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. Fatmandu
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    It's just another dull boring generic fantasy that may as well not have any association with Tolkien.
  2. Ayzen8
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Merda demais, simplesmente não tenho o que dizer além disso, é uma vergonha para Tolkien e seu legado!… Expand
  3. Klaudyah
    Sep 4, 2022
    1
    Sou admiradora da obra do Tolkien e infelizmente essa série não respeitou a obra e a essência. Não basta ter um visual atrativo sem envolvimento dos personagens e a origem da história.
  4. Mjando24
    Sep 4, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No this isn’t racism, or bigotry or any other stuff being thrown at negative reviews. Putting Lore issues aside (it’s clear why they have taken this route with Galdrieeeeel) the CGI is very good in parts, musical score could be the best thing to come from this. Beyond that - the script…..dear god the script and dialogue. They literally had a child write this for them. Morfyyd Clark up to episode two - dull dull dull. Celeborn anyone?? Or the lining up some live interest for the warrior princess. Lastly what have they done to Elrond???… Expand
  5. Swalpo
    Sep 4, 2022
    2
    A very poor and invented script with a poor development of the characters, the visual production is the only good thing that can be seen
  6. leviathanarg
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    Watched ep. 1. Seeing the beautiful visuals I only think, they could have done a great Tolkien universe tv show.
    Instead they decided to go the racist, misandrist way.
    Shame on this. I cannot recommend it. Super woke
  7. goindpn
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    Sam: Do you remember mister Frodo, when entertainment designed as protohistories of Europe didn't have to have African and Asian ancestry peoples? Do you remember when stories designed to appeal to and inspire men men didn't have to have female leads doing all the fighting and being the only brave ones?

    Frodo: No, Sam. I don't remember when Hollywood wasn't dominated by far left    Sam: Do you remember mister Frodo, when entertainment designed as protohistories of Europe didn't have to have African and Asian ancestry peoples? Do you remember when stories designed to appeal to and inspire men men didn't have to have female leads doing all the fighting and being the only brave ones?

    Frodo: No, Sam. I don't remember when Hollywood wasn't dominated by far left activists using the story as a vehicle for them to push their liberal pieties on the rest of us. I don't remember a time when every plot point wasn't viewed as an opportunity for the writers and producers to virtue signal to one another, rather than tell an interesting story or transport us briefly from the pain of living.

    This show has good special effects and cinematography. Everything else is a disaster.

    A question for Hollywood: Why does Wakanda (a fantasy construct of an African country) get to represent a fully black culture, but Asgard (a fantasy construct of an ancient Nordic country) or LOTR (which Tolkien specifically stated was a protohistory of Europe) has to be racially diverse?

    Tell me, by what mechanism would a little village in an era before cars and planes have people with skin adapted to both the climates of Ireland and the African savannah? Dragons and trolls are more believable than asking us to accept this absurdity.    … Expand
  8. thesithempire
    Sep 4, 2022
    10
    this show is beautiful, gorgeously-crafted, lavishly produced, well-written, and faithful in the main to the themes and concepts of J.R.R. Tolkien and the overview he provided of the Second Age in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings.

    As someone who has actually read The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and the History of Middle-earth, I can state with unbiased clarity that there is    this show is beautiful, gorgeously-crafted, lavishly produced, well-written, and faithful in the main to the themes and concepts of J.R.R. Tolkien and the overview he provided of the Second Age in the Appendices of The Lord of the Rings.

