The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

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Season 1
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
3.0

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 2938 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 711 out of 2938
  2. Mixed: 141 out of 2938
  3. Negative: 2,086 out of 2938

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User Reviews

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  1. erolsabadosh
    Sep 4, 2022
    2
    Mostly visually stunning and a feast for the eyes, the story and characters on the other hand didn't really grab me so I found myself losing interest between the first act of the first episode and the final scene of the second. The sweeping arial shots, beautiful backdrops and generally solid CGI had me hooked for the first twenty minutes of episode one but after that there's too much ofMostly visually stunning and a feast for the eyes, the story and characters on the other hand didn't really grab me so I found myself losing interest between the first act of the first episode and the final scene of the second. The sweeping arial shots, beautiful backdrops and generally solid CGI had me hooked for the first twenty minutes of episode one but after that there's too much of characters standing still talking to each other in over-lit static scenes for too long (the stylized modern hair cuts are an odd distracting choice). The music is really good, the acting is fine and the dialogue is serviceable but not great, it's really the visuals that kept me watching. I'm not a dedicated Lord of the Rings fan; I've only read part of the book and seen the first trilogy of films when they originally came out so I can't comment on changes for adaptation at this point, but as a casual viewer I think this show has potential and if it can achieve more character/story focus as it goes on it could become essential viewing but it's off to a bit of a slow and rambling start.… Expand
  2. renohata
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Poor character development, specifically the main protagonist, Galadriel, who is really terrible. Feels like I lost hours of my life which will never come back watching this. I give one point due to the special effects. Even the soundtrack is generic.
  3. SebDeTyra
    Oct 3, 2022
    0
    Just sad what they've done to this universe. It seems like it was made by people with no understanding of the books.
  4. tphillips
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This series is a travesty. What I saw was offensive enough that I canceled my Amazon Prime account after seven years. I hate that this series exists and has the right to use the "lord of the rings" name.
  5. Ezio_Morte
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    This is a disgrace. Its even released at Professors death anniversary. I watched the first 2 episodes, its even worse that expected. If you like the works of Tolkien STAY AWAY.
  6. MahbubAli92
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Probably the worst show I've ever seen. It's bad enough to inject modern decadent woke stuff into something like Game of Thrones, which was always pretty nihilistic anyway, but it could not clash more disastrously with Tolkien's world. This is going to be a catastrophe for Amazon (just look at these reviews, NOBODY actually likes this show) and with any luck it teaches them a severeProbably the worst show I've ever seen. It's bad enough to inject modern decadent woke stuff into something like Game of Thrones, which was always pretty nihilistic anyway, but it could not clash more disastrously with Tolkien's world. This is going to be a catastrophe for Amazon (just look at these reviews, NOBODY actually likes this show) and with any luck it teaches them a severe financial lesson about messing around with beloved works of art, since apparently money is all they care about.… Expand
  7. mothes1987
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This is disaster in Tolkien world! Absurd, epic fail. Nothing related to original lore.
  8. timingrab
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This is a heinous abomination, a desecration of Tolkien's vision, and an insult to his work. Even if one ignores the fact that this show is supposed to be based on Tolkien's Legendarium and judges it as a stand-alone show, it is mediocre at best.
  9. bulteir
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    "Evil cannot create anything new, it can only spoil and destroy what good forces have invented or created." - J.R.R.
  10. Retrostan1
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    Disappointed that Amazon are gone the way of Netflix and forcing identity politics down our necks.
  11. ChrisWebb
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    If this weren't meant to be Tolkien (It's not) I would probably rate it 4.

    I didn't really notice the 'Diversity' & a 'Woke' agenda that people complain about, that doesn't bother me, Just don't make it boring. Tell a story. Say something interesting. It's simply a yawn fest - no pace or propulsion of narrative. The lead Character is dull, writing is jaw droopingly bad. Ismael    If this weren't meant to be Tolkien (It's not) I would probably rate it 4.

    I didn't really notice the 'Diversity' & a 'Woke' agenda that people complain about, that doesn't bother me, Just don't make it boring. Tell a story. Say something interesting.

    It's simply a yawn fest - no pace or propulsion of narrative. The lead Character is dull, writing is jaw droopingly bad.

