The Rings of Power Season 1 (Mini-Review)

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 is set thousands of years before the Lord of the Rings. Sauron hasn't been seen for so long that many believe he is dead. Galadriel is the only one that thinks he is still out there and seeks to kill him. She wants to kill him not only because he is pure evil, but because he killed her brother. Elanor "Nori" Brandyfoot, an inquisitive Harfoot, finds a strange man that fell from the sky. She feels she needs to help him but doesn't know what exactly he is. A great disease might cause the elves to leave Middle-Earth if a cure can't be found. The Rings of Power Season 1 was released on Amazon Prime in 2022.

Those who, unlike me, have read everything by J.R.R. Tolkien will notice that the show doesn't follow canon. This show follows events in The Silmarillion but doesn't take great pains to remain true to that book. Amazon wasn't being lazy, they just don't have the rights to that book. What they're mainly using is the Appendixes in the Lord of the Rings. Whether this bothers you or not depends on you as a person. Some Tolkien fans like Rings of Power and others don't.

One of the reasons I like this show is due to its pacing. It is slow and gives viewers time to really revel in the world. The pace may be slow, but at least the characters feel more real because of it. Galadriel's need for vengeance is very understandable and feels like how a sister would respond to the death of their brother. The stranger Nori discovers feels mysterious and even by season's end, viewers aren't entirely sure who he is.

The identity of Sauron is kept hidden until the very last episode of the season. It could be that Galadriel is wrong and the monster hasn't returned. And if he is back there are so many characters that could be him in disguise. Could the stranger Nori found be Sauron? Could Halbrand? Could it be Celebrimbor? There are so many people that could be that iconic villain. It is a relief, then, that the show doesn't try to outsmart the audience. Instead, Rings of Power foreshadows the reveal and follows through with the foreshadowing.

It felt really good to return to Middle-Earth once again. This show had a large budget and it shows. The scenery is beyond beautiful and everything looks wonderful. One reason I enjoy the slow pacing is it allows time to linger on the scenery. I felt like I was one of the Harfoots on their migration. I felt like I was with Elrond as he tried to bargain with the dwarves. I felt consumed by the beauty of Númenor and didn't mind spending time there.

While the majority of the Rings of Power's first season was slow, one episode was fast paced and served as a payoff for all the waiting. "Udûn", the sixth episode, sees a lot of action. The fight for the Southlands comes to a head. The Orcs seek to take it over so they have a home. Honestly this series humanized them and I was surprised how much I empathized with them. The result of the fighting is haunting and will stick with you some time after the episode ends.

I would recommend Rings of Power to fans of the Lord of the Rings. I would also recommend Rings of Power to fans of J.R.R. Tolkien. I would finally highly recommend Rings of Power to those looking for a good fantasy show.