    As someone who has actually read The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and the History of Middle-earth, I can state with unbiased clarity that there is no perversion of Tolkien going on here, nor is there any political agenda.    … Expand
  9. Steyraus
    Sep 4, 2022
    1
    We are so lucky to have you got the Lord of the Rings trilogy when we did. Before woke politics right a time when CGI was pretty good. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the best trilogies ever and this new TV show is one of the worst TV shows ever. To call it boring is understatement to call it stupid is an understatement this show is so dry and full of the dumb actions and dumbWe are so lucky to have you got the Lord of the Rings trilogy when we did. Before woke politics right a time when CGI was pretty good. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the best trilogies ever and this new TV show is one of the worst TV shows ever. To call it boring is understatement to call it stupid is an understatement this show is so dry and full of the dumb actions and dumb writing it's hard to fathom they paid so much money for it.… Expand
  10. matunaga
    Sep 4, 2022
    3
    I might just be too deep into the lore to ignore how the showrunners butchered it. Apart from that, it‘s lazy storytelling, sub par acting, really weird dialogues trying hard to simulate depth and a good measure of boredom. Costumes/Armour are not impressive over all. At least the dwarfs got some cgi love, hence 3 out of 10.
    Why did they even think inventing lore that‘s totally against    I might just be too deep into the lore to ignore how the showrunners butchered it. Apart from that, it‘s lazy storytelling, sub par acting, really weird dialogues trying hard to simulate depth and a good measure of boredom. Costumes/Armour are not impressive over all. At least the dwarfs got some cgi love, hence 3 out of 10.
    Why did they even think inventing lore that‘s totally against what JRRT already wrote could ever be a good idea? Why even try to tell a story without the appropriate rights to about everything they would have needed to get it right? Did they really believe woke messaging would pull in enough normies to create a whole new fanbase? Fascinating.    … Expand
  11. Lm79
    Sep 4, 2022
    1
    "Stolen Valor" is a term applied to the phenomenon of people falsely claiming military awards or medals they did not earn, service they did not perform, Prisoner of War experiences that never happened, and other tales of military actions that exist only in their minds. To buy rights to a book for the sole purpose of adapting to screen, and then not including one thing from the book in the"Stolen Valor" is a term applied to the phenomenon of people falsely claiming military awards or medals they did not earn, service they did not perform, Prisoner of War experiences that never happened, and other tales of military actions that exist only in their minds. To buy rights to a book for the sole purpose of adapting to screen, and then not including one thing from the book in the screen adaption is not only Stolen Valor, but gaslighting.
    Not one thing from the appendix Rings of Power made it to the films. Not one. Ungoliant killing the trees, kinslaying, flight of the Noldor, Crossing of the ice death of Morgoth, Galadriel leading her kingdom with Celeborn, Elrond finally being born and marring her daughter... nothing. Literally nothing that is in the book made it to screen.    … Expand
  12. Asgalurch
    Sep 4, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Wanted to give it a 2/10 then I remembered the "rock don't float because looks down and ship focus on light" writing..

    If you came for an adaptation of the professors work you should look otherwise. Probably in the books the writers forgot to read.

    The show looks stunning... mostly. Some times even a billion dollars cannot hide CGI and actors looking like they are a PNG in front of another PNG. Overall though the visuals are okay. I liked Telperion and Laurelin for the 2 seconds they were in the show... followed by me nearly fainting because there was no mention of Ungoliant.... but hey what do I know... just a fan of another franchise that is about to be ruined by a billion dollar corp that thinks they could do better than someone with actual knowledge on worldbuilding, ethnics and philosophy....

    Nearly none of the characters Tolkien wrote about are where they are supposed to be/are who they are supposed to be. In contrast of being a wise eldar princess that wants a kingdom of her own to rule in middle earth, Galadriel is "ThE WaRrIoR oF ThE WaStes" and a commander => this is not lore accurate... the writers must have gone back to the wrong books... Also she should look way older than Elrond and not same or even younger than him... She is his mother in law ffs...
    Elrond is not a politician... He actually was a commander of Gil-Galads armies, unlike Galadriel. And yes he was a diplomat too but this is definetely not Elrond Half-Elven who has also eldar blood in his veins and is most definetely one of the lordiest elven lords out there... He is the son of Earendil ffs... The elves love and adore him... but nah he is not invited to the council cause he is a mudblood...

