Rings of Power

Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power just dropped on Prime Video, and season 2 is on the way. Here's everything to know about release date, cast and more.

"He was writing about his own backyard and his description of the nature and the air here and the light here and the grass here is a huge part of those books. [TIME](https://time.com/6205027/cirdan-the-rings-of-power-season-2/), "We don’t want to give too much away, but one character we’re excited for folks to meet in Season 2 is Círdan the Shipwright. Suffice to say in the story, in Tolkien’s world, journeys to other lands are a major recurring theme." Reports have claimed that S2 is set to be filmed in the UK instead. So, here's hoping that most of the S1 cast will return for season two, providing there aren't too many tragedies of course. The rights that Amazon bought were for a 50-hour show.

In an exclusive chat with E! News, the cast of Prime Video's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power discussed using their impressive surroundings to ...

"The best thing about it was that I got to wear it and I got to just really become a completely different person and a different being, as well. So that was the arrival for me, as an actor. "It was quite structured and sculptured." The arrival definitely was when that costume went on." "We spent a few weeks on that and then at one point [Hawley] just said, 'What if Disa was really sexy? Set 300 years before the events of [The Hobbit](https://www.eonline.com/news/370834/the-hobbit-a-who-s-who-guide-to-kick-off-an-unexpected-journey) and [The Lord of the Rings](https://www.eonline.com/news/1157598/see-josh-gad-reunite-the-lord-of-the-rings-cast-for-one-zoom-to-rule-them-all), the series covers the major events of Middle-earth's Second Age. The worst thing about it is that I had to become a completely different being," Arthur joked. So we didn't really have to act, just had to exist and be." [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://www.eonline.com/news/the_lord_of_the_rings), premiering Sept. What if she had an unapologetic version of herself that we can just display? [who plays Princess Disa](https://www.eonline.com/news/1337964/the-lord-of-the-rings-rings-of-power-teaser-is-a-breathtaking-look-at-middle-earth), collaborated with famed costume designer Kate Hawley on the evolution of Disa's look. "They built a whole city, as well, which was phenomenal just to walk through and immerse yourself," Baldry said.

There aren't many Tolkien characters more noteworthy than Celebrimbor. Here's why Charles Edwards' Elven ruler in 'The Rings of Power' is probably the ...

Celebrimbor’s plan to build a new forge in Eregion will almost certainly end up tying into his biggest storyline in The Rings of Power as well. Given Celebrimbor’s fascination with the dwarves in Episode 2, it seems safe to assume the construction of said structure will likely occur before the Amazon series has wrapped up its first season. He’s one of the few Elven rulers who was said to have a legitimately strong relationship with the Dwarves of Middle-earth. It was during the Second Age that Celebrimbor also left the Elven kingdom of Lindon to build Eregion with some of his fellow elves. The Elven ruler of Eregion makes a brief appearance at the end of The Rings of Power’s premiere, and only has a few scenes in the second episode. Nonetheless, the character’s plans for the future of Middle-earth are what lead Elrond (Robert Aramayo) to begin dealing with the dwarves of Khazad-dûm again, and J.R.R.

The 'Meteor Man' came crashing into Middle-earth in a blazing ball of fire at the end of the series premiere. But who is he?

Payne](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/j-d-payne/) and [Patrick McKay](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/patrick-mckay/) including Gandalf is that the Stranger is Maiar, but not Gandalf specifically. The Rings of Power is said to be building up to the creation of the One Ring. He sleeps for a while, and then struggles to communicate with the two young harfoots, but he does try to communicate with them and does not try to hurt them. And the mystery and the journey of it is all of the fun, I would say.” The Stranger being Olórin/Gandalf would require a huge creative liberty, as it would bring him to Middle-earth thousands of years before he does in the books and possibly before the rest of the Order of Wizards. On the other hand, Gandalf does have a special ability to produce fire, so the literal great ball of fire the Stranger arrives in raises an eyebrow. They were sent to Middle-earth embodying old men and called the Order of Wizards (also called Istari). Gandalf is part of the Maiar, a group of divine beings around since the beginning of time. [Ian McKellen](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/ian-mckellen/) enough that, at first glance, I thought the show might be trying to go for a young Gandalf. Nori spends all of Episode 2 keeping the Stranger a secret from her hobbit-ancestor community with the reluctant help of her good friend Poppy Proudfellow ( [Megan Richards](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/megan-richards/)). Called the Stranger for now, [Daniel Weyman](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/daniel-weyman/)‘s character careened through the sky in a blazing ball of fire and crashed into Rhovanion (home of the harfoots) in the final moments of the series premiere, which debuted [in tandem with Episode 2](https://www.tvinsider.com/1056534/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-season-1-release-schedule-prime-video/) on Thursday, September 1 at 9/8c on [Prime Video](https://www.tvinsider.com/network/amazon-prime-video/). By nature of his concealed identity, the series is clearly prepping for a big reveal down the line.

Fans took to Twitter Thursday to complain that after Amazon dropped its first two episodes of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" only the second ...

Give us a chance!" "COME ON I WANT MY STABBY LADY." "The Rings of Power" is a prequel series set before the events of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit." I guess I'm starting with episode 2????" ["Rings Of Power](https://www.foxnews.com/category/entertainment/tv) already off to a bad start... [Amazon Prime](https://www.foxnews.com/category/tech/companies/amazon) customers hoping to watch the streaming service’s lavish "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" when it dropped Thursday night took to social media to complain that only the second episode was available.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay give an update on season 2 filming and their narrative plan for the series.

