Easily one of the most eagerly anticipated series premieres of the year and the biggest debut on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the influential and iconic high fantasy world created by beloved author J.R.R. Tolkien in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Rings of Power delves into relatively unseen territory for the fan-favorite franchise. Boasting a talented and extensive ensemble cast and an engaging story with an enormous amount of detail paid to every level of the production, The Rings of Power accomplishes the impressive feat of living up to the immense level of expectation that's been building ever since it was first announced.
Set during the Second Age, millennia before the events of The Hobbit, humanity and elves live in relative peace throughout Middle-Earth. However, as the last alliance between the two kingdoms thrives, a shadow prepares to sweep across the realm, festering within the deepest and darkest corners of the land. From unlikely heroes to valiant knights defending the realm, The Rings of Power covers a wide breadth of Tolkien's world, blending both familiar characters and new faces in its sweeping saga.
One of the big questions facing The Rings of Power is whether it connects with what filmmaker Peter Jackson did with his adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and the short answer is not explicitly. There is nothing within The Rings of Power that negates what the popular film franchise brought to the mythos so far, but The Rings of Power very much stands on its own as a separate story from previous Tolkien adaptations. That said, there is a shared sensibility in production design, cinematography, and score, with The Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore crafting the Rings of Power theme while series composer Bear McCreary continues to evoke similar cues throughout. The Rings of Power feels spiritually linked and adjacent to Jackson's films -- and more than just because they both adapt material from the same author.
What makes The Rings of Power particularly stand out is the strength of its ensemble cast, from Morfydd Clark as the fiery elven warrior Galadriel to Markella Kavenagh as Nori Brandyfoot, a free-spirited Harfoot who longs to learn more about the world outside the safety of her home. The variety of characters and their respective journeys is what keeps The Rings of Power engaging and fresh, even in its inevitable slower moments as it sets the stage for its epic tale. This is a show that lets its cast breathe, and from delivering fire and fury to embracing the quieter, more serene moments, the sheer balance of juggling so many principal actors is noteworthy in and of itself.
What The Rings of Power offers to Tolkien fans that they have not previously seen on-screen is a wealth of environments and elements that had been relegated to the printed page for decades. Jackson's films had never fully showcased the majesty of dwarven society outside of small flashbacks during the Hobbit trilogy, nor the height of humanity's golden age. The Rings of Power not only provides these perspectives but also presents set pieces and action beats unlike anything the franchise has tried before to expand what is possible for a story set in Middle-Earth.
There is a lot for Tolkien aficionados to love in The Rings of Power, but the show has also stayed perfectly accessible for viewers that have not read the books nor seen Jackson's adaptations. The show moves at a very deliberate pace but with enough action and riveting drama to maintain the audience's attention as it invites them into its warm, welcoming approach to Middle-Earth. Familiar and yet wholly its own, The Rings of Power is shaping up to be a show worthy of carrying the Lord of the Rings name as a clear love letter to Tolkien's fantasy world.
Developed for television by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power premieres Sept. 2 on Prime Video.