The Rings of Power returns with bold visuals, okay drama (Episodes 201-203 review)

As a longtime fan of Tolkien’s epic tales, I must say that this week’s episode was a delightful mix of action, drama, and intrigue. The meet-cute between Formid and his potential love interest was reminiscent of the charming encounters in Middle-earth lore, and I found myself rooting for them just as I did for Frodo and Sam.

Get ready for the arrival of the second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power“! The initial three episodes have been simultaneously released on Amazon Prime Video. Is it worth giving a watch? Are they an upgrade from the first season? Was the $500 million investment wisely spent? Let’s delve into the details below to find out:

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 201 review

The season 2 premiere begins with a flashback. Morgoth, the dark lord of all evil familiar to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, has fallen. Sauron, his chief lieutenant, is attempting to consolidate his new position as the leader of Morgoth’s orcish armies, but he is betrayed by the corrupted elf Adar, who stabs him in the back with the crown that would have made him king. The orcs tear Sauron apart, but he turns into a gloopy gloop and gloops away to parts unknown, slowly rebuilding himself into the man we know as Halbrand.

In the second season of The Rings of Power, it seems they are delving deeper into the villainous characters, particularly focusing on Sauron in this episode. I found the extended opening scene particularly captivating. Although the character Adar has no basis in Tolkien’s original lore and is a creation of the show, the dramatic twist of seemingly honoring someone only to betray them brutally was intriguing. It offered a fresh perspective on Sauron, yet he remains the antagonist. He is subtly regaining trust from Adar under the guise of Halbrand, manipulating fearsome warg dogs with magic, and even making them attack those who mistreat him. His actions are captivating, and now he’s partnered with Celebrimbor, poised to forge rings and corrupt all of Middle-earth. I found this season much more engaging compared to the first, where we had suspicions about Halbrand being Sauron but lacked confirmation. Now, it appears that the truth has been revealed, making the storyline more compelling.

The original plot involving Halbrand has led the show into a tricky situation, as it seems they’ll return to familiar territory this season by introducing a more appealing disguise for Sauron, who will aid Celebrimbor in crafting the Rings of Power. However, this development raises the question of why those close to Celebrimbor are unaware of Sauron’s true identity. Galadriel’s hesitance to acknowledge her deception by Sauron in the first season struck me as rather far-fetched, given the close-knit nature of elves in The Silmarillion. However, for the sake of dramatic tension, it appears that the show will choose to overlook this inconsistency.

As a gamer, I’m willing to overlook the plot conveniences if it means Sauron keeps being an intriguingly wicked character. And let me tell you, even when he was just a gooey mess, I found myself rooting for more of that oozing Sauron!

In this particular installment, we primarily delve into a handful of plotlines: Sauron’s machinations, the elves pondering their course of action regarding the three rings of elven power, and the Stranger’s adventure through Rhûn alongside Nori the harfoot. However, it seems that no human characters are present in this episode, leaving me wondering if there’s any representation for humanity at all!

As a gamer, I found the interactions between the Stranger and Nori in this episode engaging, even though it remains unclear what they’re searching for since they seem equally clueless. The scenery is beautiful, and their dynamics are entertaining. This installment also brings back Poppy, Nori’s friend from the harfoot caravan, who opted to travel with her companions instead of staying put. That’s an interesting twist, but I can’t help but question why the show decided to split up the trio in the season finale if Poppy was going to rejoin them so soon afterward.

Concerning the Elves, I found Elrond’s intense reaction about the fate of the three Elven rings somewhat over-the-top, given that nothing ultimately came of it. He plunges down a waterfall while holding the rings and seeks out the ancient elf Círdan (an elf so old he sports a beard). Círdan initially decides to dispose of the rings rather than risk their corruption—though they weren’t forged by Sauron, his wisdom helped Celebrimbor crack the code, making them questionable—but changes his mind upon…well, I’m not sure why exactly, but perhaps he grew fond of them? Then, Gil-galad, Galadriel, and Círdan put on the rings, causing trees to blossom, light to filter through a nearby skylight, and elves who were withering to regain their full vitality.

This is essentially the purpose of the Elven rings in The Silmarillion — to hold off decay and preserve the vitality of times past — but I wish the show found a way to depict their importance that wasn’t so bluntly literal. AND (this is the last whiny book-reader complaint of the review, I swear), it’s weird that the show switched the order of events so that the Elven rings were made first rather than last. In the book, Celebrimbor was only ready to make the Elven rings after working on the others with Sauron, using the knowledge he’d obtained but not exposing the process directly to Sauron’s corrupting influence. The Elven rings are supposed to be the pinnacle of his craft, all the rest merely first drafts. Now it’s going in reverse and it’s awkward.

