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. TrickyRikke
    Sep 22, 2022
    9
    I am loving this show so far. As a cinematic universe based off Tolkiens writings it has the look, feel, and charm of the movies that have come before it. As someone with bookshelves stocked with fantasy prose from wall to wall, I think the writing is great, the world building is wonderful, and the characters and cast are fantastic. Everything feels thought-out, natural and lively. If theI am loving this show so far. As a cinematic universe based off Tolkiens writings it has the look, feel, and charm of the movies that have come before it. As someone with bookshelves stocked with fantasy prose from wall to wall, I think the writing is great, the world building is wonderful, and the characters and cast are fantastic. Everything feels thought-out, natural and lively. If the season keeps up as good as the first half then this review will remain a 9/10.… Expand
  2. Romestamo
    Sep 22, 2022
    0
    Great cinematography but that's about it. The story is non-existent, the pacing is painfully slow, the script is amateurish, acting is poor and well-loved characters from the books are unlikeable here. The showrunners make a passing reference to Tolkien's characters whilst ripping the timeline to shreds and to what purpose? They say that such a long timeline couldn't be filmed withoutGreat cinematography but that's about it. The story is non-existent, the pacing is painfully slow, the script is amateurish, acting is poor and well-loved characters from the books are unlikeable here. The showrunners make a passing reference to Tolkien's characters whilst ripping the timeline to shreds and to what purpose? They say that such a long timeline couldn't be filmed without constantly killing off characters (something Game of Thrones did even with a shorter timeline). There are a number of ways this could have been done successfully such as compressing around the major events of the 2nd Age:

    Season 1: SA1200 - 1600 - The re-appearance of Sauron, forging of the rings
    Season 2: SA1600 - 1700 - War between Sauron and the Elves, Numenor saves the day
    Season 3: SA 2000 - 2300 - Origins of the Nazgul, shadow falls on Numenor
    Season 4: SA 3175 - 3319 - Sauron taken prisoner, Numenor destroyed, Elendil & sons escape
    Season 5: SA 3319 - 3441 - Foundation of Gondor & Arnor, War of the Last Alliance

    Another method, that would have allowed the showrunners to introduce characters earlier, would have been a Highlander-style reminiscing of past events.

