Is the merit of J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendary franchise in the overwhelming omnibus of lore? Is every detail of its world-building sacrosanct and unchangeable at penalty of death? Surely not. The worth of Middle Earth is in its strength as sweeping high fantasy, its influence over the genre, and its power as a foundational text. It was a matter of time before creators took it upon themselves to tell new stories within its bounds.
The most unpleasant aspect ofRings of Poweris Amazon’s involvement. The idea of the most expensive TV project of all time and a soulless megacorporation slapping their branding on the work of the Professor is enough to see many fans swear off. However, global conglomerates don’t create art, they pay the people who do. Theartists who poured theirhearts and soul into this project came away with something to be proud of.
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Rings of Poweris an immense spectacle. It’s epic and cinematic in the way it absolutely has to be. Very few pieces of media have carried as much in the way of expectations as this series, bearing the weight ofits massive price tagalongside hardcore fans who’ll throw the show out for its changes to the lore. Those who know every detail of the novels and appendices will undoubtedly find issues. Those who only watched the Peter Jackson films will take issue with differences in portrayal. For audiences going into the project set on despising it, there’s something for everyone to hate here.
The narrative is divided into multiple stories. The centerpiece stars Morfydd Clark as Galadriel, depicted here as a warrior so vengeful, driven, and proud that her own army turns against her to get her to give up the quest.Galadriel is given a hero’ssend-off by her king, who insists that the war is over, but she simply can’t get over the scars of her past. The war is inside of her, she can never let it go, there is a world elsewhere for her. When she’s proven right by a twist of fate, however, she continues her never-ending revenge quest, come hell and high water. Clark is a far cry from Cate Blanchett’s take on the character, but she’s absolutely stellar. She’s vulnerable, flawed, powerful, driven, and forceful in a way that commands attention.
Like the original source material, the sweeping high fantasy battle of the opening act gives way to the charming pastoral life of happier folk. The Harfoots,a subset of Hobbitswho would one day sire Bilbo and Frodo, live a nomadic existence, hiding cleverly in plain sight. Their adorable little life is one of the high points of the first two episodes, a spark of joy briefly taking over the awe of the previous scenes. The central Harfoot Nori is a precocious child who seeks excitement against the advice of her elders and is confronted with a bizarre mystery. When a mysterious figure makes a cataclysmic entrance, Nori must choose between responsibility to her home and the weighty pull of fate.
The show also depicts the star-crossed romance between an Elven soldier tasked with inspecting a human village and a local healer. Her neighbors despise the Elves, viewing them accurately as an occupying army.The Elf, in turn, recallsa time when the humans served a dark power. He finds it tough to forgive their decisions, despite the humans who remember those days being long dead. Their back and forth is restrained and subtle, but the fantasy discrimination is likely the most amateurish element of its storytelling so far. When their relationship leads them to aid one another in a crisis, it quickly becomes a unique action setpiece.
Regardless of the opinion of the average viewer,Rings of Poweris set to conjure perhaps the worst media discourse of the modern era. Those seeking audience reviews will find a lot of 5-stars and a lot of zeroes.Some criticism overwhelmed the projectbefore more than a few minutes were available. There are absolutely reasons to criticize the show. Its dialogue often flows into poetic verse in a way that seems to be grating for some. The pacing doesn’t always put the focus where it needs to be. The changes to the lore will leave some fans furious. Of course, the most vitriolic hate against the series always seems to bring up “politics” or “culture war” issues, blatantly tipping their hand to reveal an opinion formed after seeing a woman in the lead role but before seeing the show. One wonders how Peter Jackson’s films would fare in today’s climate. Go into the show with an open mind, and find out where its spell works and where it doesn’t.
In its first two episodes,Rings of Powerseemsto capture the spirit of high fantasy which made Tolkien’s work as influential as it is. The magic that animates this series is the same creative voice that drives people to the world of fantasy today. It’s far from perfect, but with its visual spectacle, solid performances, beautiful presentation, and sweeping imagination,Rings of Powersings.
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