The Rings of Power season 2 gets 18+ age rating, a first for The Lord of the Rings

The Rings of Power season 2 gets 18+ age rating, a first for The Lord of the Rings

As a long-time fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in its intricate lore, I find it surprising to see the rating change for Amazon’s “The Rings of Power.” The first season was already a thrilling ride, but if the second season is indeed getting an 18+ rating, I can only imagine the intensity that lies ahead.


As a devoted fan, I must say that the thrilling spider encounters, fierce battles, and chilling scenes of severed fingers make “The Lord of the Rings” a real heart-pounding experience. However, despite these intense moments, it’s designed to be a family-friendly epic. This is supported by global age rating boards, like in Canada where not a single Lord of the Rings project – whether movie, TV show, or otherwise – has ever been given a rating higher than 16+.

It appears that the mature rating for the upcoming second season of Amazon’s “Lord of the Rings” prequel series, “The Rings of Power,” has been confirmed by Canada’s ratings board. Similarly, some other countries have applied this rating. However, in the United States, the second season will retain its TV-14 rating, as did the first season.

As a long-time fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and someone who has grown up watching television shows from both Canada and the United States, I have noticed that there seems to be a difference in the amount and intensity of violence portrayed on screens north and south of the border. While I don’t have concrete data to support this observation, my personal experience suggests that Americans may indeed be more accustomed to violence on television than Canadians.

You can watch the first season of The Rings of Power for free on Samsung TV Plus

Amazon is taking numerous steps to encourage people to watch the series “The Rings of Power” when it comes back later this month. One such move is making the first season available for free viewing on Samsung TV Plus, a service that comes built-in with all Samsung TVs and Galaxy devices, starting today and lasting until August 28. This means that nearly 300 million Samsung TV and Galaxy users will have a chance to either start watching or catch up on this popular series while still enjoying the benefits of free access to numerous live television channels and on-demand titles, as stated by Samsung TV Plus executive Salek Brodsky in an interview with Variety.

Amazon has invested significantly in this upcoming series, titled thousands of years before “The Lord of the Rings,” likely because they want a large audience to witness it. If viewers tune in, they’ll spend ample time with Sauron, who is depicted as the future ruler of all Middle-earth but is currently at a weak point. As co-showrunner Alexander Payne explained to GQ, “Sauron begins with no resources, no allies, no army – nothing except for his own wit.” The series will follow Sauron’s journey as he uses cunning, manipulation, coercion, violence, and deceit to ascend as the new Dark Lord of Middle-earth.

The debut season of “The Rings of Power” has divided fans of “Lord of the Rings,” with many, including myself, feeling that the show takes too many liberties with J.R.R. Tolkien’s original lore. However, if the program is strong in its own right, these criticisms might not be as significant…to a certain extent. If the series intends to continue for five seasons, as suggested by co-showrunner Patrick McKay, I hope it achieves its full potential, either by adhering to Tolkien’s mythos or by standing on its own merits.

As a devoted viewer, I can share that quite a bit of season two was penned down before the debut of season one. However, we’ve got our game plan and we’re steadfastly following it. We take in everything, and it’s hard not to be drawn into conversations when people are so passionate about the show. And let me tell you, it sure does feel great when folks appreciate our work. But at the heart of it all, we’re creating a show that resonates with us deeply.

Navigating through online discussions can be tough due to the blunt and sometimes harsh nature of some people’s opinions. To put it mildly, if they don’t appreciate the show, well… it’s always intriguing to hear their feedback. We’ve invested a considerable amount of time into this project, and so did Tolkien. We’re eager to see how it unfolds in its entirety.

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2024-08-15 19:42

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