    Ismael Cruz Cordova, I liked him in this and his character (I found him irritating in interviews.)

    Galadriel is a Mary Sue, she's self entitled and makes the most INSANE decisions - who knows, there may be a character arc here - Though I doubt the writers haven't reached that chapter in their book of story telling quite yet.

    And there's so many moments where you think WHAT!?

    Did those two Elves walk from one kingdom to the other, why didn't they ride horses?
    She Jumped off the boat in the middle of the ocean?

    It looks good. But for 60 million an episode (which seems obscene) You'd have to work hard to make it not look good.

    House of the Dragons (Though I'm still waiting fr the other shoe to drop (Looking at you Season 6/7/8 GOT)

    I won't watch anymore, unless it does a reverse GOT... now that would be a meme.    … Expand
  12. Guilhermevski
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not Tolkien. Better stay with the books. Good CGI and photography. Poor dialogues and storytelling.… Expand
  13. GI_Biochip
    Sep 8, 2022
    0
    We'd been warned that this was going to be garbage. I watched the first eppisode, and it's shockingly bad. The dialogue sounds like it's out of a cop movie, dreadful wire work, I could go on and on about how disappointing this is.
  14. Ivanaika
    Oct 1, 2022
    0
    Boring beyond belief, stupid beyond belief....literally not a single likable character
  15. kabamaru
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Very boring show, notable for its ill pacing and bad acting. Polished trash.
  16. Jesatlas
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This show is very loosely inspired by Tolkien's works. Guess what guys? EVERY fantasy with elves and orcs is inspired by Tolkien! There is no need to call this Lord of the Rings! They crammed in loads of identity politics with VERY on the nose dialogue referencing modern day social issues.
  17. Yavor
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This is exceptionally poor storytelling. One of many examples: Elrond and Durin enter a super high-stakes competition which will end in Elrond's banishment if he were to lose. Elrond loses, and literally 30 seconds later, the high stakes are gone, as Elrond gets what he wanted - a conversation with Durin.
  18. EFRAM
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    What was amazon thinking? This mish-mosh ham-fisted retelling of Tolkiens oeuvre through the exploration of the appendices of his books was boring, banal, devoid of action or drama or emotional heft. Besides the overlong totally unnecessary prologue which made the device of exposition into a cudgel, the storytelling, which should have been mesmerizing, and engaging was flat and stale. TheWhat was amazon thinking? This mish-mosh ham-fisted retelling of Tolkiens oeuvre through the exploration of the appendices of his books was boring, banal, devoid of action or drama or emotional heft. Besides the overlong totally unnecessary prologue which made the device of exposition into a cudgel, the storytelling, which should have been mesmerizing, and engaging was flat and stale. The acting was passable at best, but the writing and direction were what really sank the 2 hours I viewed. How the mucky-mucks at Amazon high command allowed this 58 million dollar embarrassment to see the light of day is beyond me. nothing to see here. I yearn for a fantasy drama that really brings a new light on a world that is created with excitement, and emotional meaning and TROP is not that.… Expand
  19. void614
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Disgusting agenda driven garbage and butchery of the professor Tolkiens work. I will never buy another product from Amazon let alone prime after this
  20. Chabster
    Sep 4, 2022
    1
    I don't believe actors, they seem to play themselves. The plot is close to non existing.
  21. Rich87
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Not a fan of producers and studios who disrespect the lore, the legacy with forced woke ideology and who disregard the source material. Its very pretty ill give it that
  22. LeFontaine
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    A work that disrespect Tolkien in every frame.

