The review is by Magda Walma, a journalist at Gazeta.pl.
The first season of "The Rings of Power" was not only bad, but also wooden and stupid. Amazon forcefully tried to play on the nostalgia of fans of the film adaptations, repeating lines and scenes from Jackson's trilogy. It was an unapologetic, brazen tactic, a frontal assault not only within the series itself but also in its promotion and the legend they were trying to build. "The Rings of Power" was forcibly stitched together with Tolkien and Peter Jackson's films, but the threads were far too thick. After the first season, it was clear that they hadn't won over the very audience they were counting on the most - the fans of the books.
However, money had been invested, contracts signed, and commitments made. Against viewer expectations, Amazon Prime Video continued its own battle for Middle-earth. The results of that battle will be available to watch on Thursday when the first three episodes of the second season drop on the platform. The promotion of this season began relatively late - before the first season, they were rallying fans almost a year in advance. This time, they held back from revealing anything until the last moment, and that was a good move, as it’s hard to manage the intense dislike Tolkien fans have towards Amazon’s series on social media. However, if the criticism of the first season was well-deserved, I find myself in the odd position of recommending that you hold off on criticizing the second until you’ve seen it through. Take your time to analyze what you’ve watched on screen. Without revealing any major plot twists, I can hint at what you can expect and what improvements have been made since 2022. You can genuinely enjoy the second season of "The Rings of Power" if you approach it with the right mindset.
"The Rings of Power" is not Tolkien
First and foremost - despite the advertising slogans, this series has nothing to do with what Tolkien wrote, but somehow, in the second season, they managed to sneak in a bit more of his spirit. If you sit down to watch with that understanding, accepting that the Elrond of the show is not THE Elrond from the books, and Galadriel shares only a name with Tolkien’s Galadriel, you’ll be fine. I remind fans of the film adaptations that Peter Jackson also committed some egregious distortions of the original books (justice for Glorfindel, we demand justice for Glorfindel!), yet his films are still considered near-perfect adaptations (but not "The Hobbit," obviously).
In Amazon’s series, we have familiar storylines and characters, but they are arranged rather loosely. The timelines don’t match up, and the order of events doesn’t align with the books. Characters perform actions that were assigned to others. This mix-up sometimes makes sense, but in "The Rings of Power," it’s often the result of specific decisions made during the first season, rather than any deeper logic in the story. Since the first season said "A" - for example, by having the elves create the first three rings - they had to continue some storylines in the second season and say "B," justifying Sauron’s interest in the Rings of Power in a different way. Tolkien resolved this differently, but the show’s writers thought they knew better. For the most part, they managed to tie things together, but the parts where they tampered with Tolkien’s story are the ones that suffered the most.
Under this framework, the show still falters at times in the second season, but not everything they made up is bad. In fact, many of the fully invented storylines, loosely based on Tolkien’s events, work surprisingly well. The show does best when it doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. When it clearly uses a few Tolkien-inspired anchors (such as the concept of the magical rings) and creatively builds its own consistent content around them, it shines.
"The Rings of Power" is fan fiction - sometimes decent...
This approach led to the creation of the Dwarven storyline, which is absolutely fantastic and the best in the entire series. They fully expanded on the previously unmentioned relationship between King Durin and his son, added the entirely made-up character Disa (just because she shares the same name as the only Dwarven woman mentioned by Tolkien doesn’t mean she’s the same), threw in some simplified issues in Khazad-dûm, and ended up with a gem. I eagerly awaited the Dwarven storyline with each new episode, and discovering it was a joy, with the finale being truly moving.
The fall of Eregion was also well-executed. Charlie Vickers takes on a new, noble form as Sauron, and with each episode, the fear he spreads becomes more palpable. He doesn’t need to do much - a slight raise of an eyebrow or a discreet smile from the actor is enough. His performance is intricate, akin to the precision with which the rings of Eregion are forged. While Galadriel’s motivations in the first season were inconsistent and unconvincing, the motivations of Sauron and Celebrimbor here are crystal clear. This dynamic is much better executed - a tug of war between two ambitions, where the supernatural one must inevitably win. Sauron’s manipulations are subtle, more about sowing doubt than direct violence. Eventually, violence does come into play, and Vickers handles it just as well as Charles Edwards does in his portrayal of Celebrimbor. Torn between his heart, ambition, and duty, Celebrimbor walks a fine line, and Sauron’s nudges don’t help. His struggle against temptation is far more compelling than Galadriel’s struggle against Sauron throughout the first season.
