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“Tolkien expert” weighs in on what is and isn’t working in The Rings of Power

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As a lifelong gamer with a heart full of Middle Earth and a mind steeped in the lore of J.R.R Tolkien, I must say that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is an intriguing, if not slightly flawed, addition to the grand tapestry of Middle Earth.

Nearly wrapping up the second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” produced by Amazon, raises the question: Is the significant investment they made worthwhile in terms of audience engagement and ratings?

As a dedicated gamer, I must admit that the reviews for this game have been divisive. Yet, we all know that ratings don’t always tell the whole story. What truly matters is whether it manages to ignite our passion as fans. Is this the type of experience that will keep us hooked and talking about it non-stop? If it does, then that kind of fervor can be just as valuable as any number on a scale.

In an effort to shed light on these queries, Yahoo Entertainment reached out to William Smith, a self-proclaimed Tolkien expert who oversees the r/LOTR_on_Prime subreddit and hosts the Green Lanterns podcast. Whether being a moderator of a subreddit and host of a podcast qualifies as expertise is subjective; however, it’s undeniable that his deep involvement in these platforms makes him invested in the topic, and I find him reliable as a gauge of the fanbase’s sentiment.

Smith commented on the high expectations surrounding the “Lord of the Rings” brand and how not meeting those expectations in the first season led to some criticism. However, he noted that the second season appears to be receiving more favorable reviews, which he attributes mainly to a better pacing. In the first season, there seemed to be a lot of setup for future action, but viewers were eager for immediate action. According to Smith, the second season has been delivering more of what viewers want – action – which is why it’s generally receiving more positive feedback compared to last season.

The thing about the show that I personally struggle with is just the balancing of storylines. Sometimes you see the Dwarves in an episode and then you go an episode or two without seeing them. Sometimes a story will start really moving along and then I think, ‘Oh man, I can’t wait to get back into that in a week,’ and then they aren’t in the next episode, so I am waiting two weeks or three weeks. I know you have to weave all the plots together, but once a plot really hits its stride, I don’t want it to disappear.

In the style reminiscent of ‘Game of Thrones’, there are multiple storylines unfolding concurrently, occasionally leaving one or more out in an episode. I find this approach acceptable as long as what’s presented on-screen remains engaging. Shows like ‘The Rings of Power’ that span a continent and beyond likely won’t escape such a pattern.

As a gamer speaking, I can’t help but admit that this is hands down the finest representation of Dwarves in any screen adaptation I’ve encountered. They strike a perfect balance between action and dialogue, managing to be stern yet amusing. They can make you chuckle one moment, and bring a tear to your eye the next. And it’s refreshing that they aren’t just there for comic relief, as is often the case in other shows and movies where Dwarves appear. Instead, they hold their own and offer depth to the storyline.

I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment. Dwarves have always been my favorite aspect of this series, even though characters like Sauron and Celebrimbor have offered strong competition this season. Despite being fictional creatures, dwarves seem more relatable than many human characters due to their humor, affection, squabbles, and longing, which makes them very appealing. Here’s to the dwarves!

The Rings of Power vs House of the Dragon

In 2022, Amazon and HBO’s Game of Thrones spin-offs, The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon, respectively, premiered simultaneously. Initially, House of the Dragon seemed to emerge victorious in terms of audience ratings and fan favoritism following their debut. However, the question remains: who triumphed in round 2?

Smith mentioned that he moderates both r/HouseOfTheDragon and another show, but tries not to draw comparisons between them since many people want to. In his opinion, the two series cater to different audiences. House of the Dragon is a show where most characters are despicable, constantly turning on each other and committing heinous acts. On the other hand, The Rings of Power aims to present more joyful moments, adventure, and even adorable scenes. The allure of House of the Dragon lies in the anticipation of something dreadful happening in almost every scene, making it a rather grim series.

To put it simply, I found myself more engaged with “House of the Dragon” compared to “The Rings of Power”. However, my enthusiasm for the “Game of Thrones” prequel waned this year as I felt the story veered too far from the original source material in a way that didn’t always sit well with me. “The Rings of Power”, on the other hand, doesn’t elicit the same level of frustration since my interest is not as intense. Nonetheless, I have been generally enjoying the new season and am eagerly awaiting the finale tomorrow.

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2024-10-02 20:41

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