To put it another way, it’s clear that this series doesn’t prioritize sticking to Tolkien’s original stories too closely. So, while I acknowledge some discrepancies, they aren’t really worth dwelling on. I did enjoy watching the episode, found it visually appealing, and yes, I wished for something more intellectually stimulating. However, let us not be overly critical of entertainment that offers nothing more than expensive, dumb fun, lest we lose our capacity to appreciate its charm and enjoyment. This could be a sentiment Gandalf might express, minus the explicit language.

Episode Grade: C+

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 202 review

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion,” it is revealed that the character Sauron masquerades under the divine identity of Annatar, assisting the elf-smith Celebrimbor in crafting the Rings of Power. I was expecting Annatar to be introduced in the upcoming season of the show, but I was unsure about how they would manage this considering that, within this narrative framework, Sauron had already assumed a different disguise and been exposed.

This episode features the debut of Annatar, a character that largely succeeds, despite some moments that seem contrived or poorly timed, such as Galadriel’s reluctance to share crucial details about Sauron’s deception immediately after it occurred. An “idiot plot” is a term used to describe a storyline driven solely by the idiocy of its characters, and there are hints of this in The Rings of Power. However, I’d like to concentrate on the aspects I appreciated, and one of those was Annatar’s revelation to Celebrimbor. The scene was dramatic, exuding an excessive golden grandeur that bordered on the extravagant, reminiscent of Biblical opulence. Sauron is a being known for his ability to mesmerize lesser beings with his beauty, and this scene delivered on that aspect. Additionally, Celebrimbor’s eagerness to be seen as capable and influential makes him an ideal target for a manipulator like Sauron.

In another part of the elven tale, gears are gradually moving. High King Gil-galad instructs Elrond to visit Eregion, specifically Celebrimbor. Galadriel plans to accompany him, which might lead to an encounter with Annatar or Sauron feigning illness to avoid meeting them. There’s a hint of tension between Galadriel and Elrond; she urges trust, while he remains wary due to her past association with one of Middle-earth’s most malevolent beings. Círdan, unexpectedly seen shaving (I always thought Círdan was known for his long beard), encourages Elrond to rely on their friendship. Given Círdan’s recent flip-flopping on the matter of the rings, it’s challenging to predict this group’s intentions.

This week, we’re tracking the Stranger and the Harfeet as they venture further into the barren lands of Rhûn, pursued by an enigmatic figure portrayed by ‘Game of Thrones’ alum Ciarán Hinds. His character seems to possess magical abilities, leaving me puzzled about his identity in the context of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Could he be Saruman before his redemption and subsequent fall? Is the Stranger actually Gandalf? Or could these two characters be Alatar and Pallando, wizards mentioned by Tolkien but not extensively detailed in his books? I’m growing weary of making educated guesses. The dialogue between the Stranger and Harfeet is entertaining, but let’s hope the series doesn’t stretch out the journey throughout the entire season.

In the latest turn of events, the enigmatic wizard arrives with minions, searching for the Stranger and the Harfoots. The Stranger attempts to fend off this new adversary by summoning a massive whirlwind, but unfortunately loses grip on it, causing Poppy and Nori to be swept away. We’ll find out what happens next time!

Lastly, we make our way to Khazad-dûm for the first visit of this season, hoping to catch up with the dwarves. Unfortunately, a portion of the mountain wall collapses and seals off the city’s sun shafts, making it impossible for them to cultivate crops. Although I suspect this event will be connected to the larger narrative at some point, my primary enthusiasm was seeing Durin IV and his wife Disa, who were delightful characters in the first season of The Rings of Power. Unlike their roles in saving a civilization or hunting for mysterious celestial patterns, they are now portrayed as a loving couple with family issues. Durin IV is dealing with strained relationships with his father and work-related struggles, while Disa is juggling the antics of their mischievous children who refuse to attend dinner.

Among all the complex storylines in this series, what captivates me the most is the ordinary feel of these characters. Specifically, I’m keen to find out if Durin IV can reconcile with his father, King Durin III, who disowned him at the end of season 1. Both are eager to apologize but their pride stands in the way, with Disa serving as the intermediary. Compared to the epic scope of The Rings of Power, this is a relatively straightforward family conflict, and I appreciate its simplicity.