Rings of Power timeline explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/rings-of-power-timeline-second-age-middle-earth/) For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the [Radio Times podcast](https://www.radiotimes.com/podcasts/) with Jane Garvey. Daniel Weyman role theories](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/lord-rings-power-stranger-daniel-weyman/) [Who is Galadriel’s brother? Meet Finrod actor Will Fletcher](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/galadriel-brother-will-fletcher-finrod-explained/) [What is the Second Age of Middle-earth? Theories for Charlie Vickers’s character](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/lord-rings-power-halbrand-charlie-vickers/) [What are Harfoots? The Rings of Power Hobbits and history explained](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/rings-of-power-harfoots-hobbits-explained/) [Who is Morgoth in Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/morgoth-rings-of-power/) [Who is The Stranger in The Rings of Power? [TV Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/) or visit our dedicated [Fantasy](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/) hub. "Then, maybe you see, 'Oh, there's an overlook here, I want to look at this beautiful view. McKay explained: "The metaphor we always use is like a road trip. "We are a couple of weeks away from starting production." [Morfydd Clark](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/morfydd-clark-galadriel-profile-age-instagram-explained/) and [Robert Aramayo](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/elrond-robert-aramayo-rings-of-power/) as original trilogy characters Galadriel and Elrond. [learn more](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/commercial-links-on-radiotimes-com/))

The actress, who plays Princess Disa on the new Amazon Prime series, originally auditioned for the part while pregnant, and began filming ten weeks after giving ...

So yes, the stitching is there, I was able to kind of open everything up." "I think it's definitely worth finding moments where we can celebrate and advocate and normalise everything so that suddenly it just becomes like, 'What size shoes do you need? "But it's so important because we can do it too and there has to be a place for us. "And then suddenly someone opened the doors and said if you want to, 'Yes, you should and this is what we're going to do to make it happen'. Nomvete continued: "So that came with a whole host of necessities you know, as a woman and as a mother when I was breastfeeding and I just remember [costume designer] Kate Hawley... "And I was also able to educate you know, the world needs educating in many ways.

Production is set to start on season 2 of Amazon's Lord of the Rings TV show very soon.

Alternatively, find out [why Amazon's Lord of the Rings will be a treasure trove of secrets just waiting to be found by diehard Tolkienites](https://www.techradar.com/news/the-rings-of-powers-detailed-world-is-a-goldmine-for-eagle-eyed-tolkien-fans). According to [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/aug/12/amazon-moves-production-of-lord-of-the-ring-tv-series-to-uk) (opens in new tab), Scotland was viewed as a frontrunner for shooting sequences on location, but it's unclear if this is still the case. [Prime Video](https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-prime-review) series' next installment won't be filmed in New Zealand. The show had only been in full production for a month in New Zealand before it was placed on indefinite hold, in March 2020, because of the global pandemic. Despite the cast's reluctance to reveal any concrete news about when The Rings of Power season 2 will start filming, executive producer Lindsey Weber was more forthcoming. Given the level of secrecy around season 1 of Amazon's Lord of the Rings, and the show more generally, that's to be expected.

An elf woman in silver armor and a long blonde braid in the middle of a. Galadriel's journey in "The Rings of Power" is quite different from her story in ...

In the end, The Rings of Power is both a tribute to Tolkien's work and an exercise in mythmaking, using works like the "Tale of Years" as a starting point. The Rings of Power doesn't re-adapt The Lord of the Rings. Its new characters and storylines present thoughtful additions to Tolkien's writings on the Second Age, and they fill in the blanks of the "Tale of Years" in ways that are simultaneously unexpected yet completely earned. Arwen and Aragorn's love in The Lord of the Rings is the most prominent example. Just because these characters are new to The Rings of Power doesn't mean they're without precedent in Tolkien's canon. The Rings of Power makes Galadriel the main character in a way she hasn't been before, examining her role as a commander and leader before becoming the Lady of Lórien. If The Rings of Power has to shift canon so we can explore these locations and so these characters can meet up, I don't mind. It's extremely important to Tolkien's mythos, and based on the trailers, it will play a big role in The Rings of Power. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This allows them to flesh out the key milestones of Middle-earth in a way that Tolkien couldn't with just a timeline. However, not a lot of it is written out in detail — you can find a condensed timeline of these events in Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings, also known as the "Tale of Years." [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://mashable.com/article/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review) are here, and they are nothing short of spectacular.

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power debuted its first two sprawling episodes this Thursday, introducing viewers to a massive cast of characters—some ...

. . Payne and Patrick McKay can make up all sorts of things—so long as they don’t tread to close to material they don’t have the rights to use. Could The Stranger be a totally new character, perhaps even a new Istari or some other immortal being? Yes, it’s too early for Gandalf by a few thousand years, but given how much the timeline is being compressed here, and how far afield we’ve already gotten, why not? The evil sorcerer has been in hiding for thousands of years with only Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) still trying to track him down (in the revised fiction of the show, that is). There’s so little payoff if it’s just Baldar The Black, a Wizard made up whole cloth for the show. The second option here is that The Stranger is a different Wizard than the ones we’re familiar with in The Lord Of The Rings. "When we meet him, it’s pretty clear he’s got a deep sense of his purpose and what he wants to achieve." Admittedly, this was my first instinct—though when he spoke with the fireflies I thought he could also be Radagast the Brown. The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) is just one of several mysteries introduced in the two-part premiere. She decides to help the strange, bearded man—who turns out to be incapable of speaking and apparently suffering amnesia, though he’s able to talk to fireflies and give them instructions. When her friend Poppy (Megan Richards) startles her and she slips and falls into the crater, Nori realizes that the fire doesn’t burn.

