The Lord of the Rings is a lore that’s been around for a long time, serving a fandom of millions across the world. The last project to be released, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, was in 2014; to say that The Rings of Power was a long-awaited story is an understatement. I secured my chance to see the first two episodes at my local Cinemark theater, which means I got to experience the same feelings I felt when seeing these movies as a kid.
Powerful Performances
There are two particular performances that resonated with me the most. Morfydd Clark serves up a profound Galadriel, solidifying her role as a warrior of Middle-Earth. Her presence in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies was rather brief. This leaves so much room for character development in The Rings of Power, which I believe we’re going to get.
Then there’s my personal favorite; young Elrond, played by Robert Aramayo. Lord Elrond was a top three character in the films, and in this show it seems that will still be the case. Aramayo perfectly embodies the character, from his charismatic personality to his unmatched wit. The dynamic between these two characters in the films is expanded upon in this show, and I love it.
Powerful Visuals
The visuals in this show can easily be held to cinematic standards. Although I got the chance to see it on a theater screen, it will retain its beauty on a home television. It’s safe to say that after $250 million to acuire the global TV rights and another $465 million just for one season, the show will look spectacular on any screen you put it on. The shots are everything you would expect from a Lord of the Rings project. We are introduced to new lands, unfamiliar to the live action screen. This is particularly exciting, considering the sheer size of this world; the possibilities are endless.
Powerful Storytelling
The great thing about The Rings of Power is that you do not need to have seen the movies to understand the plot. That being said, as a lifetime fan of the franchise, I appreciated every nod I could find. The story runs smoothly, and is not entirely reliant on the projects before it. I like to think that what we are getting in this show is fresh, never before seen. This provides both casual fans and long-standing fans a great viewer experience.
Overall
This series is shaping up to be yet another Lord of the Rings classic. Episodes one and two opened the series with a bang, and left the door open for many more opportunities. Jeff Bezos considers this show to be Amazon’s version of Game of Thrones, which is a bold statement to make. If you want to be the judge of that, The Rings of Power begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on September 2, 2022. Once you watch and want to talk about it, be sure to follow and hit me up on Twitter!
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