Released: 1st September 2022 to 14th October 2022
Number of Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime
Created by: J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay
Starring: Morfydd Clark, Lenny Henry, Markella Kavenagh, Robert Aramayo, Benjamin Walker, Nazanin Boniadi, Daniel Weyman, Owain Arthur and Charlie Vickers
Few fantasy adaptations are as revered as The Lord of The Rings. Between 2001 and 2003, Peter Jackson’s trilogy was a masterclass in fantastical imagination, bringing J.R.R Tolkien’s creation to life in stunning fashion. Some two decades later, Amazon is banking big on this property with The Rings Of Power. It had some potential, but the new series doesn’t amount to anything more than a pretty picture.
Taking place in the second age of Middle-Earth, The Rings of Power is a prequel, chronicling the forging of the great rings and the rise of evil forces. Following the defeat of the villainous Morgoth, both Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) are wary of new looming threats in the South. The two elves refuse to leave for the Gray Havens, teaming up with both dwarves and humans to respond to a hidden enemy. The tale is split into four main threads; Galadriel strikes out on her own, enlisting the help of Numenor in battle and Elrond negotiates with the dwarves and their recent discovery of a new mineral. Meanwhile in the southlands, a human settlement comes under attack from a band of orcs and a clan of harfoots stumbles across a mysterious stranger who may have ties to greater events. Things start out with promise, but most audiences will be let down by the result. By far the biggest issue is how very little happens until the sixth episode; The Rings of Power spends far too much time setting up the various factions and any momentum or engagement quickly dissipates. The series commits the most mortal sin of its genre; becoming bland and forgettable. A major battle and the establishment of a hostile land eventually unfolds, but by then it’s too late to salvage the overarching narrative.
Aiming to broaden the existing races in its setting, the eight episodes feature a wide range of characters. It ends up being too many as there are very few opportunities to get attached to any of them. From the elves to the harfoots, every group has a accompanying tone that aims to capture the same feeling as the venerable trilogy; beyond this initial impression, the characters are shallow and unengaging. Galadriel is our lead protagonist, a stoic and often emotionless face who rarely responds to danger with any urgency. In effect, she becomes rather unlikeable, especially in the early episodes. The human characters are standard fare with the occasional bond between them, though when the action arrives many of them are lost in the chaos, making their backstories redundant. For example, the future king Isildur (Maxim Baldry) makes an appearance but by the end of the season he and his comrades are mostly forgotten. The harfoots aim to convey that fuzzier feeling of community, personified by the young Elanor Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh). The thematic grounding is there, but as individuals the halfings are rarely given the chance to grow and develop. Like many other modern releases, the problems come mainly from the writing rather than weak performances. Elrond and his Dwarven contacts are the only mildly interesting characters, possessing far more personality than everyone else. Their discussions generate some intrigue that is rarely followed up on.
There’s no doubt that The Rings Of Power looks superb and its portrayal of a fantasy world is immensely detailed. We see a landscape neither at war nor peace and this allows for a wide range of locations. The Dwarven city of Khazad-Dum is shown in its prime; a vast settlement stretching deep below a mountain. Across the sea, the island nation of Numenor looks exquisite with golden banners and impressive armour and ship designs. Through regular consultation with the Tolkien estate, this version of Middle-Earth is vast and varied. The costume work is equally strong, especially the make-up design on the Orcs who threaten the northern lands. Bear McCreary composes the score and it strikes a good balance between foreboding threats and lavish pieces that highlight the beauty of the landscapes. Aside from a few awkward jump cuts, almost every piece of the presentation is well produced and fully realised on the small screen; if only we cared about the large list of characters involved.
The Rings of Power ends up being all flash and no substance. All the money is clearly there on-screen, but it can’t buy a compelling story or a set of characters worth caring about. Unless you’re a mega-fan of fantasy or Tolkien’s fiction, there is very little to see here. The latest adaptation of Middle-Earth will have to do a lot better to measure up; not just to its predecessor but the entire fantasy genre.
Rating: 2/5 Stars (Disappointing)
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