    Next time don't call it Lord of the Rings... in contrast to other fandoms we actually act as one because J.R.R Tolkiens work is bigger than just Peter Jacksons movies... It is awhole Mythos and not something that should be tampered with... The original writings will still be remembered in a hundred years from now .... This show.. not so much    … Expand
  13. luvtheweasleys
    Sep 4, 2022
    8
    Visually, this show is stunning! The story is interesting and the dwarves are fabulous! I understand this is a TV show and I am just thankful to be given another chance to visit Middle Earth.The acting isn't fabulous, but it is enjoyable. I am hoping there is a Season 2 with all the haters out there.
  14. JayKayLetsGo
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    If you love Tolkien and LotR, you should stay away from Rings of Power. While the series clumsily cannibalizes elements from Tolkien's universe, it cannot hide the fact that large parts of the plot are fictitious and not only non-canon, but also have absolutely nothing to do with Tolkien's original intention. Die-hard fans know: Tolkien had built the universe of Middle-earth as aIf you love Tolkien and LotR, you should stay away from Rings of Power. While the series clumsily cannibalizes elements from Tolkien's universe, it cannot hide the fact that large parts of the plot are fictitious and not only non-canon, but also have absolutely nothing to do with Tolkien's original intention. Die-hard fans know: Tolkien had built the universe of Middle-earth as a consistent, purely Anglo-Saxon mythology (in contrast to the then established Greco-Roman mythology). Accordingly, one finds a large number of cross-references to Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and Norse mythology in LotR. The cultures and people of Middle-earth also represent members of a fantasy culture, but they unmistakably originate from the continental European community of legends and culture. That was also the secret of the success of LotR, a community that, analogous to the Germanic-Anglo-Saxon heroic epic (Beowulf, Siegfried), fights a seemingly invincible threat with credible cultures, myths and people. So let's take a quick look at the most prominent characters that were invented in this series and aggressively placed in marketing: Arondir - black Legolas Disa - black dwarf princess (without beard) Elanor Brandyfoot - halfling woman Poppy Proudfellow - halfling woman Marigold Brandyfoot - black halfling woman and matriarch Bronwyn - Iranian woman Sadoc Burrows - black hobbit Theo - Asian man The canon characters continue this trend, which of course leads to even greater conflicts with Tolkien's lore: Míriel, who is the mother of Feanor, who is described in the book as "bright-eyed", is - surprise - black, as well as Tar-Miriel, who is even explicitly described in the book as "fairer than silver" and "with bright eyes". You CAN do something like this. I have absolutely nothing against fair representation of minorities in contemporary or historical films. But only if it can also be reconciled with the plot and the logic of the respective universe - in a Transformers film, Avengers or anywhere else. But if a film based on Anglo-Saxon-Germanic culture suddenly presents a population structure like that of a modern US college, that leads to a break in immersion, to put it mildly. But then please don't pretend that this cast came about by chance and not the product of conscious, ideological-political motivation.… Expand
  15. VicFerrari
    Sep 4, 2022
    6
    Mega-budget eye candy that fails to connect intellectually or emotionally. Snoozeville.
  16. JonathanSidwell
    Sep 4, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I can't decide whether it's meant for kids or adults; the writing is childish, the action scenes are violent, the characters don't make sense and it all just seems to be a massive "f u" to Tolkien fans with its pervasive yet shallow "interpretation" of the books.… Expand
  17. Lt_Maverick
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    I will not cancel my Prime Account like some others have, and like I did after Netflix butchered “The Witcher.” However, I am gravely disappointed in how poorly this was done. Very sad. There’s nothing remotely Tolkien about this. It will be interesting to see how much viewership drops in the next few “episodes.”
  18. KnightPower
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    Sadoc Burrows, Arondir, and princess Disa,
    These characters were not created by Tolkien but by Amazon for the needs of wokes.
    These are characters that don't exist in the book and serve no purpose.
    Arondir's story is just lame and cheesy.
    Galadriel's story is wrong and inconsistent.
  19. Dluerssen
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Galadriel is over the top Karen in command of a company she needs not. She single handily took down a snow troll then her company abandoned her. So she returned with them? What ever she a super elf nothing can stop her. Such an over the top character poorly acted nothing but resting Karen face the whole time. What a disappointment.… Expand
  20. Everynameistakn
    Sep 4, 2022
    0
    My previous score and review were deleted even tho there was no insults just my opinion on the show, so I'll just say f*ck you
  21. xareth
    Sep 4, 2022
    4
    I am not disappointed. After seeing trailers and actors saying what we should expect I was expecting the show to be below average. Also, I was expecting the same from House of the Dragon, however GoT sequel (after two episodes) was better than I anticipated. It is not the case of Amazon interpretation of Tolkien.