    Is it really a good idea to alienate what should be your core audience, the millions of book lovers worldwide that know the lore and chronology better than that of the real world? Would it not have made more sense to hire tried-and-trusted individuals to write/produce such a flagship production or maybe actually listen to the advice of learned Tolkien scholars such as Tom Shippey?    … Expand
  3. LOTR1
    Sep 2, 2022
    9
    Very good actors. Simply amazing (sarcasm). I am for maximum closeness to the original source and authenticity.
  4. Preissnjaga
    Sep 22, 2022
    3
    There may be some good moments, but show is at times very boring and slow-paced. The writing is also more like a mediocre German soap-opera than Tolkien's "unwritten book".
  5. a_scott_a
    Sep 22, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. light spoilers here - the basic world-building of Tolkein is ignored. The main character named here Galadriel has nothing to do with the character in the films and books. She would be as fully formed and well positioned as a first generation elf at the end of the second age as she was at the age of the third. She would be six and a half feet tall and shining, not five feet tall and people checking her ears to see who she is. Here we have an underdog cutie dependent on her long dead big brother's knife and learning from a 30 year old human man how to think. A hobo "certain grey wizard" is amnesiac - drooling, setting himself on fire and being used as a pack animal. A love story for the ages between characters barely touching hands, and time spent setting up another love story between characters who can't really matter. Off brand hobbits who don't exactly eat their own, but close enough. An island going to war without any assurance there is something to war against, a war party starting with volunteers who were thrown off a ship for not being good enough the day before. I gave this show 4 chances - the basic bones are rotten, the writing makes no sense, it cant get better. Often pretty, though.… Expand
  6. TomWorgin
    Sep 22, 2022
    0
    The show is not an adaptation of the work of Tolkien, it is an allegory what Lindsay Weber admits openly. Yet we know that LotR is not an allegory and that Tolkien didn't like allegories himself. From there follows that what we are shown as not be Middle Earth as we know and like it but a view of a Big US Corporation about today's world. That also means that the show will break andThe show is not an adaptation of the work of Tolkien, it is an allegory what Lindsay Weber admits openly. Yet we know that LotR is not an allegory and that Tolkien didn't like allegories himself. From there follows that what we are shown as not be Middle Earth as we know and like it but a view of a Big US Corporation about today's world. That also means that the show will break and otherwise misrepresent the original work as much as it sees fit. This alone prevents to rate it better than 4/10 because I want to see Middle Earth as Tolkien created it and not the Amazon's views of today's world. Unfortunately the writing is poor, the plot is slow and the characters are clichés even for a generic fantasy show so that it is even far below the theoretical maximum of 4/10.… Expand
  7. Malohu
    Sep 22, 2022
    0
    It is comical if you look at the reviews on Prime. On 9/22 Amazon deleted over 4000 1 star reviews to try and hide how terrible this show is. They are doing the same thing on IMDB and RT. I made it through 3 episodes and it doesn't get any better. The trash articles about racism are nonsense also. No on cares about including black elves and dwarfs. Disa is actually one of the moreIt is comical if you look at the reviews on Prime. On 9/22 Amazon deleted over 4000 1 star reviews to try and hide how terrible this show is. They are doing the same thing on IMDB and RT. I made it through 3 episodes and it doesn't get any better. The trash articles about racism are nonsense also. No on cares about including black elves and dwarfs. Disa is actually one of the more entertaining characters. Arondir on the other hand has no personality and does not add to the show. The show is getting bombed because it is a bad show.… Expand
  8. eriksl
    Sep 22, 2022
    1
    As a person inspired and engaged with Tolkien, I was looking enormously forward to this show. I can not describe in words how disappointed I am. Now 4 episodes in, I do not care one single bit about the characters, I can not recognize much of the history I have read in Tolkien's works, and even if I lay aside my love for his lore, I think the storyline is horribly written with giganticAs a person inspired and engaged with Tolkien, I was looking enormously forward to this show. I can not describe in words how disappointed I am. Now 4 episodes in, I do not care one single bit about the characters, I can not recognize much of the history I have read in Tolkien's works, and even if I lay aside my love for his lore, I think the storyline is horribly written with gigantic plot holes, ridiculous scenes that don't make sense when you think one second about them, and characters that live more up to tell-don't show when their motivations and drives are explored.

    A missed opportunity, I hope that they instead of cramming all of the Second Age into 5 seasons, had made different storylines with the Fall of Numenor, Galadriel's role in the Second Age, and the real story of the forging of the Rings of Power.    … Expand
  9. DNA7052
    Sep 22, 2022
    0
    Laughably bad writing, a boring, meandering plot full of unlikable cardboard characters make this a show to avoid. Amazon mass deleting negative reviews of Rings of power AGAIN on their website. Hundreds vanished overnight in the UK alone while 5 star reviews sail through, whatever the content.

