Having been left with a violent case of ‘fictional hangover’ after rereading Tolkien’s fantasy trilogy this summer, the opportunity to return to middle earth was one I could not pass up. Naturally then, when Amazon video released its new Lord of the Rings television series in September, I was fully prepared— buttered popcorn in one hand, chocolates in the other.
One episode later, my excitement was dulled. Several more, and it was gone completely. By the eighth and final episode, I was worn and disappointed. Admittedly, my expectations may have been overly optimistic, but this does not negate the unfortunate mediocrity of Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. While I do not believe it is the “huge disappointment and disgrace to Tolkien’s amazing work” that some audience reviews claim, it is certainly not a “glorious extension of Tolkien’s legacy” either. With a screenplay characterized by bizarre coincidences, overused fantasy tropes, and a good portion of narrative stalling, the Rings of Power is generic at best, and forgettable at worst.
The question at the core of season one is the identity of Sauron, the primary antagonist of LotR. Throughout the eight, hour-long episodes, the audience is toyed with incessantly, treated to various lackluster Sauron imitations for the vain purpose of inciting intrigue. In favor of this ‘whodunnit’ mystery, character writing and believable plot developments appear to become less significant. Why are the elves denied access to Mithril? Reason unspecified. Makes good material for melodramatic bickering. Why is Galadriel only suspicious of Halbrand’s true intentions after he gives Celebrimbor a piece of advice, but not before? I suppose it was simply more convenient for Halbrands obvious penchant for violence to be acknowledged in the finale.
Moving away from the slightly nonsensical plot, I am obliged to mention the show’s visual design. It is all undeniably beautiful, with landscapes of New Zealand combined with intricate set pieces and CGI. Considering the size of Amazon’s budget (the production cost exceeds $460 million), the high caliber is not unexpected. Unfortunately, however, no amount of visual embellishments can make up for underdeveloped characters or frustrating pacing. To their detriment, Amazon chose style over substance.
As of my writing this, the second season of the Rings of Power has already begun production. Despite my cynicism, I do wish that Amazon can learn from the criticism of the show’s first season and make changes accordingly. Let us hope that the next time we enter the cinematic Middle Earth, we will finally leave satisfied.