Plot: What’s it about?
Here we are again, returning to Middle-earth for another eight episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. As I mentioned in my review of Season One, I’m a longtime admirer of Peter Jackson’s original The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which remains one of my favorite cinematic achievements. I also enjoyed his subsequent adaptation of The Hobbit, even if stretching that particular adventure into three feature-length films occasionally tested my patience. Nevertheless, Jackson understood how to bring Tolkien’s world to life, and his films established a rather lofty benchmark for anything that followed.
Season One introduced an enormous collection of characters and competing storylines, eventually revealing the identity of Sauron and establishing the groundwork for the forging of the Rings of Power. Season Two picks up in the aftermath of those revelations, with the Dark Lord now free to pursue his ambitions through deception, manipulation and an increasingly elaborate scheme to gain control over the various kingdoms of Middle-earth.
With Charlie Vickers taking a considerably more prominent role as Sauron, the season places greater emphasis on his relationship with Celebrimbor, the Elven master smith responsible for creating the Rings. Meanwhile, Galadriel struggles with the consequences of her earlier decisions, the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm faces an increasingly dangerous internal crisis, and the political situation in Númenor continues to deteriorate.
There’s certainly no shortage of material here, and the series continues to demonstrate an impressive commitment to its source material’s mythology, even while taking considerable liberties with Tolkien’s established chronology. Let’s take a closer look at the eight episodes included in this collection.
1. Elven Kings Under the Sky – The season opens with a flashback revealing Sauron’s earlier attempts to consolidate power following the defeat of Morgoth. In the present, Sauron begins manipulating Adar and the Orcs while Galadriel, Elrond and Gil-galad debate what should be done with the three Elven Rings. Meanwhile, the Stranger and Nori venture into unfamiliar territory in search of answers.
2. Where the Stars Are Strange – Sauron continues his efforts to gain influence over the various kingdoms, while Galadriel attempts to find allies who can help counter his growing threat. Khazad-dûm experiences troubling developments as King Durin III becomes increasingly concerned about the kingdom’s future, while the Stranger and the Harfoots encounter a dangerous new adversary.
3. The Eagle and the Sceptre – Isildur finds himself reunited with an old acquaintance as his journey through Middle-earth continues. In Númenor, political tensions intensify as Míriel faces growing opposition, while Sauron, now operating under the identity of Annatar, begins working his influence over Celebrimbor and the Elven smiths of Eregion.
4. Eldest – The Stranger and his companions encounter a mysterious figure who may finally provide answers about his origins and abilities. Meanwhile, Arondir and Isildur search for Theo, while Galadriel and Elrond find themselves walking directly into a dangerous situation involving Adar and his Orc army.
5. Halls of Stone – The consequences of the Dwarven Rings become increasingly apparent as King Durin III begins exhibiting troubling behavior. Prince Durin IV grows suspicious of the Rings’ influence, placing him at odds with his father. Elsewhere, Celebrimbor is persuaded to continue his work on the Rings intended for Men, while the political upheaval in Númenor continues to threaten its remaining stability.
6. Where Is He? – Sauron’s manipulation of Celebrimbor begins producing the results he has been working toward, while Galadriel considers an unexpected proposition that could change the course of the conflict. Elendil faces a difficult judgment in Númenor, and the Stranger must make an important decision concerning his future and the growing threat surrounding him.
7. Doomed to Die – The conflict surrounding Eregion finally erupts into a devastating siege as Adar’s Orc army attacks the Elven stronghold. Elrond leads an army in an attempt to defend the city, while Celebrimbor slowly begins recognizing the deception Sauron has constructed around him. As the battle intensifies, the true extent of Sauron’s manipulation becomes increasingly apparent.
8. Shadow and Flame – The season concludes with the devastating fall of Eregion and the final confrontation between Celebrimbor and Sauron. Galadriel and Adar find themselves caught in the middle of the unfolding conflict, while the Dwarves face a catastrophic threat beneath Khazad-dûm. Elsewhere, the Stranger finally discovers more about his identity, setting the stage for another significant chapter in Middle-earth’s history.
Video: How’s it look?
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Season Two arrives on 4K with Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range. Much like its predecessor, this is an exceptionally ambitious production that places enormous emphasis on cinematography, production design, elaborate environments and visual effects. The series continues to utilize a combination of breathtaking natural landscapes and extensively constructed digital environments, with the various kingdoms of Middle-earth receiving considerable attention. Eregion, the forests surrounding the Elven settlements, the magnificent architecture of Númenor and the subterranean splendor of Khazad-dûm all provide distinctive visual environments. Again, like the first season there are aspect ratios, with both 1.78:1 and 2.39:1 material. And, like Season One – it’s a thing of beauty.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack provides an appropriately expansive audio presentation, with the series continuing to take full advantage of its enormous musical arrangements, environmental effects and large-scale action sequences. Bear McCreary’s score remains an important component of the production, with sweeping orchestral compositions helping establish the emotional weight and scale of the various storylines. Rock solid vocals, surrounds abound and immerses the viewer right smack dab in the middle of the action. You won’t be disappointed.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The supplements are similar to the first season.
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – Season One Recap – A brief refresher covering the major characters, storylines and developments from the first season on the off chance you decided to delve into season two without first seeing the inaugural season.
- Inside Episodes 1-8 – Eight individual behind-the-scenes featurettes examining the creation of each episode, including production details, character developments, performances, visual effects and the various creative decisions involved in bringing the season to life.
- The Battle of Eregion – A closer examination of the enormous battle sequence that dominates the final two episodes, exploring the production, choreography, visual effects and considerable effort required to stage the confrontation.
- Teaser Trailer – Promotional preview for the second season.
- Comic-Con Trailer – Additional promotional material originally presented to introduce the season.
The Bottom Line
Viewers had to wait two years between seasons one and two, but it was worth the wait. I’m usually not a fan of the “let’s turn a movie into a TV series” motif, but it really works here. Reference-quality visuals and audio to match make for a very nice offering.
