Episode Guide
Episode 1: The review scores for the first episode are 2.5/5. Episode 2: The review scores for the second episode are 2.5/5. Episode 3: The review scores for the third episode are 2.5/5. Episode 4: The review scores for the fourth episode are 2.5/5. Episode 5: The review scores for the fifth episode are 2.5/5. Episode 6: The review score for the sixth episode is 2/5, while the seventh and eighth episodes have a score of 2.5/5 each, respectively. ..
Many were excited to see a new and innovative take on the traditional fantasy story. Others were worried about the financial investment and whether or not this would be a success. But as soon as they saw the cast list, they knew this was going to be something special. The cast list for Rings of Power is impressive. Not only are there some of Hollywood’s biggest names, but also some of the most famous faces in world literature and film. From Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington to The Hobbit’s Ian McKellen, these actors are all set to lend their voices to characters that will have an impact on viewers around the world.
The marketing campaign for Rings of Power has been one of the most tonally conflicting and disastrous in memory. Millions of dislikes over YouTube videos, several different styled adverts, a terrible “superfan” event and more have plagued the campaign. As a disclaimer, we’ve waited until now to get our review up so we can judge the show based on its entirety… and my gosh does this have some serious problems. ..
In this epic novel, the world is in a state of flux, as the great civilizations of old are crumbling and new ones are emerging. The Rings of Power tells the story of two such civilizations, one based in the city of Shurima and the other in the far-off land of Dorin. In addition to exploring these civilizations, The Rings of Power also features a host of new characters, all with their own stories to tell.
Galadriel’s journey begins with a brief introduction to her world, in which she defeats Morgoth and takes over the orc legions. She sets off on a quest to destroy Sauron, and her journey leads her to Numenor, where she convinces the Queen of Miriel to join her in this fight against Sauron.
A young hobbit named Nori finds a man who has fallen from the sky and decides to take him in. The man, who is apparently from a pre-Hobbit race, is mysterious and seems to be in trouble. Nori tries to keep the man out of trouble and protect him from others. ..
Thirdly, we have Arondir, an elf who is in love with Bronwyn, a healer and a single mother of a rebellious teenage son called Theo. She also becomes the de-facto leader of the peoples in the Southlands, rallying together to try and stave off a rabble of incoming orcs. ..
The fourth and final storyline follows a younger Elrond and a host of Elves, who have an alliance with Durin and other dwarves, the latter of which having found something deep within the mines that could change their fortunes for the better. ..
The showrunners have tried to make up for this by cramming in a lot of action and suspense, but it feels like they are trying too hard. The pacing is often too slow and the story feels incomplete.
The Silmarillion is a long and complex story that Tolkien wrote over many years. It’s not something that can be condensed into a few paragraphs or even a blog post. So, I wanted to give you an overview of what you need to know if you want to read the Silmarillion. If you’re just starting out, I recommend reading The Lord of the Rings: A Reader’s Guide first.
In one letter, Tolkien writes that he “cordially dislikes allegory in all its manifestations,” so when we hear a xenophobic worker in Numenor worried that elves are “taking all their jobs” it obviously reflects the current situation going on in various parts of the world - and contradicts the writers claiming they’re honouring Tolkien. ..
The story here is weak and the logic is flawed. The pacing is poor and the characters don’t move from one place to another coherently. ..
In a fantasy world, creatures and beings may be fantastical, but they still have to adhere to the established rules set for themselves early on. For example, in season 3 and 4 of Game of Thrones, half the season is spent with The Hound and Arya, traveling over rolling hills and expanses. We get a feel for the sheer size of the world and the majesty of Westeros. In season 7 however, characters teleport around in seconds. Rings of Power takes this same illogical sense of time and dials it up to 11.
In this episode, the Harfoots head off on a migration but even the writers aren’t sure how long this lasts for, given their own commentary on that episode. Another time, we’re told that it’ll take “2 days” for 3 ships to reach land… and then 6 hours later there are thousands of men and women riding horses across the expanse toward a battlefield.
These sloppy, careless mistakes on the part of the developers are frustrating and destroy any sense of immersion you may have in the game. This is a billion dollar project and these sorts of mistakes should not be made.
The show has a strange tendency to lean on mystery box gimmicks for things that aren’t even mysteries. For example, will Will Isildur, the man destined to cut the ring from Sauron’s hand die? We’ll have to wait to find out!
The dialogue in this series is terrible. Characters repeat information or float into nonsensical bits of dialogue that are almost laughable for how they’re delivered. Early on, Arondir is warned not to go down a hole as he doesn’t know what’s down there, so in reply he says “that is why I must go.” I could be here all day rattling off instances of dialogue like this but suffice to say it does nothing to help this series.
Galadriel is one of the most unlikable protagonists in a project this year, if not in the past decade. She’s arrogant, rude, abrupt and unbelievably self-entitled, not to mention smug in most encounters. She walks around with a big scowl on her face and embodies all the characteristics you’d expect from a perfect “Mary Sue” character. The others here range from blandly forgettable to exhibiting sparks of promise (mostly Disa, Elrond and Durin) but largely, everything here is a big glossy void of…nothing.
The show is a mess, and its creators know it. They promise to make changes in season 2, but it seems like they may not be able to fix the problems that exist. This show is a waste of time, and I wouldn’t recommend watching it.
Based on this episode, it’s safe to say that Rings of Power is one of the most disappointing shows of the year. The writing is poor and the production values are low, making it difficult to invest in the characters. ..
