Episodes viewed: 8 of 8

The second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has arrived. The first season of this incredibly expensive series received a lukewarm response, so how does Season 2 measure up? Here are some thoughts:

1). Sauron’s return to physical form after being betrayed and defeated by Adar and his Orcs is a fantastic way to kick off the season. The opening sequence is stunning.

2). Speaking of Adar, he remains my favorite character in the series. Who is he, exactly? According to lotr.fandom, Adar is a mysterious figure from the Second Age, known as ‘Lord-father’ by the Orcs. He was likely one of the first Elves captured and tortured by Morgoth. Once Sauron’s lieutenant, Adar became disillusioned with Sauron’s cruelty toward the Orcs and ultimately betrayed him.

3). The settings are once again breathtaking. It’s great to see familiar The Lord of the Rings landmarks, and the world-building continues to impress.

4). Woke Alert: I’m all for diverse casting, but it should feel natural. Andor is a great example—where all races and genders are represented without it feeling forced. However, adding a few Black characters among the Elves feels like tokenism. On the other hand, Arondir’s existence has already established that Southern Elves are Black, so perhaps I’m overthinking this.

5). The Elves repeat too many lines from the original trilogy, like “the light of the Eldar is fading.” Isn’t it a bit tiring that the Elves are still in the same situation 3,000 years later? They’ve been talking about leaving Middle-earth for ages—when will they finally depart?

6). In Season 1, it seemed like The Stranger might be Gandalf, but he could also be Saruman. This would make more sense, as Saruman likely came to Middle-earth before Mithrandir. This twist could give Peter Jackson’s Saruman a deeper, more tragic backstory, showing him as a force for good before his fall. By the end of the season, we finally find out…

7). The Dark Wizard could also be Saruman. His appearance – sitting on a throne – resembles him. However, this character is already evil. He’s played by Ciarán Hinds, and as always, Hinds delivers a great performance.

8). What’s lurking in the cave where Isildur is being held? This horror sequence rivals Frodo’s torment in Shelob’s lair: intense and chilling.

9). The Ring of Power makes Durin’s father even more stubborn and greedy, reminiscent of Thorin Oakenshield’s downfall in The Hobbit. Exploring the origins of the Balrog is a nice touch as well.

10). The siege of Eregion is filmmaking on a scale rarely seen in television, rivaled only by Game of Thrones. The decision to use Peter Jackson’s cinematography style was wise. This is how you film a massive battle with Orcs and a hill troll.

11). Howard Shore composed the beautiful opening theme, while Bear McCreary handled the rest of the score. McCreary introduces some fresh ideas, like the heavy metal end credit music in episode 7, sung by hilltroll Damrod, or so it appears.

12). Tom Bombadil finally appears, and he’s just as he is in the book; merry and always singing. He helps The Stranger discover his true identity, and naturally, they sing together. Rory Kinnear (Tanner in James Bond) is perfectly cast as Bombadil.

13). Elves and Uruks are like two sides of the same coin. Both races were created by magic, and it’s tragic that they are doomed to wage war on each other, reflecting the broader tragedy of war.

14). Speaking of tragedy, two major characters die at the end of the season, and both deaths are genuinely sad.

15). Nori’s monologue at the end, in the style of Samwise, avoids being cringeworthy and is actually well-delivered. Overall, Season 2 is a significant improvement over the first. The Rings of Power has finally found its footing, and I’m excited to see where it goes next.