Is Rings of Power Poised to Step Out of Westeros’s Shadow?
Two years ago, Westeros and Middle-earth clashed in the streaming arena. Amazon’s Prime Video scheduled the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power—the most expensive series ever made—only for HBO to strategically debut House of the Dragon, the first spinoff from Game of Thrones, two weeks earlier. HBO’s deliberate overlap with another high-budget fantasy show was a move worthy of Tyrion Lannister’s strategic acumen. HBO CEO Casey Bloys remarked to The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s nice we ended up being a couple weeks ahead of time.” (In the realm of content, it’s all about winning or losing.) The strategy paid off for HBO: House of the Dragon enjoyed the network’s largest premiere ever, dispelling fears that Game of Thrones‘ disappointing conclusion might deter viewers. Meanwhile, Prime Video faced a setback: Rings of Power reportedly had a 37 percent completion rate domestically, with only about a third of viewers finishing the first season. While not disastrous, it fell short of expectations for the world’s costliest show.
By any standard, House of the Dragon outperformed The Rings of Power in its debut season: it was more popular, received better critical reviews, and garnered more Emmy nominations. However, sustaining that level of success is a long-term effort, and House of the Dragon faced challenges in its second season. While there were standout moments—such as Rhaenys’s dramatic death, the dragon Vermithor incinerating Targaryen bastards, and the mud wrestling scenes—the show fell short in delivering on its central promise of a Targaryen civil war. The finale felt like a mere setup for Season 3, which disappointed viewers, particularly since it will likely be another two years before new episodes are released. This lengthy wait might lead to a significant drop in audience engagement, potentially undermining the show’s success.
Could HBO’s setback turn into Prime Video’s opportunity? This time, The Rings of Power is launching without any direct competition. While HBO’s Industry is a great show, it doesn’t have the same potential to overshadow Middle-earth as a series like Succession or Euphoria might have. If Rings of Power is going to justify its enormous budget, the summer of 2024 could be its prime chance to capitalize on the absence of rival high-profile fantasy shows. However, meeting such lofty expectations will be challenging, especially for a series that has yet to fully deliver on its promise.
To recap, The Rings of Power’s first season is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, which falls between the events of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The story focuses on the elf warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who suspects that Sauron is hiding and plotting to seize power. Other storylines include the harfoots—ancestors of hobbits—befriending a mysterious wizard who may be Gandalf the Gray, and the Southlands being overrun by orcs and eventually becoming Mordor. By the season’s end, it’s revealed that Galadriel’s human ally, Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), is actually Sauron, who has been manipulating events to create the titular rings of power.
While Rings of Power wasn’t flawless from the start, the mystery of Sauron’s true identity was intriguing enough to keep viewers engaged, alongside the show’s impressive production values showcasing stunning New Zealand landscapes and advanced visual effects. However, now that Sauron’s identity is revealed, the show faces a challenge. The Dark Lord is a central figure in fantasy lore largely because of the mystery surrounding him. Besides the memorable prologue in The Fellowship of the Ring, Sauron is primarily a distant, ominous presence represented by a giant disembodied eye in Mordor. Focusing too much on Sauron in Rings of Power might lessen his impact, similar to how a potential Star Wars origin story for Emperor Palpatine could diminish the character’s mystique.
Rings of Power chooses to dive deep into Sauron’s backstory in Season 2. The first 20 minutes of the premiere provide a detailed account of the Dark Lord’s past: his failed attempt to enlist the orcs led by the corrupted elf Adar (Sam Hazeldine), the process of his malevolent spirit assuming a new guise (Sauron as Halbrand), and the events that brought him into contact with Galadriel. This extensive exposition is reminiscent of Longlegs, which was more effective when it hinted at its antagonist’s menace rather than delving into his backstory. Similarly, Rings of Power loses some of Sauron’s eerie allure when it reveals too much, turning him from a mysterious presence into an oddball fixated on jewelry, much like a Middle-earth equivalent of Howard Ratner.
Throughout the second season, Sauron operates in the elven kingdom of Eregion, manipulating the renowned smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) to set in motion events that could lead to Middle-earth’s downfall. While Prime Video has restricted detailed discussion, those familiar with The Fellowship of the Ring’s prologue will recognize the implications. The relationship between Celebrimbor and Sauron—disguised as Annatar, the Lord of Gifts—is one of the season’s highlights, showcasing Sauron’s skill in manipulation. The season effectively captures the theme that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” However, Sauron’s plans often seem too simplistic to justify their prominence. The show might have benefited from maintaining some of the original mystery, similar to how The Leftovers handled its enigmatic elements.
Unfortunately, the show’s issues extend beyond its overemphasis on Sauron. Rings of Power faces a significant problem with its ensemble cast, which is even more noticeable this season. Unlike Game of Thrones, which kept audiences engaged with its diverse and compelling characters such as Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, and Arya Stark, Rings of Power struggles to maintain interest. The show frequently checks in with characters like Isildur (Maxim Baldry) and the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), but their storylines could be summed up in a single sentence. The Stranger’s origin story, in particular, is among the least compelling in recent memory.
Additionally, despite the considerable budget, relocating the production from New Zealand to the United Kingdom has not been successful. The natural landscapes of New Zealand lent a sense of vastness and depth to Middle-earth that the new setting fails to replicate, making the world feel more confined and limited. Whether due to budget constraints or other factors, this change hasn’t worked in the show’s favor. With the series planned to span five seasons, the slow pacing is problematic, drawing unfavorable comparisons to House of the Dragon’s second season, which also suffered from slow progress and long waits for significant developments.
Despite criticisms, it’s disappointing to see the show struggle. With the significant investment Amazon has made, there’s hope that the series can turn things around and that a Season 3 renewal is likely. However, given the current viewership levels and the show’s ambition to be the “next Game of Thrones,” Amazon might reconsider its commitment, especially with new competition on the horizon from Warner Bros., including a Lord of the Rings anime movie and a Gollum standalone film. For now, Rings of Power faces a challenge similar to Middle-earth under Sauron’s shadow: even with the best intentions, its future remains uncertain.