In a creative and respectful way, the show portrays the powers of some of the Rings of Power. Tolkien didn’t write much about them - just that they were magical items that allowed their wearers to glimpse the future, read hidden thoughts, and perform other, less visually spectacular feats. The most well-known ring is Galadriel’s, but the writers missed an opportunity to tell a more detailed story about the others, only hinting at the doubts surrounding their use. However, they succeeded in portraying the Dwarven ring, which becomes a central element of the narrative surrounding Khazad-dûm.
Adar, the completely fictional character who was mistaken for Sauron in the first season, is also quite compelling. His schemes gain momentum after causing the volcanic eruption in Mordor. Often, the actions of villains are more engaging than the righteous efforts of heroes, and this is true here. Adar’s mere existence adds shades of gray to Tolkien’s otherwise dualistic world. He’s a fresh element that was shaped freely, though not as successfully as the elf Arondir. The second season has a stronger "evil" side than the "good," and this is a change for the better.
... and sometimes just plain bad
The final major storyline involves the power struggle in Númenor. The factions we know from Tolkien’s prose are clearly defined here, though some things have been changed. Is it for the better? It’s hard to improve on perfection, and "The Rings of Power" stubbornly tries to prove that "their version is better." The Númenor storyline may not have gained much from the changes, but it hasn’t suffered too badly either -behind-the-scenes conflicts, political maneuvers, and power plays keep the tension high and deliver a decent dose of plot twists. Would I have preferred if the events followed Tolkien’s version? Absolutely. The changes here didn’t add any moral depth to the characters - they could have gained it just as well if the events had been left as Tolkien wrote them. But we get what we get, and if future seasons stick somewhat closely to Tolkien’s timeline of events in Middle-earth, Númenor will become a major player.
The Harfoot proto-Hobbit storyline was widely considered weak in the first season. The wandering Hobbits, with brutal consistency, ignored their motto, "Nobody walks alone and nobody is left behind," leaving the injured and slow behind without a second thought. Thankfully, this cruel tribe was dropped in favor of focusing on its two most likable members who accompany The Stranger. We will learn his identity and why the wandering Hobbits are the way they are. Their storyline neither excites nor offends; it’s a classic filler that doesn’t move the main plot forward. This is also problematic because, until "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings," the Hobbit race skims the margins of Middle-earth’s history, much like Rhûn and the entire eastern region where The Stranger is heading. How these storylines will connect with the events happening far to the west in future seasons is beyond me, and worse, I suspect the writers don’t know either. The Hobbits and their mysterious friend seem to exist solely to stir sentiment and create emotional ties between Peter Jackson’s adaptation and the series.
Out of mercy, I’ll gloss over the absurdity of Arondir, the elf whose motivation shifts between revenge, a need to care for others, then revenge again, followed by a vague something or other, all conveyed with the one facial expression Ismael Cruz Cordova seems capable of. His elf has the rare ability to teleport, "jumping" on foot across hundreds of miles. Unfortunately for the writers, Tolkien fans have a decent sense of Middle-earth’s map and know where each region is. Arondir’s storyline clearly underwent major changes, prompted by the departure of the actress playing the love of his life. It shows, as Arondir, instead of staying rooted in one place like Isildur, roams the map only to end up somewhere where his presence is entirely unnecessary. At least Isildur was kept in one spot without risky experiments. The future king of Gondor is slowly building his character, and we’re getting to know him in a way that will help explain why, many years later, he claims Sauron’s One Ring.
The passage of time is poorly conveyed. In some episodes, events drag on unbearably, only to suddenly speed up, breaking the sense of continuity. How long did the forging of the rings take? According to the series, it was a few weeks, but that’s not enough time for all the events shown on screen to occur. This inconsistency is glaring once you notice it - and you’ll notice it quite quickly.
The way some characters pronounce names is also irritating. I understand that Tolkien’s names were meant to have strong, rolling R’s, not the mushy American version. But dragging that sound to the point of absurdity becomes purely comical. ElRRRRond. ERRRRegion. CelebRRRRimboRRRR. No, no, no. At this point, I’d prefer a Texan Tom Bombadil, just waiting to throw a "howdy!" at The Stranger.
And no, Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband, still hasn’t appeared. I fear that Celeborn won’t show up in "The Rings of Power" at all, which will once again severely undermine key storylines in Middle-earth’s history. Worse still, scenes from the final episodes suggest that someone in production has lost their mind even more than with some other plot twists, as Celeborn was briefly replaced by someone else entirely... Tolkien fans, brace yourselves, because the scene is unnecessary, bad, and absurd, disrupting everything Tolkien created in the genealogies.
