Amazon says The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was a success in 2022. The company claims over 100 million viewers worldwide and record-breaking Prime Video signups.
However, many Tolkien fans had mixed feelings about the first season, with some calling it disappointing.
I feel the same way. Season 1 had stunning visuals and impressive world-building, but character development was weak.
It also lacked the joy that makes Tolkien’s Middle-earth special. Still, I knew this was just the beginning of a five-season plan. It had to improve, right?
After watching all eight episodes of The Rings of Power Season 2, it is better. Some issues remain, but a few improvements stand out, which I’ll discuss below.
Overloaded and Chaotic
First, let’s address the issues. Too many characters crowd the story, and the episodes jump rapidly between plots, making it feel rushed.
Middle-earth’s complex geography is challenging to follow, and the scattered storytelling only adds to the confusion.
Season 2 also crams in too many action scenes. Battles fill the screen, featuring swords, shields, arrows, axes, and agile Elven combat.
Monsters appear constantly—giant mud worms, sea beasts, trolls, spiders, and undead armies.
With so many threats, the danger loses impact. When CGI effects are intense, nothing stands out, and everything blurs together.
The show leans too heavily on films from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. Rings of Power takes place in the Second Age, before the events of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, yet it repeatedly mimics Jackson’s style.
Giant eagles, spiders, Ents, and a Balrog all appear, copying his vision rather than adding new depth. These references would feel more exciting if they were rarer and more subtle.
The dialogue often feels excessive. Some lines work well, but many sound awkward. The script frequently explains things that are already clear.
In one battle, a character shouts, “They’re damming the river!”—even though the visuals make it obvious. The writing ignores a key rule of cinema: show, don’t tell.
Better Themes and Character Growth
Rings of Power improves in season 2 by exploring deeper themes and allowing some characters to develop more fully. Here are two key aspects that stood out.
The Lure of Power and the Mask of Deception
Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) remains a key character, but season 2 focuses more on Sauron (Charlie Vickers), the main antagonist.
After season 1 revealed Halbrand as Sauron, the new season shifts to his past, goals, and efforts to gain control by forging magical rings.
The shape-shifting Dark Lord spends much of the season disguised as Annatar, “Lord of Gifts,” a supposed envoy of the Valar.
He seeks to win the trust of the Elves of Eregion, especially Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), their lead craftsman.
Sauron, as Annatar, offers to help Celebrimbor forge the rings, and their alliance creates some of the most intense moments of the season.
Vickers fully embraces his role as Sauron/Annatar, whose deceptive nature mirrors Satan’s.
His ability to manipulate, his many false identities, and his promises of power reflect how evil often disguises itself as good.
His relationship with Celebrimbor highlights how easily the lure of greatness, strength, and noble intentions can mislead people.
Throughout the eight episodes, a recurring theme emerges among those who wear the rings: the power they think they control soon controls them.
As seen in The Lord of the Rings, the rings symbolize corruption, the danger of compromising values, and the risks of choosing quick solutions over the right path.
They grant immense power but, like the forbidden fruit in Eden, also bring destruction.
Season 2 presents a more apparent contrast between good and evil than Season 1, which includes morally ambiguous lines such as, “Sometimes to find the light, we must first touch the darkness.”
This time, the key message comes from Celebrimbor, who reminds the Elves how to resist Sauron’s influence:
“It is not strength that overcomes darkness, but light. Armies may rise, hearts may fail, yet still light endures. And it is mightier than strength. For in its presence, all darkness must flee.”
Season 2 strongly emphasizes light as a symbol of truth, goodness, and beauty, presenting it as the only force powerful enough to defeat darkness.
Light and Virtue on Display
Sauron may take center stage in Season 2, and more people fall under his influence, but other characters still reflect goodness. Their virtue and light remain compelling.
Elendil (Lloyd Owen) stands out as a man of quiet bravery and unwavering honor. “I would rather die with a heart that is whole than live with one broken by cowardice,” he declares.
As an ancestor of Aragorn and a key figure in the Second Age, his role will likely grow. Hopefully, the series will continue to present him as a strong and honorable leader.
Among the Elves, Elrond (Robert Aramayo), Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) display strength and virtue. However, Galadriel’s portrayal still feels distant from Tolkien’s original version.
Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) bring warmth to the story. Their marriage adds heart, while Durin’s bond with his father (Peter Mullan) creates some of the most emotional moments.
The show rarely delivers profound emotional impact like Jackson’s trilogy, but scenes featuring the Durins stand out and even bring tears.
“The Stranger” (Daniel Weyman) carries an air of mystery. The wandering wizard reveals a true identity by the end of Season 2. The character stays with the Harfoots and becomes a loyal companion.
The journey brings fun moments, especially when meeting Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear).
Tom Bombadil’s Quiet Power
Tolkien fans are happy to see Tom Bombadil, a character missing from Jackson’s trilogy. Many think the role is unnecessary in the main story, but it has a strong spiritual meaning.
Most characters in the series fight, plot, or struggle to survive. Bombadil, however, sings, enjoys tea by the fire, and picks lilies. His home serves as a peaceful refuge.
He speaks about the “secret fire,” which Tolkien saw as a divine force, and he seems filled with it.
Calling himself “Eldest,” he recalls “the first raindrop and the first acorn,” showing a wisdom rooted in harmony and hope for a better world.
He remains calm while others are anxious. It’s refreshing that the show includes him, even if he mainly serves to develop The Stranger’s story.
Viewers even hear him sing a version of one of his songs from The Fellowship of the Ring (performed by Rufus Wainwright and Bear McCreary on the soundtrack).
Bombadil’s presence aligns with what made The Rings of Power special in Season 1.
Middle-earth’s beauty lies in its moments of goodness—through landscapes, relationships, poetry, and song. These glimpses of joy reflect Tolkien’s vision, and the series should continue embracing them.
Future seasons will likely focus on darker battles, leading to The War of the Last Alliance. However, amid the chaos, showrunners Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne should not forget Bombadil’s quiet joy.
His presence reminds us why goodness matters and why darkness, in contrast, becomes dull.