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After two years, Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns this August 29, but are the critics thinking? Reviews for the series from media outlets are now online, giving fans an idea if the sophomore season sinks or swims. The story continues with multiple story threads spread throughout Middle-earth with Nori and the Stranger solving the mystery of his origins, and exploring Sauron’s beginning.
Looking back at the first season, we gave it pretty high , but not perfect marks and Season 2 casts a wide net of reviews. Prime Video will release the first three episodes on Thursday, with the remaining five episodes airing weekly.
As always, whether or not you enjoy the series may not have anything to do with what the critics might say. Read on to see a breakdown of some of the Rings of Powers reviews from across the internet. The consensus seems to ultimately be that while the show remains stunning to look at, there’s still a long way to go in properly telling a proper Lord of the Rings story.
The Lord of the The Rings: The Rings of Power is set thousands of years before the novel in the Second Age of Middle-earth, the season depicts the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron and the creation of more Rings of Power. It is produced by Amazon MGM Studios in association with New Line Cinema and with J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay as returning as showrunners.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2
Showrunners: J. D. Payne and Patrick McKayWritten by: Gennifer Hutchinson, Jason Cahill, Helen Shang, and moreStarring: Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Maxim Baldry, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Markella Kavenagh, Charlie Vickers, Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad, and Daniel Weyman as the Stranger.Premiere Date: August 29
IGN — 6/10
“No matter how bright Rings of Power’s best scenes shine, they’re dulled by tangential plots that do nothing but set up future seasons.” — Samantha Nelson [Full review]
Empire Online — 5/5
“It may be cobbled together from tag-ends of material in Tolkien’s appendices, but this packs more incident and excitement into its second season than some entire books. If you’re going to throw money at a TV screen, you can only hope it looks and sounds as good as this.” — Helen O’Hara [Full review]
Variety — No score
“With a shape-shifting Sauron unmasked and the first set of the titular bling forged, The Rings of Power finally has the faintest hints of narrative momentum. But the second installment of this show, as gorgeous yet flat as a kitchen backsplash, has the same problems as the first, minus much confidence these issues will ever go away.” — Alison Herman [Full review]
The Hollywood Reporter — No score
“In its sophomore outing, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay’s fantasy prequel falls prey to one of the most common afflictions of its kind. It starts to feel like a story shaped backwards from events we already know will need to transpire, rather than one driven forward by the motives and choices of its characters.” — Angie Han [Full review]
USA Today
“If Season 1 was a leisurely stroll through Middle-earth, Season 2 gallops away, leaving many of the important details, character developments and stakes behind.” — Kelly Lawler [Full review]
Screenrant — 3.5/5
“To recapture the magic of Tolkien’s work, which The Rings of Power has proven it is entirely capable of doing, it must feel fearless. Right now, it’s as though it’s more afraid of what it might do rather than what it is doing.” — Graeme Guttman [Full review]
Lord Of The Rings: Rings Of Power Comic-Con Trailer Breakdown
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