There are things in "The Rings of Power" that offer hope, and some that are absolutely wonderful
For the first three episodes, they were still trying to play on Peter Jackson fans’ nostalgia - reusing the same shots and having characters speak the same lines. But from the fourth episode on, they finally realized it was enough. This was the best decision they could have made because, at last, Tolkien fans can watch the show in peace, without getting frustrated that yet another sentimental piece will be shoved down their throats to remind them that "The Rings" is trying to pass itself off as an adaptation of the books, while Jackson’s trilogy is supposedly its continuation. Finally, they understood that no matter how many times we hear a familiar line, we’re not going to look on the series more favorably. Make something original and fresh, instead of feeding off someone else’s work! From the fourth episode onwards, this leeching essentially stops, which is a rare example of fan complaints being listened to. This gives hope that as the seasons progress, the producers will take more feedback into account, making the show a little better.
The second season of "The Rings of Power" again holds an invaluable asset—its visual elements. The production is visually stunning, with special effects, costumes, environments, and set pieces that are simply breathtaking. Compared to "House of the Dragon," "The Rings" is a rich cousin in every respect. Everything has been crafted with such extraordinary detail that you can pause at any frame to admire what’s happening in the background. Even the clever use of dark lighting to hide potential flaws doesn’t detract from the overall experience. The producers boasted that most of the interiors were built from scratch, and it shows. Whether it’s Círdan’s shipyard, Celebrimbor’s forge, or Bombadil’s cottage, all the locations feel tangible and real. As a fan of Amazon’s dwarves, I’ll add that the simple gilding of their fingers was a wonderfully clever touch that subtly hinted at their craftsmanship and wealth. These small details can signal to Tolkien fans that not every element from the books has been desecrated, and that there were people on set who poured their hearts into this production, not just a desire for profit.
At the end of "The Rings," viewers are also treated to the first full-scale battle, complete with siege engines and cavalry. Even in the rough cut we were given, which will undergo final edits before the broadcast, it looked very impressive - while not on the scale of the Battle of Pelennor Fields, it came close to the Siege of Helm’s Deep.
In the first season, Bear McCreary’s music was a strong point, and he never hid his admiration for Howard Shore’s score. He managed to create something original while elegantly tying it to Shore’s music (the show’s opening track is, in fact, composed by Shore). In the second season, there are unfortunately fewer musical gems, but the soundtrack is still very well done for a TV series and fits nicely in the background. McCreary once again used Tolkien’s linguistic touches, having the choir sing not only in Elvish Quenya but also in Dwarvish Khuzdul, the Orcs’ Black Speech, and Númenórean Adûnaic.
In the eight episodes of the second season of "The Rings of Power," I found an astonishing number of storylines, scenes, and moments where Tolkien’s spirit could be felt. Of course, the quality of the special effects is largely due to the hefty budget, but not everything can be bought with money. While frustration with the creators dominated the first season, this time around, my anger was replaced with curiosity. Not every storyline was captivating (I’m not writing about Galadriel here for a reason - she’s just as painfully wooden as before), and not every element was necessary (the proto-Hobbits). However, some finally became engaging (Sauron’s schemes), while others surprised me with their freshness and respect for the original (Tom Bombadil is a star!).
For those who remain unconvinced, I won’t try to change your mind - this show will only give you a headache and raise your blood pressure. I’ll simply say it outright: yes, Amazon Prime Video significantly altered what J.R.R. Tolkien wrote years ago. The events, locations, and characters don’t match. For many of you, that will be reason enough to ignore "The Rings of Power" entirely, to treat it as a non-existent product and a disgusting cash grab - and you’d be right.
But if you have even a little tolerance for made-up stories set in a world you’ve loved since childhood, these eight episodes are far more enjoyable than the earlier ones. I’m not suggesting you grit your teeth and force yourself to watch it, because that will only make you more frustrated. I’m encouraging you to form your own opinion and check out how Sauron manipulates Celebrimbor and what’s happening in Khazad-dûm - scenes that are reduced to just a few lines in the books, but here, the story is spread over several episodes. This is easily more than half of the entire plot. Yes, there will be moments where you’ll grit your teeth - there’s no denying that. I found a personal coping method for those moments ("this didn’t happen"), which worked for me. In an ideal world, such moments wouldn’t exist in the series at all, but this is what we have right now - it’s currently the only fresh interpretation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work. The next one, "War of the Rohirrim," won’t be out until December.
