Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots plunge even deeper into the maelstrom following the reveal that Halbrand (a brilliantly evil Charlie Vickers) was in fact Sauron in disguise and deceiving Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). Season two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power kicks off in explosive fashion by exploring how the darkness originally unfolded with Sauron lying in wait in the cracks of Middle-Earth’s surface following betrayal and defeat. In this series he pounces on the vanity and ego of Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) with their tense two-hander scenes are a highlight of the show as he manipulates the Elven-smith into crafting more rings.
As the multiple storylines play out, some new characters are introduced including the memorable Tom Bombadil (an endearing Rory Kinnear with a Cornish accent) who helps The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) on his quest to find out exactly where his true purpose as a wizard lies. Male egos continue to bash against one another in the Dwarf world where King Durin (Peter Mullan) and the prince (Owain Arthur) attempt to understand the sway of the rings, and wife Disa (Sophia Nomvete) struggles with her own powers. Meanwhile, Isuldur (Maxim Baldry) crosses paths with peril and wickedly crafted creatures as he stumbles through the wilderness, while Galadriel continues on a quest through temptation and integrity.
While it takes a while for all the threads to come together, the narrative eventually leads the viewer to thrillingly executed battle sequences. Bear McCreary’s score working with Howard Shore’s original compositions roars with intensity in the latter episodes, while earlier on it brings real pathos to the visuals. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay continue to expand on J. R. R. Tolkien’s world to create beautifully crafted fantasy television that should appeal to the hardcore fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Certain characters like the Harfoots are underserved but they bring a much-needed lightness to the show, and even some romance.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two is out now on Prime Video