The expansive and immersive first two episodes will feel familiar to those who found Lord of the Rings via Peter Jackson's beloved movies, or people who first ...

His role is a vital one as the power he wields is immense but so is his greed and arrogance. We'll have to wait and see just how the Stranger fits into the larger landscape of The Rings of Power. Speaking of Sauron, he is at the heart of the first two episodes though we never see him. Though he only features as a brief part of the story of the war of the First Age in the premier episodes his impact is massive and sets Galadriel on her path for vengeance as well as introducing Sauron. One of the most intriguing additions to The Rings of Power is Weyman's mysterious figure. We meet him here as an ally to Elrond and part of the plan that will put the creation of the rings into motion. A warrior elf with a talent for archery, Arondir is a new character for The Rings of Power. The heir to the Dwarf kingdom of Khazad'dum, Prince Durin IV is proud of the booming mines of his home and his lovely family. A major returning character is Elrond, who in the show is a close confidante of Galadriel's. In fact, he encourages her to go to the undying lands of Valinor. We don't learn much about High King Gil-Galad in these episodes, but it's clear that he considers the dark days of war to be over and will do anything to keep it that way. From what we see of Marigold it's clear that she has a close relationship with Nori, though she would likely rather that the young Harfoot wasn't so desperate to leave her home.

A women wearing armor and carrying a sword walks away from a burning building. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) takes center stage in Amazon's new prequel series.

That hasn’t always been a bad thing; action and fantasy films embracing the nuances of morality and subverting the logic of cinema have led to some of the 21st century’s best filmmaking. And just as I often felt nervous while watching Game of Thrones whether it had a coherent endpoint in mind as it weaved and bobbed through Westeros, I worry that The Rings of Power will be stuffed with too many invented subplots and side characters that ultimately don’t have anything to do with the story besides adding more run time. Among the hobbit-like Harfoots, we see the spunky young Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), and in the world of men, there’s the healer and single mother Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), who strikes up a romance with a warrior elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova). In short, it explores Middle Earth’s Second Age, which takes place thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and is not based on any of Tolkien’s novels, but rather the information gleaned in their appendices. To answer the question: The Rings of Power is not like Game of Thrones, at least not in that way. Anonymous sources told the fan blog [The One Ring that](https://www.theonering.net/torwp/2021/07/20/110907-spy-report-incredible-details-from-amazons-lord-of-the-rings-characters-sexless-nudity-halflings/) while there will be nudity in the series, it would be “sparse and not sexualized.” Happily, many of the most important ones are women: Amazon’s series centers on a younger Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark (Cate Blanchett in the films), a warrior elven princess intent on avenging her brother’s death by Sauron. [published](https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2138&context=mythlore) a scathing critique of the women of J.R.R. (For context about what happens to the women of GoT, in the first two episodes of House of the Dragon, there’s a brutally graphic childbirth scene in which [both mother and infant die](https://www.vox.com/culture/23316570/house-of-the-dragon-heirs-review-recap-childbirth-scene), and in the second, a grown man almost [marries a 12-year-old girl](https://www.vox.com/culture/23327326/house-of-the-dragon-episode-2-rogue-prince-review-recap-rhaenyra-alicent-rhaenicent).) “It is technically an epic fantasy adventure, but I don’t think it hews to the same kind of ideas of masculinity and power that a lot of these stories traditionally do,” the writer Karen Han told the Had Game of Thrones cast such a shadow over the entertainment world that a high fantasy series without sex and gore was considered unprofitable? Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.

Among the issues with The Hobbit films was that the individual Dwarves were not very well fleshed out as characters. Outside of Thorin Oakenshield (Richard ...

By the time of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the Dwarves have grown bitter by having to constantly search for a place of residency. In a flashback sequence in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the Dwarves that have survived Smaug’s attack flee to the city of Azanulbizar outside the gates of Moria. The Dwarves essentially reform their civilization in the kingdoms of the Misty Mountains. It’s here where they discover the book of Balin (Ken Stott), a member of Thorin’s company that was slain after trying to retake Durin’s city. In the Second Age, Sauron’s army attempts to wipe out the Elves that have survived the destruction of Eregion. The Dwarves of Khazad-dûm also grew to detest Orcs due to a series of invasive attacks. After mining too deep within the ground, the Dwarves awakened the ancient monster known as “the Balrog.” The Balrog was one of the original monsters created by the dark lord Morgoth, Sauron’s predecessor. [an alliance with Celebrimbor](https://collider.com/the-rings-of-power-celebrimbor-explained/) (Charles Edwards) and the Elves of Eregion, Khazad-dûm enhanced its security features by constructing several defensive structures, including the bridge seen in The Fellowship of the Ring. “Durin the Deathless” began a dynasty of Dwarf rulers in Khazad-dûm who would lead the kingdom to prominence. Although Moria is nothing but ruins in The Fellowship of the Ring, The Rings of Power shows the metroplex at its height. The Dwarves reluctantly agree to join the armies of men and Elves in order to wage war against the ultimate source of evil in Middle Earth. [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://collider.com/tag/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power/) has [the potential to improve upon its predecessors](https://collider.com/the-rings-of-power-review-lord-of-the-rings-amazon/) by expanding the role of the Dwarves.