    I am a big fan of Tolkien's work and Peter's Jackson lotr movies. However,    I am not disappointed. After seeing trailers and actors saying what we should expect I was expecting the show to be below average. Also, I was expecting the same from House of the Dragon, however GoT sequel (after two episodes) was better than I anticipated. It is not the case of Amazon interpretation of Tolkien.

    I am a big fan of Tolkien's work and Peter's Jackson lotr movies. However, in case of Rings of power, it was a chore to see this world butchered. However, I decided to watch and rate first two episodes as regular fantasy..

    Positives:
    - actors are matched ok.
    - some views are nice looking
    - clothing is ok. Some armor look average, but it is not something really poor
    - music often is ok
    - race swap: i was worrying that it will be a problem with black elf but actor is fitting well there

    Negatives:
    - dialogues are awful. Each scene is a conflict between characters. They argue about anything..
    - Plot is not believable, however maybe in later episodes will be better.
    - Most of the scenes feel like fillers.
    - CGI.. everywhere CGI.
    - and when they want to make orc not cgi it looks not so great. It looks like human that is wearing orc makeup..
    - fight scenes.. Galadriel fighting troll.. it looks just stupid.. There is no impact when she attacks troll. Compare it to fight in Moria vs troll. You could feel that troll is dangerous enemy. That he has thick skin. You need spear to penetrate it, not slice and dice it with a knife..

    Probably I could write more.. But it is just bland below average show. It is not terrible. You can watch it and have some fun. However, if we take into consideration it costs $750, 000,000 and it was created based on Tolkien's work.. It is disappointing that they did not manage to give us great show.    … Expand
  22. RonnyPeterson
    Sep 4, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Like finding a 10-dollar bill in the lavatory.

    Dialogue, script, some casting- and costume choices, story lines and cutting makes it so. There is no story to hook the viewers interest on.. Why should I follow Galadriels vengeance, when she so keen on to leave stray fellow soldiers behind? And that she can defeat threats well enough on her own? Or argue with her friend Elrond? Or see her jump to her death in the middle of the ocean? The feminist message writing shines through (Too much on the nose), like an infested wound and I keep thinking: "Why is this in Tolkien-fantasy?".

    It is "Star Wars 8 Last Jedi" all over again. People saying stuff - it sounds cool, but makes no sense. People doing cool stuff and the visuals looks grand... but it makes no sense.

    And let me be first to point out that the Harfoot-Hobbits depiction seem to be a mix of Ewoks and European gypsies (Wide-waist skirts, moving- not wrong whit that, says Borat). I liked the scene when they ate berries and being a cheap copy of the Shire hobbits. A 2 minute glimmer of a much greater past... And I didn't hate the dwarf scenes ether. Disa is the only happy-go-charming character in this saga, 2ep. in, and the only one I can relate to, ether thou I'm white and she's black.

    The relationship of Bronwyn and Arondil does not make me intrigued. Their mix race/ethnicity story is also on the nose and the obvious modern-racism still makes me wonder: "why is this in my Tolkien-fantasy??". And Theo (not Theon) looks quite like a young Anakin Skywalker: half curious, half orphan, half disappointed... Like me.. is he gonna turn EVIL?.. But (again) the scary bits and the orc looks grand.

    So watching this show as a fan, was like diving into a outhouse finding a 10-dollar bill: "I discover at least something that I didn't expected". The rest is constipated confused figures pissing dark blood. I've got a greater understanding now why some Muslims get angry when infidels desecrates their religion and try to portray Mohamed.To compare Lord of the Ring with this series is to compare Taj Mahal to a Neanderthals dung house.

