Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) and Disa (Sophia Nomvete) living ordinary lives among the civilians after their royal status is stripped for mining mithril against King Durin III’s orders. Meanwhile, Elrond realises that, like Galadriel, he too is stubborn but in a different way. Círdan, one of the most noble and prominent Sindar, gradually makes him consider the possibility that the Rings could be used for good, with their power depending on the intentions of those who wield them. Simultaneously, Halbrand starts playing mind games with Celebrimbor, fueling feelings of being sidelined by the High King and Galadriel. Gaining his trust, Sauron suggests forging Rings for Men. Initially hesitant, Celebrimbor succumbs to Halbrand’s influence, as he appears in disguise as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts, convincing him that making more Rings would elevate him beyond being just the scion of Fëanor and eventually make him The Lord of the Rings.
However, Jason Cahill’s writing in episode two is so weak that none of these scenes are impactful or memorable. Largely filled with dull moments, a few instances of drama and a chilling dream sequence involving Celebrimbor, the episode falls flat until the very end, except for the moment when Sauron/Annatar joins forces with Celebrimbor.
The third episode brings us back to Númenor as trouble brews there too. Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) continues to lose the people’s trust, while Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) seizes the opportunity to gain influence and Elendil (Lloyd Owen) remains torn over the ‘loss’ of his son Isildur (Maxim Baldry).
The decision to kill off Bronwyn, a character who received significant build-up in Season 1, due to Nazanin Boniadi’s break from acting, feels amateurish. The entire sequence resembles a soap opera, especially when it’s revealed that the fully bandaged corpse on the wooden pyre is Bronwyn.
Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor in The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2. (Image: TLOTR on Prime)
While the first three episodes feature impressive visuals with colour palettes that enhance the mood, landscapes and emotions of the characters, thanks to Brändström, co-director Louise Hooper and the directors of photography, The Rings of Power struggles to smoothly transition between various storylines. When The Rings of Power focuses on a particular plotline, it remains there until it reaches at least a halfway point, which disrupts the overall experience since related storylines are widely separated. For example, although the second episode ends on a cliffhanger involving Nori and Poppy, there’s no further update on this in the third episode.
Another shortcoming of the first three episodes is the weak dialogues, which fail to emotionally engage viewers or make them empathise with the characters. Even during scenes where emotional exchanges occur between two characters, the dialogue lacks depth, preventing the audience from connecting with them. The only exception is Elrond’s response, “But are you?” to Galadriel’s claim that the rings are free of Sauron’s influence.
Benjamin Walker as elves’ High King Gil-galad in The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2. (Image: TLOTR on Prime)
The first three episodes also repeatedly fail to adequately explain why certain characters come to particular assumptions, leading to plotholes. For instance, how did Galadriel deduce that Elrond must have gone to Círdan? Why did the High King start trusting Galadriel again after her significant oversight? Also, why is no one else noticing that Annatar appears too suspicious?
The action sequences, though only a few, are exceptionally choreographed, much like in the first season. Bear McCreary’s music is inspiring at some points but fails to enhance the show in others. Charles Edwards is already outstanding as Celebrimbor, as is Walker. Vickers continues to excel as Sauron and Robinson and Gravelle shine in every scene they are in. While Clark’s portrayal of Galadriel is mostly captivating, there are moments when her attempts to convey emotion while maintaining a stoic demeanour don’t quite work.
With The Rings of Power still needing to address the cliffhanger in episode two and the rising tensions in episode three, especially those fuelled by Pharazôn in Númenor, it remains to be seen if the upcoming episodes will be able to overcome these flaws and compensate for the shortcomings of the first three episodes.
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