Believe it or not, it's been nearly a decade since Peter Jackson's third and final Hobbit movie, The Battle of the Five Armies, was released in theaters. It's ...

That’s long, long before the events of the movies, but there are still plenty of memorable characters and places that pop up in both. If you’re a completionist, you can also throw in the animated movies from the late 1970s and early 1980s. Not everyone has that amount of time! We’ve collected some relevant clips for you! While Rings of Power may take place thousands of years before the movies, it’s natural to want to revisit the earlier editions of the franchise and brush up on some of your Middle-earth knowledge. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Believe it or not, it’s been nearly a decade since Peter Jackson’s third and final Hobbit movie, The Battle of the Five Armies, was released in theaters. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (watch on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Amazon’s mega-sized series is one of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (watch on The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (watch on

What's going on with the young human boy Theo – and the mysterious sword he's found?

[Rings of Power release schedule](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-release-schedule-amazon-prime-video/) to make sure you don’t miss a moment of the show. [Another theory suggests](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4UHEGaoarY&t=52s) (opens in new tab) that the sword may be the legendary black blade of Gurthang, one of a pair of swords forged during the First Age by a Dark Elf. Interestingly, Muhafidin went on to compare the sword to the One Ring in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, hinting it may have the same corrupting power. Theo actor Tyroe Muhafidin has shared some insight on the mysterious blade, hinting that it will give his character a "purpose". [some viewers are convinced](https://www.reddit.com/r/LOTR_on_Prime/comments/x3t88r/secret_identity_predictions/) (opens in new tab) Theo could actually become the character. The weapon itself may be a Morgul blade, the sword carried by the Witch-king of Angmar during the Third Age. There's a lot unfolding in the first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. However, the Witch-king – a mortal man corrupted by a ring of power, given to him by Sauron – first emerged during the Second Age, and This is a possibility given the sword was found in the Southlands, an area where many of the humans were allied with Morgoth. A lot has been made of their former treachery in the show – it's the reason Arondir and his fellow Elven soldiers are stationed there. As Theo is packing his belongings following the Orc attack, he holds the sword once again and a drop of his blood runs towards Sauron's mark. He left under mysterious circumstances – could Theo's bloodline link him to the weapon?

Not only does he arrive in Middle-earth via a meteor strike, but he performs several supernatural acts across The Rings of Power's opening installments. Those ...

There is a way for The Stranger to be a wizard without The Rings of Power showrunners J.D. Unlike those three, all of whom arrive in Middle-earth during the Third Age, Tolkien wrote that the Blue Wizards showed up in Middle-earth in the Second Age. However, there’s no canonical evidence to support Gandalf showing up in Middle-earth during the Second Age, which is the era The Rings of Power primarily takes place. [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-amazon) don’t reveal much about [The Stranger (Daniel Weyman)](https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/rings-of-powers-trailer-villains-ar-pharazon-adar-meteor-man-explained), but it’s already clear that he’s a powerful force. Not only does he arrive in Middle-earth via a meteor strike, but he performs several supernatural acts across The Rings of Power’s opening installments. If he is, his relationship with the Harfoots could help explain why Gandalf believes so deeply in the Hobbits, who descend from the Harfoots, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Amazon's ambitious “Lord of the Rings” prequel series has finally arrived. Here are seven takeaways from the first two episodes.

Part of the challenge for Payne and McKay — as it was for Tolkien and Jackson — is to tell a story with clearly defined heroes and villains that leaves room for those heroes to be complicated. No “Lord of the Rings” plot really gets going until the heroes leave home. In a climactic moment at the end of the first episode, Galadriel chooses not to join her comrades, and instead jumps off their boat before the light transports them. The humans in Middle-earth are weary of the elves patrolling their lands and acting haughtily. And unlike “House of the Dragon” — which so far has kept most of its action confined to one or two locations — “The Rings of Power” spreads its story around. It’s hard to avoid comparing the TV “Lord of the Rings” with the much-hyped “House of the Dragon,” given that both are pricey prequels, derived from beloved works of fantasy fiction, arriving at the same time. That said, anyone who loved “Thrones” will find it hard not to notice how “The Rings of Power” keeps viewers oriented by zooming across a cool-looking computer-animated map, much like in the HBO hit’s opening credits. Now that the first two episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” are finally available to Prime Video subscribers, we have some answers to long-lingering questions. “The Rings of Power” similarly sets the stage cleanly and clearly. There may be some benefit to remaining Tolkien-neutral when it comes to “The Rings of Power.” Though the series draws on the author’s detailed notes about his fantasy realm, the showrunners, J.D. Part of what made the “Lord of the Rings” movie trilogy a success was that Jackson and his team simplified Tolkien’s saga, beginning with a prologue that explained what viewers needed to know. Long ago there was a grand battle between the evil Lord Sauron’s armies and a coalition of heroic humans and elves, and in the aftermath an all-powerful ring fell into the wrong hands, so now it must be taken to a volcano and destroyed.