    Dishonest doesn't even begin to describe Amazon's approach on this expensive flop.
  10. Sebshep
    Sep 21, 2022
    1
    A soulless attempt at recreating the beauty of Tolkiens works. 10 points deducted for bad writing, dialogue, pacing, costume, casting and acting. One point added back, because some of the wide shots were nice.
  11. LordSmok
    Sep 21, 2022
    0
    cashgrab for lotr ip money that have nothing in common with Tolkien original world
  12. jpinkc
    Sep 20, 2022
    2
    This is NOT TOLKIEN!!! For a generic fantasy show it looks very pretty. The costumes and sets look good. But ITS NOT TOLKIEN!!! They take WAY to many liberties with the characters they can use. Galadriel was never a warrior. Some of the choices to add in Harfoots, and what seems to be a Gandalf type Wizard arriving??? This whole thing has ZERO respect for the source material. I dontThis is NOT TOLKIEN!!! For a generic fantasy show it looks very pretty. The costumes and sets look good. But ITS NOT TOLKIEN!!! They take WAY to many liberties with the characters they can use. Galadriel was never a warrior. Some of the choices to add in Harfoots, and what seems to be a Gandalf type Wizard arriving??? This whole thing has ZERO respect for the source material. I dont know who thought taking this and changing or omitting all the messages in Tolkiens works was good but they need to just GO AWAY!! There is a reason Tolkien is one of the WORLDS MOST READ AUTHORS!!! You destroy what made it great, it wasnt about race or color or any of those issues. It wasnt about any of those issues it didnt want to or need to be about them. This whole thing I hope does not continue or at least TAKE THE TOLKIEN NAME OFF THE SHOW!!!… Expand
  13. Vnox
    Sep 20, 2022
    0
    Music is good, visually is also good... characters, history development and all the rest is absolute trash.
  14. MattyWil
    Sep 20, 2022
    0
    Looks like Amazon will have a billion-dollar flop on their hands after gleefully disrespecting Tolkien's work.
    If you like watching elves who are thousands of years old act like spoiled, incompetent children, enjoy cringe dialogue, love slow and nonexistent plot lines, or just want more modern political messaging hamfisted into the most timeless literary work of all time, then this is the    Looks like Amazon will have a billion-dollar flop on their hands after gleefully disrespecting Tolkien's work.
    If you like watching elves who are thousands of years old act like spoiled, incompetent children, enjoy cringe dialogue, love slow and nonexistent plot lines, or just want more modern political messaging hamfisted into the most timeless literary work of all time, then this is the show for you!

    Quite literally nothing you see on screen ever happened in middle earth, and the few characters that they do have from the lore have been bastardized beyond recognition.
    Even if you aren't a LotR fan, there are endless elementary mistakes in plot, plot holes, writing, pacing, tone, and acting. This is just a badly written show with a billion dollar Lord of the Rings sticker slapped on.    … Expand
  15. portaljockey
    Sep 20, 2022
    0
    This garbage is hands-down the worst insult to Tolkien's works that has ever been made. Nothing about the show is compelling or remotely interesting. The shoe-horned character additions are as forgettable as the crappy writing, and the canon character portrayals are abysmal; especially that of Galadriel. Dumping a ton of money on a colossal pile of **** does not change the fact thatThis garbage is hands-down the worst insult to Tolkien's works that has ever been made. Nothing about the show is compelling or remotely interesting. The shoe-horned character additions are as forgettable as the crappy writing, and the canon character portrayals are abysmal; especially that of Galadriel. Dumping a ton of money on a colossal pile of **** does not change the fact that Amazon has produced a colossal pile of ****… Expand
  16. zdadthrice
    Sep 20, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nothing like trying to ride on the coattails of The Lord of The Rings trilogy to push your leftist agenda. The Sea says ROP is white hot garbage, and the Sea is always right. ✅… Expand
  17. RageoftheGODs
    Sep 20, 2022
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I’ll start off by stating I’m not a Tolkien lore or Lord of the Rings fanatic. So, I really don’t know if the show is staying true to the lord or not. I’m reviewing the show so far (through episode 4) simply for the writing, acting and visuals. The first thing to mention is the visuals are very well done. The world looks amazing and the character costumes (for the most part) all look great and believable; especially the orcs, the look awesome. The acting is fine, but the quality varies from character to character. The main character, Galadriel, is the one I like the least. She’s very bland and boring and not very convincing. Adar is the character I’m most interested in so far, he hasn’t been in the show much but he has been the one I’m most interested in. Durin and Elrond are also good character. Most of the others are forgettable. The plot so far leaves much to be desired. We’re 4 episodes into the show and I still really don’t feel like I’m being “pulled in” or like I have that feeling where I can’t wait till the next episode because I have to know what happens. Overall, it’s been a very slow progressing season so far with too many characters I really just don’t care about and not enough really happening to keep me invested and want to keep watching. 5/10 so far.… Expand
  18. sethman1975
    Sep 20, 2022
    3
    Gave it a 3 for the amazing score and good special FX. The writing and characters are really badly written, something i would expect from a fanfic hobbyist. A major problem is also Galadriel, i can't recall such an unlikable character as her in modern tv. She is somehow flawless, commands the northern army(tolkien never mentioned it), is always right and can apparently best 5 NumenorianGave it a 3 for the amazing score and good special FX. The writing and characters are really badly written, something i would expect from a fanfic hobbyist. A major problem is also Galadriel, i can't recall such an unlikable character as her in modern tv. She is somehow flawless, commands the northern army(tolkien never mentioned it), is always right and can apparently best 5 Numenorian fully armed men in two moves and then scale the tower to the King's chamber assassins creed style. It is so far beyond logical, you have to laugh and it's clear they have made her a mary sue in armor that can never do wrong.

