This review contains full spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’s three-episode season 2 premiere.
It takes three episodes for season 2 of Prime Videos’s fantasy spectacle The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to catch up with all its disparate plots and characters, and that’s a big problem. While the series continues to have some of the highest production values in the history of television, its story is stretched too thin and difficult to navigate.
Concerns with Sauron’s Character Development
Many TV shows present episodes from their primary villain’s perspective as a way of building a sort of twisted sympathy for the characters and allowing viewers to understand their motivations. But this section of The Rings of Power is mostly concerned with tying up loose ends rather than really developing Sauron as a character.
After spending all of Season 1 building up to the reveal of who Sauron is, season 2 starts off making him look like a chump. In a flashback, we seem him make a pitch to the orcs that’s so uninspiring they can’t wait to betray him, forcing Sauron to spend a thousand years rebuilding his body.
Exploring Elven Conflict
Having discovered that the rings meant to allow the elves to remain on Middle-earth were inspired by Sauron, the elves have a debate on what to do with them. Elrond shows the integrity of his convictions by trying his best to persuade everyone that the risk is too great. Their internal conflict and struggle for power adds depth to the narrative.
Compelling Scenes with Celebrimbor
But the most compelling scenes of the premiere belong to Celebrimbor, portrayed beautifully by Charles Edwards. His portrayal of a man doomed by his own brilliance and hubris brings a sense of tragedy to the story, highlighting his strong character development.
Weakest Parts of the Show
Episode 3 heads back to the Southlands and Numenor, which are the weakest parts of the show. Numenor feels like a pale imitation of House of the Dragon with its thin courtly intrigue as Queen Regent Miriel deals with fallout from her disastrous military campaign.
In the Southlands, Adar is preparing to march against Sauron while Isildur is saved first by the best horse ever and later by Arondir. The section in the spider cave is genuinely terrifying, raising some questions about the dangers lurking in Middle-earth.