But as might be the case with "House of the Dragon," a prequel series to a beloved fantasy property might spook off newcomers unfamiliar with the original ...

The showrunners for "Rings of Power" are J.D. Of course, Elves are immortal in Tolkien's world, and their participation in Second Age events was canonized in "The Silmarillion." There are Dwarves, too -- King Durin III and his brood -- who live in prosperity in the city of Moria before an unfortunate encounter with a (It's worth noting that Tolkien's son made these comments around the release of Jackson's first "Hobbit" film, which received far more middling reviews than his first three films in Middle-earth.) Oh, and don't expect immediate resolution to the series' storylines -- Payne told Amazon's cast list is exhaustive (but notably missing a few names, including that of the unknown actor thought to play Sauron). Whether you've pored over "The Silmarillion" repeatedly in advance of the new show or you don't know the difference between an Orc and an Ent (one's a goblinesque monster and the other is a talking, walking tree creature, for the record), here's what you need to know before you watch "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." She's back in the prequel, this time played by Morfydd Clark, and by the looks we've gotten of her in the trailers, she's just returned from battle when we catch up with her. We may or may not get to see the Lord of the Rings himself in his corporeal form -- Amazon is keeping mum on how he'll appear in the series, but he'll undoubtedly loom large over it. It's likely meant to be presented as a fictional historical account written by several authors -- possibly including one Bilbo Baggins -- that covers everything from the origin of Tolkien's world to its later ages. , the action is set in Middle-earth's Second Age, "thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Now is the Tolkienites' time to geek out --

The Silvan Elves are a bit more interesting. Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) and his companions are a colonizing force, occupying the Southlands. They express ...

Overall, we’re intrigued and excited about watching the next episode, and that’s exactly what the early episodes of a new show should do. Episode 1 has the stronger climax, though, with Galadriel’s leap off the boat to Valinor and that very Game of Thrones-like comet with a mysterious man inside. And by the way did you notice how he wraps himself in a grey-ish blanket… But the series is already compressing millennia of that history into one human’s lifetime for this adaptation, so who’s to say they won’t introduce one of the Wizards early? The sea serpent attack is a great example of the sort of thing that, while the scene is invented for the series, feels like something that would happen in Tolkien’s stories (and as different as the world of Narnia is, the fact that there’s a well-known sea serpent passage in his friend C.S. If so, the most likely options would seem to be the two Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando. The ritual during which veiled women strip the warriors of their armor is rather odd, but Galadriel’s choice, a single tear running down her cheek, is a moving and emotional moment. Since Elves don’t age, these are literally the same characters we meet hundreds of years later in The Lord of the Rings, so naturally their clothing, accents, culture and so on more or less match what we know from the later stories. Following two young female Harfoots, rather than four young male ones, also helps to further separate their story from that of the later Hobbits we know so well. The reveal of exactly why Durin (Owain Arthur) is so cross with Elrond is also a nice touch. [in our spoiler-free review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review/), the series is stunningly beautiful, the set, costume, and visual effects work is impeccable, the acting is great, and it all has the feel of a tale with an epic scope. We meet five different cultures from four different peoples over the course of these two episodes; Ñoldorian Elves, Silvan Elves, (Wo)Men of the Southlands, Harfoots, and Dwarves.

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The company could [use some goodwill](https://www.wired.com/story/hbo-max-discovery-plus-combined/). Perhaps giving people a reason to hit the box office to see one of the biggest TV shows of the year—if not the biggest TV show of the year—is just the thing. Understandably, Amazon spent millions of dollars on the show as a way to get people to subscribe to Prime, not get their butts into cinema seats. Also, Rings of Power is a TV show, not a movie, so its format isn’t exactly conducive to the cinema experience. [Covid-19](https://www.wired.com/tag/covid-19/) pandemic, and while blockbusters like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Top Gun: Maverick have proven there is still an appetite for big-screen experiences, the future of movie theaters is the subject of much hand-wringing. [AMC ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiEeIxZJ9x0), which has been playing ahead of screenings at the theater chain for months, revealed that it’s getting a sequel.

Daniel Weyman is aware of all your Rings of Power theories on who the Stranger is—and he just revealed he knows the mysterious characters identity.

"And I suppose the best thing to say is that while we were working, I, at each point in the story, knew exactly where the character was and who he was and what he was going through. But here's what we do know: actor Daniel Weyman fully knows the identity of The Stranger, and is aware of everyone's theories about him (which have been around since The Rings of Power trailer dropped). Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is finally out on Prime Video and we need to discuss "The Stranger."

Morfydd Clark as Galadriel. (Image credit: Prime Video). Morfydd Clark (Galadriel). Galadriel was famously portrayed by Cate Blanchett in Peter Jackson's ...

Over the years, Gravelle has landed roles on shows like A Discovery of Witches, Mr. Prior to taking on a role previously played by Peter McKenzie, Owen showed up on TV shows like The Young Adventures of Indiana Jones, where he played Dr. In that same stretch of time, Arthur has landed roles a long list of movies that includes The One and Only Ivan, White Island, The Patrol, and Mr. You can see all these familiar and not-so-familiar faces in action as the show is now available for anyone with an That being said, here is a breakdown of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power cast and where you’ve seen the actors before… He has also shown up in movies like Mary Queen of Scots, Settlers, and In The Blood. [Amazon original series](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2570421/the-best-amazon-prime-original-shows-to-binge-watch-now), The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, is finally here and is giving longtime fans of J.R.R. His other film credits include In the Heart of the Sea, Love is Blind, and Flags of Our Fathers, to name a few. Throughout his career, Arthur has popped up on shows like The Palace, New Tricks, Casualty, A Confession, and several others. Her film credits include Star Trek Into Darkness, The Accountant, and Colombiana, to name a few. Fans of The Ice Road will also remember Walker from his turn as Tom Varnay in the 2021 Liam Neeson Netflix movie. Whether he’s playing characters like Corban Yaxley in the Harry Potter movie franchise, Mother Superior in Trainspotting, or Syd in Children of Men, Mullan has long shown off his tremendous range.

