The Rings of Power Season 2’s first three episodes have just been released. As someone who enjoyed the first season more than I care to admit I was extremely excited to see how this season turns out. So, now I have watched the episodes, and I have many thoughts that I would like to share in this review. However, my dear reader, before you proceed to read, you might find a lot of spoilers for the show here, so this is your mandatory SPOILER ALERT!!! Let’s get started.
The first episode starts with a prologue set at the beginning of the Second Age–centered around the attempted killing of Sauron–already indicating that this will be the master manipulator’s season. Throughout the episode, he is shown deceiving and preying beings, showcasing his true nature. A certain sort of atmosphere is meticulously constructed for his storyline, which gets more palpable when he assumes the form of Annatar.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 manages to capture the beauty of Middle-Earth as expertly as Peter Jackson previously did. Bear McCreary’s soundtrack makes him a perfect successor to the legendary Howard Shore. The narrative moves swiftly this time. Chaos ensues in Khazad-dûm as dwarves dwelling there lose the light and stone-singers become unable to sing to the rocks. Coincidentally, they are promised rings that will bring them back to their glory, however, in return for some Mithril–setting up their plotline for the entire season. Disa (Sophia Nomvete) immediately accedes but it is Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) who is suspicious of their well-wishers. Durin IV’s relationship with his father Durin III (Peter Mullan) was the highlight of the last season. In this one as well, their character dynamics are brilliantly sketched. The dialogue exchange between them is pure Tolkienian. The first season ended with the making of the three Elven rings.
Although said rings were created out of order–in retrospect–I believe this alteration works for the show. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) deduce the rings have enhanced their power of foresight. Galadriel’s psyche is explored. She is recovering from Sauron’s invasion of her mind; wanting to eliminate the evil while constantly fighting a battle of her own. This offers an interesting character arc to her. Her portrayal is incessantly chastised by lore-purists and while I understand where they are coming from, I think it is better to have a character who grows and matures as an individual, rather than a static one who stays the same. We are introduced to a significant character Círdan the Shipwright who bears the Ring of Power Narya. Believed to be as old as the elvenkind itself, Círdan–played to perfection by Ben Daniels–imparts his arcane wisdom to Elrond (Robert Aramayo).
My only criticism in regard to his character is that there comes a point wherein he sees the rings and develops adoration for the work of Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards). This sounds great on paper but the execution comes off as clunky, it demands some more profoundness I feel. The writing in general definitely prevents the show from becoming great. While elves in Lindon have prevented their fading and get to stay in Middle-Earth, further west, Númenor is suffering political unrest. Thus, marking the beginning of the downfall of the Island Kingdom. This subplot severely lacks depth and exposition. This is also the reason why condensing the Númenor timeline may not have been a good idea. Seeing how the rift between The King’s men and The Faithful worsened over centuries would’ve allowed viewers a heightened and spellbinding experience. In the show, all of this happens so quickly that it ends up being undercooked and as a result, does not seem convincing enough.
Simultaneously, far on the opposite side of the world, The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) and Nori (Markella Kavenagh) have lost their way while traveling. Out of the blue, the latter’s best friend–who we said farewell to last season–pops up and solves their problem instantly. This doesn’t just fall into the pit of lazy writing but also dilutes the emotional weight the farewell I just mentioned carried. This storyline is also not appealing partly due to being disconnected from the larger narrative.
The redeeming element comes from everything that happens in Eregion. Celebrimbor is reveling in his project’s success; the rings have prevented the dwindling of his people. His relationship with Sauron is what I am most absorbed in. To convince Celebrimbor that he actually is an emissary of the Valar, Sauron takes the form of Annatar. Considering how devoted Tolkien was to Catholicism and his work being largely inspired by the same, it is not surprising that the coming of Annatar is shot in a way that is akin to an angel descending from heaven. Charlie Vickers here displays some incredible acting prowess.
After the transformation, stark changes in his mannerisms can be observed. Changes in the way he carries himself. There is seduction in his voice, lure in his gaze. He is still as sinister and cunning though, as invasive as seaweed, and perfectly knows how to get his way. As an ardent fan of the books, I couldn’t be more excited to see their partnership grow.
Season 2 is an impressive improvement on its predecessor. It is meatier and finally adapts stories from the legendarium. The good pacing ensures viewers that the series is reaching a certain point. Season 1 did a decent job at establishing Second Age Middle-Earth. This one moves the story forward. Although I have some quibbles and qualms, I will be looking forward to the upcoming episodes.
In his late teens, Raunak’s love for cinema belies his years. This young cinephile holds a special place in his heart for the grandeur of Tolkien’s epics and the whimsical charm of La La Land, showcasing a taste that effortlessly spans genres and eras. His passion for film is a testament to his deep appreciation for storytelling, making him a vibrant and insightful voice in the world of cinema.