However, there are still six episodes left for us to watch, so let’s avoid rushing things. Since they released the first three episodes at once, we can jump right into the next one without delay.

Episode Grade: B-

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 203 review

In the third episode of season 2, we find ourselves rejoining Isildur and his fellow Númenóreans, which brings back memories of why their storylines in season 1 left me feeling somewhat uninterested. The series, The Rings of Power , like Game of Thrones previously, juggles multiple stories with various characters simultaneously. However, not all these tales are equally engaging. The dwarves consistently keep things lively, while the elven storylines can be unpredictable, and so far, I’ve found little that excites me about the Númenóreans’ exploits.

But they get a lot of attention in this episode, so let’s get into it. After being left in Middle-earth after last season’s big battle, Isildur has to fight his way out of a tight spot to stay alive, with the help of his loyal horse, who is the best horse and I hope nothing ever happens to him. He battles past a pack of deadly giant spiders, with Shelob showing up for a second pretty much for fan service. Then he puts together his D&D party, meeting a scrappy newcomer named Estrid who is absolutely destined to become his love interest — I liked their first stabby encounter but it has all the markings of a Middle-earth meet cute — and then coming across Arondir, the Sindarin elf we got to know in season 1.

In a thrilling action sequence, Arondir rescues Lsildur and Estrid from a group of robbers on the road, later reuniting them with his fellow Southlanders. However, tragically, Bronwyn, Arondir’s love interest from the previous season, has passed away, portrayed by actress Nazanin Boniadi who is no longer part of the show. The series makes a bold move by having Bronwyn die off-screen instead of recasting her role. This leaves an intriguing dynamic between Arondir and Bronwyn’s son, Theo, as they find themselves in the unique roles of almost step-father and step-son, respectively elf and human. The series may explore various awkward situations that might arise from this complex relationship.

Currently, Theo is in her rebellious teenage phase, preferring to distance herself from Arondir. Instead, she seems attracted to Isildur, who recently had a deep conversation about remorse with Estrid that I found challenging to engage with. Additionally, I was somewhat confused during the scene where Isildur and Theo collaborated to recover Isildur’s horse from a group of brigands – it wasn’t clear who these individuals were or why Isildur and Theo chose to confront them without backup. This plot seemed to shift direction abruptly. Finally, the episode concludes with an action sequence involving the entire group being assaulted by what appears to be Ents, or possibly Entwives – we’ll learn more about this in the next episode, I presume.

While in Númenór itself, Queen Regent Tar-Míriel, now blinded following her skirmish in Middle-earth, was set to be crowned queen officially…at least that’s the plan. However, many of her people are displeased due to the defeat of the Númenórean army in Middle-earth, and they favor Ar-Pharazôn over Tar-Míriel, particularly when an eagle from Manwë appears. Ar-Pharazôn’s supporters view this as a sign that he should be king, although it could just as easily be seen as a show of support for Míriel. People tend to interpret things in the way they want to, I suppose.

I dunno, the Númenór sections feel a bit like marking time to me. Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen them in a few episodes and I wanted to be eased back in, or maybe it’s because I’m familiar with Tolkien’s original story and the whole journey to Middle-earth last season was added in and felt like padding. I feel similarly about Adar. Sam Hazeldine does a fine job playing the evil elf character, but whenever he’s onscreen I can’t help asking myself the question: why does Sauron need a rival? Isn’t he villain enough for this show?

That said, I did enjoy the sections with Sauron, now using the name Annatar, and Celebrimbor, who together are making the rings of power. Sauron is supposed to be a great manipulator, and I liked how neatly he played on Celebrimbor’s pride. Sauron has a harder time convincing Durin, who arrives in Eregion with Disa to hear about the rings of power: perhaps they could help with the problems the dwarves are having in Khazad-dûm?

In a straightforward and engaging manner: Durin and Disa are charming onscreen as they portray an ordinary couple who express genuine affection towards each other despite their arguments. They banter, quarrel, then reconcile, making them characters that viewers can easily identify with – something rather uncommon among the show’s other personalities. The most poignant moment of the episode occurs when Durin reconciles with his father after a season 1 misunderstanding, resulting in heart-wrenching family drama, albeit with a touch of magical flair.

It seems clear that matters will become intricate with the dwarves taking possession of rings endowed with power. However, for the full account, you’ll have to wait until next week.

Episode Grade: B-

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2024-08-29 10:42