There can be no middle ground on Middle-earth, as reactions to The Rings of Power demonstrate.

“It’s all in the detail,” says Atherton. That shows the strength of feeling here but, at the same time, how it can go a bit extreme.” Other less savoury criticism has focused on the diverse casting, because, as Lenny Henry, who plays the harfoot elder Sadoc Burrows, put it: “They have no trouble believing in a dragon, but they do have trouble believing … Some have taken umbrage at the fact that there are “Hobbit-esque” characters – called harfoots – in the show, as Tolkien wrote that hobbits did nothing noteworthy before the Third Age. [Guardian review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/aug/31/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-so-astounding-it-makes-house-of-the-dragon-look-amateur) called so astounding it made the rival HBO series House of the Dragon “look amateur” – covers the Second Age of Middle-earth. “They have to invent characters, they have to invent storylines, but keep it within that skeleton.

Prime Video's new "Lord of the Rings" prequel TV series "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" debuted its first two episodes Thursday night — and ...

“Nothing short of cringeworthy,” wrote Eric. was as unimpressed as Gollum being gifted a ring from Kay Jewelers. It’s a smoldering dumpster fire.” “The writing is worse than what you could expect to see on CW. of the show that stars Morfydd Clark as Galadriel and Robert Aramayo as Elrond. [ scored a measly 37% audience rating](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_lord_of_the_rings_the_rings_of_power) on Rotten Tomatoes with more than 2,800 user reviews so far.

While there's lots of other things going on in this episode, a big chunk of it (rock pun!) hinges on why the dwarven prince Durin is absolutely pissed at Elrond ...

While there is a world of tragedy and tradition in [the immortal society](https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22610056/lord-of-the-rings-where-elves-go-when-they-die-grey-havens) he built, it’s all [terribly self-serious](https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings/22565789/lotr-legolas-weird-faces-expression-orlando-bloom-elf) in the way a lot of lesser high fantasy inspired by Tolkien comes across. In Middle-earth, dwarves live longer than humans (about 300 years to humankind’s roughly 100, when things go well) but it’s still, as Durin tells Elrond, a lifetime, a significant piece of his finite time alive on Middle-earth. In hashing out his beef with Elrond, Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) is a window to the dwarven perspective on Middle-earth. Check out the second episode of Amazon’s [The Rings of Power](https://www.polygon.com/23329258/lord-rings-power-review-episode-release), and reconsider. But the best thing about Rings of Power’s second episode is that it also takes them seriously on a dramatic level. Tolkien’s fantasy humanoids](https://www.polygon.com/lord-of-the-rings) is best, dwarves or elves, I would go with dwarves every time.

The Rings of Power takes place in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before Frodo takes the ring to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings. While elves ...

Most will remember Galadriel as one of the most powerful elves in The Lord of the Rings, but here she is still young. During The Rings of Power, which takes place during the Second Age, Elrond is living in Lindon serving the current Elven high king, Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker). The Rings of Power takes place in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before Frodo takes the ring to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings.

Elves, Harfoots, humans, and trolls — a new adventure in Middle-earth begins. Galadriel and Elrond Image via Prime Video.

Galadriel dives overboard, into the water, the shimmering light above her, and surfaces just in time to see the wall of clouds closes again, shrouding the sea and her in darkness. Ever curious, she follows it to the sight of impact, where she finds an unexpected sight: a nearly naked man, curled up in the center of the fiery hole. “You and I must look to the new sunrise.” He tells Elrond he’ll be working with Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), “the greatest of Elven smiths” on a new project. A flock of white seabirds bursts through the clouds and encircles the boat while the elves break into harmonious song. But her mother, Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) urges her daughter to find satisfaction there in their village; the Harfoots are the only creatures of Middle-earth who are just responsible to their community, and that relationship is how they survive. When he asks for more details on the poisoning (and is unconvincingly rebuffed), Rowan (Ian Blackburn) shouts at “knife-ears” (rude!) that “One day our true king will return and pry us right out from under your pointy boots.” Arondir goes out back to share a charged moment with Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), a local healer, who seems way happier to see him than anyone else in town. She and her company kneel in their armor (somehow both fierce and luxuriously draped — the elven magic gives them both immortality and impeccable fashion) as High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) honors them for their efforts. He tells her that a stone sinks because it looks down into the dark water; a boat floats because it looks up to the light. While surrounded by orc corpses embedded in the walls, Galadriel finds the three-pronged sigil carved into the stone, a sign that Sauron survived. As the Two Trees of Valinor are destroyed, the elves sail East across the Sundering Seas to Middle-earth to battle Morgoth’s orcs and to restore peace. Over the objections of Thondir (Fabian McCallum), she pushes the party through a blizzard and into a massive ruin of jagged stone. [The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power](https://collider.com/tag/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power/) begins with this assurance, intoned in the dark by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark).