    The show has a logic problem as well by making Galadriel the protaganist in that she isn't even in the last battle of men and elves at the conclusion of the age. She resides in the west and has nothing to do with the most pivotal moment of the age. So much for the "commander of the northern armies".

    Also the "diversity" factor has been ramped up to beyond ridiculous. That scene with all the women at the start of S01E04 was like a UN cabinet meeting with literally every race on the planet there. Also the love interest of the black elf character has a son who isn't remotely the same race. They haven't even tried to make it believable or realistic. It's just "diversity matters" and to hell with logic.

    Also Isildur looks like an islander race while Elendil his dad is a white guy and his sister looks slavic. You can't make up how badly they have fumbled the basics and it ruins all immersion. Don't get me started on the story and character development.

    Such a shame what could have been a series for the ages is just another garbage tier woke CW series with pretty graphics and an amazing score. So sick of these corporations ruining treasured IP's. It's sheer hubris    … Expand
  19. Herbzilla77
    Sep 20, 2022
    1
    I made it to episode 3 before I tapped out, terrible on all aspects. Slow,boring, no likeable characters , nothing to do with Tolkien, just a really bad show trying to hitch a ride off of a name.
  20. Alycia_Franey
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    I've read the criticism and some are valid however given that this is the second age, not much is known even by Tolkien himself. I rather enjoy the show and look forward each week to watching it.
  21. DwightLangosh4
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    Estou Gostando bastante Acredito que o grande Publico ja queria ver lutas guerras etc . Começou de Forma Explicativa , alias são 5 temporadas as coisas tem que se construir aos poucos, personagens, lugares etc não é um filme como a trilogia que tudo tem que ser jogado em 2 horas . até agora estou gostando bastante ,
  22. Doylekatiekuhic
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    Great production values, good performances, generally, good writing. Didn't really care for using the dwarves as comic relief, it jars with the tone of the rest of the story. this isn't The Hobbit and the worst of Jackson's work should be left behind.
  23. DrMister
    Sep 20, 2022
    8
    As a fan of all Tolkiens writings its sad to see the condensed timelines and lore rewrites, but I understand the issues with obtaining the Silmarilion IP and the 3000 years the show needs to cover. I like the visuals and the acting, the cast is doing a good job with what they got but I cant give it 10/10 with the extreme lore inaccuracy.
  24. Benton-Rutherfo
    Sep 20, 2022
    8
    I read all the negative reviews and was a little disheartened, but I mustered up the courage and watched it anyway. I loved every bit of it. Been a Tolkien fan since i was 12 and I know the lore in my sleep. I know that there is no way you can adapt thousands of years into a show without changing timelines and adding characters. Needless to say, I am a big fan of what they did so far. II read all the negative reviews and was a little disheartened, but I mustered up the courage and watched it anyway. I loved every bit of it. Been a Tolkien fan since i was 12 and I know the lore in my sleep. I know that there is no way you can adapt thousands of years into a show without changing timelines and adding characters. Needless to say, I am a big fan of what they did so far. I look forward to the next 5 seasons.… Expand
  25. Elmo98
    Sep 20, 2022
    7
    I have not read the books but have enjoyed RoP thus far. Not sure why all the hate. A good story takes time to tell and they need to build up the world first before diving in head first. Give it till the end of season 1 before you can really know.
  26. Roahim
    Sep 20, 2022
    7
    I don't get the trolling of this show since it's enjoyable to watch. Even if you don't like it the production is beautiful. It is leaving me guessing as to what's going to happen next.
  27. bettercallmaul
    Sep 20, 2022
    10
