Rating: 4/5
Taking place in John Ronald Reuel (J.R.R.) Tolkien’s fantasy world, Amazon Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” provides nostalgia to fans of Tolkien’s work and newcomers a deep dive into the world of Middle Earth.
The series follows three story lines that all connect back to one overarching story. The main story is about an Elvish commander, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), hunting down the evil necromancer Sauron (Charlie Vickers) to avenge her brother who died at Sauron’s hands. The series does an excellent job of building the story lines, allowing viewers to establish a connection with each character.
An example is Nori (Markella Kavenagh), a member of the forest dwelling Harfoots who is restricted in her exploration of the world by her own people. The story makes it a point to show the Harfoot’s lifestyle and culture and thus provides reasons for why exploration is restricted. Although these scenes had little action, these little details allowed me to get invested even in the Harfoots’ storyline.
There are also many familiar names mentioned in the series, although they do have different faces. For example, in the original “Lord of the Rings” books and “The Hobbit,” Galadriel is not given as much of a role as compared to “Rings of Power.” Fans of previous adaptations of “Lord of the Rings” will enjoy seeing a familiar character with a new story.
The creative shots also play a role in building the world of Middle Earth. The bright, vivid homes of the Harfoots show how they are cheerful and peaceful people. This setting contrasts with the dark and gloomy Southlands, which is where the orcs, a race that resides in darkness, have taken residence.
The contrasts between the icy mountains, the cities on water, and the dusty Southlands shows how big the world “Rings of Power” is set in really is, solidifying the show’s excellent worldbuilding.
The episodes themselves switch between the different story lines multiple times, each time providing information that corresponds to another storyline. Transitions are seamless, so viewers are immersed in the story. The season finale features a big twist that left me in need of answers. While the twist is cliche in essence, it still begs the question of how the enemy was hiding in plain sight and left me waiting for season two.
Although the series does deal with aspects of comedy, it focuses more on themes of racism and the pain of grief. The themes of racism are evident when Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) falls in love with a member of the hated elven race, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), and becomes the subject of many rumors.
The theme of grief is seen through the eyes of almost all the characters, as they have gone through multiple events of great loss and hardship. Galadriel, whose main motivation in moving forward is the grief over losing her brother. However, the show often repeats that Galadriel’s brother is dead which causes the theme of grief to lose some of its meaning.
Viewers that are familiar with Tolkien’s works should definitely watch “Rings of Power” as it gives a sense of nostalgia, and allows the audience to re immerse itself in what some may consider “peak fiction.” For those unfamiliar with Tolkien’s works, “Rings of Power” provides a plot that will keep you invested, and coupled with incredible cinematography, allows for an enjoyable experience.