    But it's not a complete Serbian Film in the Willow Room, Your Highness... so while the dumpster fire burns, I'll keep watching.    … Expand
  23. KeirAndo
    Sep 4, 2022
    5
    Two episodes in and it's really not as "woke" as I was worried, but it's just badly written and acted.
    It looks beautiful,but the writing is just really over-egged and some of the acting is just totally overplayed. Poor Galadriel has been done a total disservice.

    And dwarf women are supposed to have beards and look like men!
  24. desmondvdkruk
    Sep 4, 2022
    9
    Great visuals, interesting start. I dont care if it follows lore or not, or that there are like five non white characters. I want to enjoy a serie and its story for an evening. And so far i do.
  25. lisamimc
    Sep 4, 2022
    10
    Entertaining and engrossing!!! Intriguing characters and breathtaking visuals.
  26. abhayjamwal
    Sep 4, 2022
    10
    Middle earth is back and beautifully done. It shows where the $$$ were spent. Listening to soundtrack on repeat. Specially the dwarves
  27. Natanloewen
    Sep 4, 2022
    5
    It's a slow burning, epic montage of
    majestic middle earth scenery. We are lucky to have this as fans. Though it's best to expect "fanfic" with lore references, it’s still thoroughly enjoyable thus far.
    Personally I want to see way more time showing life in elven Lindon and Eregion, and much less about the invented mortal Tir-Harad and Harfoot stories at this point - and less arbitrary    It's a slow burning, epic montage of
    majestic middle earth scenery. We are lucky to have this as fans. Though it's best to expect "fanfic" with lore references, it’s still thoroughly enjoyable thus far.
    Personally I want to see way more time showing life in elven Lindon and Eregion, and much less about the invented mortal Tir-Harad and Harfoot stories at this point - and less arbitrary jumping back and forth (like the Lindon ceremony scene, don't cut to Harfoots to see what they're up to while Elrond and the High King are preparing the most exquisite honors for an elf's lifetime for Varda's sake!). I'm excited to see how this unfolds and speculate based on the lore what is going to happen with regards to the mystery meteor-man character, and who's ending up as a Nazgûl, and what manner of skills the dwarves and elf-smiths can conjure up.    … Expand
  28. Frodo9Fingers
    Sep 4, 2022
    10
    Music and graphics are stunning! Love the diverse casting! It is reminiscent of the lore we know and love.
  29. kwisi91
    Sep 4, 2022
    2
    Be woke - get broke.
    well, that's one factor lol but to be more serious... much CGI, boring story and has nothing to do with Tolkien. Another franchise which got destroyed by AMAZON like they did with Star Trek and other things.
  30. Godfryd
    Sep 4, 2022
    6
    I'll premise this by saying that I love LotR (books and movies), but I have never read Silmarilion or other Tolkien books than LotR and Hobbit.

    For me, the first two episodes were 6/10, it's a little above mediocre fantasy. Galadriel was better than I expected, Elrond is pretty good, but elves overall feel too human - there's nothing magical about them which is a little disappointing.    I'll premise this by saying that I love LotR (books and movies), but I have never read Silmarilion or other Tolkien books than LotR and Hobbit.

    For me, the first two episodes were 6/10, it's a little above mediocre fantasy. Galadriel was better than I expected, Elrond is pretty good, but elves overall feel too human - there's nothing magical about them which is a little disappointing.
    Dwarves are fantastic, and honestly, if the whole series was about dwarves, it would be 10/10 for me. The only story part I am excited to see further. However, on the other end of the stick are harfoots, which almost put me to sleep, I wouldn't be watching at all if it was about them.

    There are many stupid scenes that don't make logical sense, but there are also some really pretty shots. Sometimes things go super fast, and people teleport all over the world, and sometimes things slow down to boredom.

    If you just want to relax and shut your brain, watching this costly fan fiction might provide some fun, but don't overthink what you're seeing.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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.
    Read full review
  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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