One Show to Rule Them All
If you enjoy fantasy, are a fan of JRR Tolkien’s work, or have an amazon prime subscription, you might have been curious about the show Rings of Power. It recently came out with its second season, regardless of some negative reviews from the first season.
The show goes back to tell the origins of the main movies, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It focuses on the fictional world of Middle Earth with a mix of different life from elves to dwarfs to men. The story often shifts between different perspectives as well, one of the elves and their peoples sudden endangerment, one of the dwarfs and their struggles with their kingdom and its king, and one of the hobbits and their adjustment to a stranger in their colony.
Fans suggested the show wasn’t following the books closely enough, so it wasn’t as enjoyable for some. While I have not read the books myself, I do think the shows first and second season did a really good job at capturing the essence of the movies and media surrounding Tolkien’s work. I enjoyed season two’s way of carrying on a complex story, while also bringing the characters back and having them go through changes in a way that wasn’t distracting to the story.
Visually, the appearances from costumes to scenery all looked really high quality and transported the viewer into that world. Most of the acting and dialogue was enjoyable as well, even though some parts tended to feel off or out of character. I really enjoyed seeing different versions of characters I know and the explanation of how they got to where they are in the movies. I would say this show caters to fantasy loving viewers who might be looking for an introduction to Tolkien’s work, and would give it a 3.8 out of 5.