    In short:“Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made”
  23. Skinwalker
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    I didn’t given it a zero because the production value is actually very high. Unfortunately, that just allows viewers to clearly see and hear how awful this after school program is.. this is not Lord of the Rings by any stretch nor does it even feel like it takes place in the same universe. At best this fan fiction written by a teenage girl with her degree from Starbucks university.
  24. PoopyDoopy
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    The casting in this show is awful, not a single character stands out as being likeable. The story is just plain boring and doesn't leave you with any sense of dying to see the next episode. Lot's of laughable moments as they shoe horn in cringey moments to elevate certain characters at the expense of others. The tone is incredibly unbalanced as well and it's hard to tell who this show isThe casting in this show is awful, not a single character stands out as being likeable. The story is just plain boring and doesn't leave you with any sense of dying to see the next episode. Lot's of laughable moments as they shoe horn in cringey moments to elevate certain characters at the expense of others. The tone is incredibly unbalanced as well and it's hard to tell who this show is even being made for from one moment to the next.… Expand
  25. DidiXtar
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    It looks quite pretty, like really pretty, like those random fantasy wallpapers that you can find online if you google fantasy wallpapers or something like that; but that’s it, there’s nothing else there, it’s generic AF, the writing is awful, there’s no plot whatsoever after 2 hours, the acting is terrible, specially the actress that plays Galadriel. As a longtime LOTR fan (books and PJ’sIt looks quite pretty, like really pretty, like those random fantasy wallpapers that you can find online if you google fantasy wallpapers or something like that; but that’s it, there’s nothing else there, it’s generic AF, the writing is awful, there’s no plot whatsoever after 2 hours, the acting is terrible, specially the actress that plays Galadriel. As a longtime LOTR fan (books and PJ’s films) this doesn’t feel like it’s in any way related to Tolkien’s work, it’s so sad to see the incredible potential of this universe wasted. The uniqueness of the Middle Earth that we can appreciate in the books and that was masterfully captured in PJ’s adaptation is completely lost here. The LOTR trilogy IMO, is both the foundation and pinnacle of fantasy literature, Tolkien’s accomplishments in world building are second to none, one couldn’t ask for a better, richer or more distinctive world to adapt, yet they **** this up, it’s unbelievably bad. I’ve ranted enough, in short, this is a lazy woke piece of fan fiction, it’s more concerned in being “diverse” and in reflecting “the world we live in” than in telling a Middle Earth story.… Expand
  26. Matt13530
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This show is an embarrassment and and insult to Tolkien and the world he created, the writing is terrible, the CGI is awful and the music does not fit. I hope they cancel this series
  27. ButWhy22
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Very, veeery loosely based on Tolkien's work. Just some weird fan fiction, with some decent acting (dwarves) and some less decent to bad acting.
    For someone who doesn't get Tolkien and sees it just as "another franchise", this might be watchable, but if you have love and passion for the Silmarillion, The Hobbit and LotR, you will find this show devoid of heart and soul.
    They get 1 score    Very, veeery loosely based on Tolkien's work. Just some weird fan fiction, with some decent acting (dwarves) and some less decent to bad acting.
    For someone who doesn't get Tolkien and sees it just as "another franchise", this might be watchable, but if you have love and passion for the Silmarillion, The Hobbit and LotR, you will find this show devoid of heart and soul.
    They get 1 score point for clusterfckn this together from only the appendices and making the dwarves/moria part cool, but that's the end of the line.    … Expand
  28. 230MAYK
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    “Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made”
  29. vitalii2101
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Not Tolkien, not Lord of the Rings. I'm disappointed.
    Don't waste your time on this show. Read books people)
  30. Austeezy
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    What they have done to this legendary series by Tolkien is nothing short of a disgusting tragedy. Doesn’t matter how much you spend on effects and cgi the entire story is cringey and feels forced
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Jo Livingstone
    Sep 16, 2022
    80
    Adar’s début drips with signifiers. ... When Adar informs Arondir in Episode 4 that he has been told many lies, some that “run so deep even the rocks and roads now believe them,” it is still a thrill. Tolkien succeeded in creating a mythic world, one that has now grown vast enough through acts of typological repetition and imitation to conquer television, too.
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  2. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Chris Barsanti
    Sep 16, 2022
    63
    With war brewing and the forging of the rings seemingly still far off, the first half of The Rings of Power’s first season constitutes little more than stage-setting for the struggle to come. Given the lack of quests and central commanding figures, it often makes for less-than-gripping drama. However, given that there are four more seasons already planned, and potentially dozens of new characters to be introduced, the slow and throat-clearing build is possibly a good sign.
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  3. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Sep 9, 2022
    90
    The Rings of Power is a reminder of what drew many of us to epic fantasy in the first place: wonder. ... This series set in an ancient realm displays one dazzling and painterly landscape after another. Power also doesn't skimp on action. [12 - 25 Sep 2022, p.10]
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