The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power has been released to mixed reviews from across the fandom. The series has done an excellent job with some aspects of Tolkien's lore. With some great set pieces, excellent special effects, and interesting characters, Rings of Power has got many things right.
However, Rings of Power has also missed the mark with some of its themes, plots, and characters. As with every show, getting everything right or pleasing fans with every decision is impossible. Rings of Power has made several missteps, from underwhelming pacing to poor representation of some of the races of Middle-earth. These problems haven't gone unnoticed by fans.
10 Some Rings Of Power Characters And Cultures Seem Uncharacteristically Harsh
Some characters and groups have made some terrible decisions throughout Rings of Power, which many fans have picked up on. For example, the callousness of the Harfoots' attempt to expel Nori and Galadriel discarding one of her men in the snow seems out of character.
Although the purpose of these decisions may be character development, they have felt out of place, especially among elves and hobbits. Fans know hobbits for their warmth and elves for their grace, but Rings of Power haven't shown many of these established character traits. This may be to differentiate the Second and Third Ages but without an explanation, it's jarring at best.
9 Rings Of Power Has A Serious Pacing Problem
A common criticism from the Tolkien fandom has been the poor pacing of Rings of Power when compared to both Jackson trilogies. By the time the series reached its halfway point, there had been little action, despite having racked up almost four hours of runtime.
Meanwhile, The Fellowship of the Ring, which was approximately the same length as the first four episodes, included the battles in Moria, and with the Balrog and the Uruk-Hai. The differences between the beloved LOTR and Rings of Power are stark. Even by the fifth episode of Rings of Power, the characters had only just embarked on their journey.
8 Rings Of Power's Dialogue Has Fallen Flat
Rings of Power's dialogue has been a mixed bag. While the main interactions between characters have been better received, attempts to deliver elegant similes or use metaphors have largely fallen flat. It seems Rings of Power is over-extending itself to create unique idioms. The effort to craft a new world is great but often misses the mark.
Many fans have criticized the show's clunky dialogue, which has lacked the impact of Jackson's trilogy. Excessive repetition, references to unknown events, and poor similes leave room for improvement as well.
7 Rings Of Power's Costume Designs Have Left Much To Be Desired
Galadriel and her elven soldiers present the most glaring example of Rings of Power's disappointing costumes. Not only are elves established to be master craftsmen, but the quest of Galadriel also takes place in a time of peace, meaning there's no reason for low-quality or mass-produced armor. However, that's exactly what fans saw on their trip to Valinor.
The majority of Rings of Power's costumes have left something to be desired, but Amazon's budget should have allowed for impressive outfits. The costumes and armor were among the highlights of the first three LOTR films, and the series could have taken a cue from that.
6 Little Exploration Of The Different Lands
While Episode 3 did a good job of exploring the streets of Numenor, other set pieces, notably the elven cities, have seen little to no depth. Instead, fans are limited to wide shots of the cities followed by few individual sets. It can feel frustrating for fans to be treated to a beautiful exterior shot but see little exploration within.
This has been a stark contrast to Jackson's trilogy, which explored multiple locations within each city, such as the places in Gondor and Helm's Deep. While the wide shots of Rings of Power are incredibly impressive, more exploration of each place would have been well-received.
5 A Confused Target Audience Strategy
The Lord of the Rings franchise has always appealed to a wide range of viewers. Some viewers prefer the expansive world-building of Middle-earth while others enjoy the action and battle sequences. Some fans are most intrigued by the mythical creatures.
However, Rings of Power goes light on all the core elements of the franchise's appeal. This means that the series can appeal to casual fans better than to devoted viewers. While this may be a good strategy to bring new viewers into the fandom, it also risks alienating more reliable fans.
4 There Has Been Too Much Alteration To Tolkien's Lore
While some things are necessarily altered to make a TV/film adaptation work, many of Rings of Power's changes to Tolkien's lore have been unnecessary. For example, the source of the elves' long lives on Middle-earth is dependent on Mithril, which is unique to the show.
In a series that can't tell a centuries-long story, it's understandable that some things would be omitted or tweaked. However, fundamentally changing the way core aspects of Tolkien's world work is misguided, and may create plot holes as the seasons go on.
3 The Time Is Too Condensed In Rings Of Power
While casual viewers may be unaware of Tolkien's lore, one of the criticisms from book fans has been the condensed time. Events that had been separated in the books by hundreds or thousands of years have all taken place in Rings of Power within weeks. The arrival of the Valar, for example, doesn't occur in the Second Age of Middle-earth.
This time distortion is likely an attempt to capture all the core elements that made people love the previous entries. However, in condensing the lore so much, some details and outcomes may make less sense or force the writers to deviate too far.
2 The Plot Feels Too Similar To Lord Of The Rings
Unfortunately, The Rings of Power's main hook and its conclusion is already known to fans. Viewers have seen how Sauron's story ends, but they know very little about the prequel series' plot. The original trilogy had a clear premise from the outset: the Fellowship must destroy the ring and defeat Sauron. In the show, the plot seems to be a rehash of the original trilogy in terms of the rings and the threat of evil.
In an original series, Amazon might have been better off developing a wholly original story with new twists and threats to bring fans something new. While the original story was a hit for good reason, Amazon may find that the outcome is just comparisons between this series' plot and Jackson's trilogy.
1 Rings Of Power Is Trying Too Hard To Be The Next Game of Thrones
When Amazon announced that it had secured the rights to The Lord of the Rings appendices, fans immediately speculated the company was hoping for its own Game of Thrones. So far, this appears to be somewhat accurate, even if Rings of Power is a more family-friendly version. With both franchises offering a prequel series in 2022, plots revolving around kings seeking to reclaim their throne, and kingdom politics, this seems to be the case.
The issue is that Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones are vastly different franchises that have different appeals. Game of Thrones tells a story of ruthless political schemes and action. However, Tolkien's work focuses more on the history, mythology, and courage that exists within Middle-earth.