    Ok, I don't get the hate this show is getting. Watched the first episode with my family and everyone loved it. This included people who loved the LoTR movies. The cinematography and set pieces are beautiful and the cast was fine. If you're a fan of fantasy, just go in and enjoy the world building and the story development. It'll take time to introduce new characters. Americans just wantOk, I don't get the hate this show is getting. Watched the first episode with my family and everyone loved it. This included people who loved the LoTR movies. The cinematography and set pieces are beautiful and the cast was fine. If you're a fan of fantasy, just go in and enjoy the world building and the story development. It'll take time to introduce new characters. Americans just want every episode to have action or to end in some cliffhanger. For a fantasy series to explore as much as possible of its world, it needs time. You can't expect the action of a 3hr movie in a 8+ hr series (or possibly more, if there are more seasons to come). I've watched foreign series from Asia that are 40 hour+ long and it takes a while for the story to develop and there may be a lot of miscellaneous mini-adventures or non-essential story lines mixed in, but in the end, things feel epic. I have no worries about this series at its current rate. Looking forwards to more of it!… Expand
  28. bradlyninenine
    Sep 20, 2022
    9
    Ignore the review bombers. The show is not only visually beautiful, it also shows a deep love for Tolkien's rich history, and features interesting characters.
  29. gerardore
    Sep 19, 2022
    9
    Three episodes in and I have to say I'm pleasently surprised. It's a pretty good show so far. As a fan of Tolkien's world, in writen and movie form, I really enjoy seeing Middle Earth during a time where the world has not fallen into pieces yet, the civilizations are still grand and majestic. And they really know how to show this off, as we have many moments where the show just presents usThree episodes in and I have to say I'm pleasently surprised. It's a pretty good show so far. As a fan of Tolkien's world, in writen and movie form, I really enjoy seeing Middle Earth during a time where the world has not fallen into pieces yet, the civilizations are still grand and majestic. And they really know how to show this off, as we have many moments where the show just presents us a new city and let's us take in their size and grandure. I also really like the overall plot. It's a smart approach, how they managed to put together different plot lines that are very character-focused and have secrets and question marks, even for fans of the book. And despite the extrem complexity of the books this show has been adapted from, they manage to break down the lore in a way that it is understandable and digestable for newcommers. And I really, really appreciate the fact, that they manage to keep the dialogues and characteres grounded and believable as part of their world. My major worry has been that they would try to make all the dialogues and characters "witty", a sickness that has grown over skript-writing ever since Marvel started to become the big player in franchise-production with their Superhero-characters. But no such thing! It's not, that the skript is entirely without humor or fun, it's just more low-key and fits the tone of the world really well. The weaker points of the show so far has been some of the characters. Three episodes in, and there is a huge gap between some of the more likable characters with a lot of personality and some more... let's generously call them "bland" characters. And given that, as I mentioned before, the individual plot lines are very character driven, it's a problem that some characters really are not up to the task yet to really carry their scenes. Another issue after three episodes is, that... not much seems to have happened so far. Given that these three episodes come together to a total of over 3 hours (or approximatelly the length of one of Peter Jackson's movies in the same world), it really doesn't feel like a whole lot has happened yet. I don't mind a slow burn, but if you have several plot lines running parallel, it would be good to have at least SOME of them be a bit differently paced. However, I have to say that I am pleasently surprised. It's a pretty damn good translation of Tolkien's world onto the screen and a solid attempt of creating an engaging narrative for a rather difficult part of the history of this universe. If it keeps going in this way, I will end up really enjoying myself. So far, I would absolutely recommend it! !… Expand
  30. Okicritic
    Sep 19, 2022
    4
    After watching half of season 1, it's clear the show is rich in style and poor in substance. Each episode barely moves the plot along, several characters feel completely unnecessary, the star character is insufferable, and the dialogue is borderline cringeworthy. The writers need a major course-correction in season 2 if this series has any hope.
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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]
    Read full review
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