As fans tried to stream the series, some complained that only Episode 2 was available for viewing.

[@JayAreOliver](https://twitter.com/JayAreOliver/status/1565505562753785858) wrote, “Amazon only released episode 2 of Rings of Power? Strange marketing plan.” [@moviesRtherapy](https://twitter.com/moviesRtherapy/status/1565505593212866560) was overcome by emotion, writing, “Only Episode 2 of [#TheRingsOfPower](https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheRingsOfPower?src=hashtag_click) is working right now. “‘House of the Dragon’ was successfully viewed by millions of HBO Max subscribers last night. [@LOTRonPrime](https://twitter.com/LOTRonPrime) hopefully it’s just me but only episode 2 is available not episode 1 why!? [@therealmccaw](https://twitter.com/therealmccaw/status/1565504301065289729) tweeted. “It looks good, has a few charismatic performances that sell the characters and is all in all watchable, if something less than compelling — predictable even in the suspenseful parts, occasionally exciting and sometimes sort of boring. The option to press play for Episode 1 of the series was nowhere to be found, with the play button missing altogether and text reading “This video is currently unavailable.” According to [the “Game of Thrones” prequel series](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-08-19/house-of-the-dragon-review-hbo-game-of-thrones) “House of the Dragon” reported experiencing an outage on HBO Max, according to [DownDetector.com](https://downdetector.com/status/hbo-max/). [statement provided to The Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-08-22/house-of-dragon-the-premiere-hbo-max-down-crash). [measured review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-08-31/lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-amazon-prime-video) of the series. Has to be a mistake,”

Much like in the original trilogy, Galadriel has an important part to play in Middle-earth's Second Age. Jim Vejvoda. Adam Bankhurst.

So we come to that world at its height, but at a particularly precarious moment and a moment at which something like the appearance of an elf might have a big impact.” Another big question in The Rings of Power will be how the people of Numenor will react to Galadriel or any elves who may land on their shores. That was some time ago, and since then Elves haven’t made much of an appearance on the island. And half of the population or so feels very indebted and connected to Elven ways, and half or so feel that they are their own people who do things in the Numenorean way. “If Galadriel were to turn up in Numenor, it would be quite an event because they have not seen an elf in a very long time,” Weber said. Her long, elven life alongside her power and brilliance helped her become, as Tolkien put it, the “greatest of elven women.”

In which a familiar location gets a facelift, and some fireflies are unfairly targeted. By Lauren Puckett-Pope Published: Sep 2, 2022.

(An altogether endearing story of how she was “resonating” a silver deposit when the prince arrived to check on her crew—and then returned, again and again.) Elrond notices that Durin has planted a sapling of the Elvish Great Tree of Lindon in his home, and he soothes the prince’s anger with a compliment: “How could it not grow, in a home like yours?” And so Durin takes Elrond’s request to his father, King Durin III, who accuses his son of having a soft spot for the Elves. Back in Rhovanion, Nori and Poppy tell The Stranger that it’s time for their band of Harfoots to migrate, meaning they can do no more to help him. But there’s something very wrong with his magic—when he collapses, so too do the fireflies, sputtering and dying in a circle around him. Anyway, in Khazad-dûm, Elrond expects to be greeted warmly by his old friend Prince Durin (Owain Arthur), but he’s committed the ultimate sin against a Dwarf: He missed a party. They discover a tunnel beneath one of the homes, and Arondir decides to chart it out while Bronwyn returns to Tirharad to warn her people. Elrond recommends enlisting the Dwarves, and so he and Celebrimbor chart a course for the remarkable halls of Khazad-dûm, which fans of Peter Jackson’s films will recognize as the eventually desolate mines of Moria under the Misty Mountains. Speaking of Arondir and Bronwyn, they’re out exploring the smoldering ruins of Hordern, where the buildings are razed but there’s not a body to be found. After a scuffle where Theo emits a few too many melodramatic cries of pain, Bronwyn brings the Orc’s head to the local pub as proof of her warning, and the people move out from their little homestead—including Theo, who totes along the broken Sauron sword, which slowly re-builds as it saps blood from a wound on his hand. It’s broken, for sure, but the site around the break looks brackish, almost as if it’s infected with the same black goo Arondir and Bronwyn discovered in a cow’s belly in the Southlands. And so, at the beginning of episode 2 of The Rings of Power, Nori surveys the naked man in the crater. You could dismiss this ethos as trite, if you like—you’d be far from the first—but to do so would be to ignore the foundation of this entire beloved franchise. That’s always been the strength of the Lord of the Rings—and, by extension, the strength of

Amazon Prime's new The Lord of the Rings prequel brings viewers back to Middle Earth with a familiar nostalgic soundscape of ethereal voices, yearning horns ...

The Mystics – Bear McCreary The Boat – Bear McCreary Valinor – Bear McCreary McCreary composed the nine hours of music in just eight months, which was then recorded across four days. Sauron – Bear McCreary The Stranger – Bear McCreary Galadriel – Bear McCreary The harmonic language has this middle eastern progression.” “When we’re with the Elves, you’re going to hear choirs ethereal voices. I’m not trying to rock the boat or unpleasantly surprise you.” [A trumpeter played ‘Misty Mountain’ from The Hobbit in a stairwell… R.

