Nearly 20 years have passed since the Lord of the Rings movies introduced the audience to a magical adventure. Since then, a lot has changed. Such movies may now be produced totally on a green screen, and experiencing a show in a theatre no longer holds the same appeal. The Rings of Power, an Amazon web series based on the Lord of the Rings, is the ideal response in a time when everyone appears to be wondering if theatres will survive. For this review, the first two episodes of the show were made available. Let’s just say that witnessing a big-screen spectacle on your humble home screens does not let you down in the least.
The Rings of Power was expected to be the streaming company’s response to HBO’s Game of Thrones, which ultimately became the most watched show in history when it was first announced, so it was only natural that a comparison would be made. The show’s enormous scope serves as the most prominent point of comparison and has now established itself as a standard in this television genre. Watch it on the largest screen you have instead of on your phone since it’s amazing to see the dwarves’ cave cities, “Khazad-dûm,” and the endless sensation of the Sundering Seas. Given how much time, energy, and money went into creating this environment, casual observers can feel like they are missing out on a lot of it.
For those who don’t know what the Second Age is, it is important to realize that The Rings of Power takes place thousands of years before the events of the original trilogy. Key figures in this story include Galadriel and Elrond, who had prominent roles in the movies. The plot of the show takes place in several different areas, and it does an excellent job of establishing the key characters, their primary concerns, and the major challenge they are up against. However, like most of the LOTR content, its use of jargon can become a little overpowering. The Rings of Power makes an effort to teach you brief lessons as it introduces the many realms because it recognizes that not everyone may be familiar with the source material.
The plot is as simple as it can be, jargon and all. The threat posed by the enemy “Sauron” is hanging over the people, but Cate Blanchett’s Galadriel, based on Morfydd Clark, has vowed to end it. The conflict between the various animals inhabiting Middle-earth has not yet broken out, and the rings that sparked the never-ending battles in the first three books have not yet been constructed. The tranquility won’t last forever, though.
The Rings of Power offers each of its worlds a unique identity. The dwarves are aware of their abilities, while the humans are unaware of theirs. The Harfoots are the lowly dwellers of the earth, while the elves are the heroes with a slight superiority complex. The majority of characters are introduced in couples, which offers them the opportunity to experiment with humor, love, and pathos.
For the first two episodes, the cast kept growing, and it seems that more people will still enter this universe. The performances are excellent, but as is common in these plays, the focus eventually shifts to the chemistry between a couple after one becomes emotionally invested in their relationship. As of now, Arondir and Bronwyn, played by Ismael Cruz Cordova and Nazanin Boniadi, are dominating that game.
The Rings of Power is aware that a sizable portion of its audience consists of devoted followers who are familiar with the LOTR novels’ appendices, which serve as the show’s origin. This section of the audience has watched every film multiple times and can give you a lesson or two in Elvish. The GoT franchise is now directly competing with it, therefore it has to be seen if they can convince the rest of the world to watch. Additionally, the stakes are high.
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