The new Amazon Prime series based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien is rated TV-14.

The first two episodes of “The Rings of Power” introduced some frightening creatures and menacing characters. This series is not based on a Tolkien book, but on the six-part “appendices” about Middle-earth history that follow his book “Return of the King.” The so-far mild sexual innuendo and references will likely pass over kids’ heads. The entire series is expected to cost more than $1 billion. But there are some familiar elves — notably Galadriel — and evil forces we’re all too familiar with. Amazon paid $250 million for the rights, and that’s just the beginning.

“The lord of the Rings”, a film trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novels, set the standard for blockbuster adaptations of beloved books.

After all, what made “The Lord of the Rings” so effective was the simplicity of the underlying idea. More than that, “The Rings of Power” is a statement of Amazon’s grand aspirations. As Galadriel, the hero of the show, once proclaimed: “The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Now “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”, a series on Amazon Prime Video, will attempt to match that success. [Game of Thrones](/culture/2022/08/19/house-of-the-dragon-is-a-slick-follow-up-to-game-of-thrones)” or Netflix’s “Stranger Things”. “The lord of the Rings”, a film trilogy based on J.R.R.

While Sauron is one of the most iconic pop culture villains, thanks to Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Morgoth is a more obscure villain. And as ...

When he felt he could no longer stand to the combined forces of Middle-earth and the Valar, Morgoth pledged for his life, trying to break peace after all the pain he caused. The story of The Rings of Power starts many centuries after Sauron vanished, and before he would rise as a new Dark Lord. In order to protect the Children of Ilúvatar, the Valar united and attacked Melkor in his fortress in Middle-earth, defeating the villain. Also known as the Wars of Beleriand, the great battles that marked the First Age of Middle-earth always involved Morgoth, the Elves, and the Silmarils, dragging other people and the Valar into the conflict multiple times. And as the first episode of The Rings of Power explains, the evil lord was around for a long time, since his war against the Elves raged for centuries. So, when his sentence came to an end, he claimed to be regretful of his actions, and vowed to help the Valar and the Elves to prosper.

Amazon Studios' new The Lord of the Rings show is pretty, but also pretty dull, at least at the start.

Hopefully the little bit of momentum in the second episode continues and the series picks up the pace. The Fellowship was perfect because for most of it you just had one elf around to do some sick archery and banter with a grouchy dwarf. (They literally have twigs and leaves in their hair, messily cram berries into their mouths, and are in great need of the invention of bathtubs and napkins.) I'm happy with this, and it does a lot to explain the wanderlust of Bilbo, the durability of Samwise, and the curiosity of Pippin. The rest of the elves, including Elrond, not a ruler yet but a younger assistant to the regional manager, figure that since Sauron hasn't been seen lately, he's probably not worth worrying about. The first two episodes of Amazon Studio's The Rings of Power, the television prequel series to The Lord of the Rings, aired late yesterday. When sitting down to play a new game, sometimes the wait between 'sitting down' and 'playing' is a gulf of unskippable cutscenes.

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" star Morfydd Clark discusses what she would say to Tolkien fans surprised to see Galadriel as a badass warrior.

The Meteor Man has come to Middle-earth, and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power fans already are trying to figure out who he is.

The cast of Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power including Charlie Vickers, Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Ben Walker along with executive producers JD ...

Prime Video has instituted a 72-hour review delay to screen out the most vocal (and potentially bad-faith) critics of its Lord Of The Rings show.

That makes us think it's been held up by COVID-related delays. Countless items from Funko POPs to Hasbro action figures have release dates well into 2023 ...

Because it's a strategic co-op experience, you'll get a lot out of it if you have like-minded Tolkien fans in your life. This is one of the better The Prancing Pony Inn is from early in Fellowship of the Ring rather than Rings of Power, but hey, it's too cool not to mention. For those hunting down a relatively quick and agile tabletop experience set in Middle-Earth, this card game based on the books is well worth a look. While he doesn't often interact with heroes during Lord of the Rings (which definitely isn't the case in Rings of Power), Sauron's presence is felt nonetheless thanks to his great eye watching over everyone like some cosmically powerful peeping Tom. Tolkien's book of myths and legends will do the trick, and it just so happens to be getting a gorgeous new illustrated edition as of early November. And if you want to see whether it's worth bothering with, you can also check out our [Rings of Power review](https://www.gamesradar.com/lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-episode-1-2-review-recap/). While the landscape is slightly different in Rings of Power for reasons that will become abundantly clear as the series progresses, it's broadly the same in terms of landmarks. You can find out more in our guide on how to While that doesn't mean it isn't in the works (with a budget reportedly in the hundreds of millions, it's beyond ridiculous to think that there isn't some kind of merch plan for the series), it does mean you'll have to wait an unclear amount of time for anything official. As such, it's plausible that the Rings of Power merch has had a similar fate. With the new Amazon show causing quite a buzz online, you might be wondering if there's any cool Rings of Power merchandise out there.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power kicks off with a "meteor man" mystery fans are trying to solve... By Lacy Baugher | ...

Elrond, Galadriel, and Gil-galad's heads edited onto the cats from the 2019. Shout out to Mashable's Art Team for honoring this extremely unhinged art request.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is getting slammed essentially everywhere that accepts fan reviews: On Rotten Tomatoes, while its critics score is 84% ...