The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

:

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. Prosmooth
    Sep 2, 2022
    4
    Have only watched the first episode. Just a casual Tolkien fan. Read the LOTRings once. Really enjoyed the Jackson trilogy. Hated his Hobbit trilogy. This is better than that, but not by much. It's dull. Really dull. So dull, that I'm not bothering to continue with the show.
  2. Cool_Dawn_Mist
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    The showrunners were lying when they said they wouldn't be inserting modern politics into Tolkien's works. And the cast are pretty awful at their roles as well as being unlikeable. The writing is sooo bad I couldn't help myself from inwardly cringing. I will not be watching any more of this bend-the-knee, Twitter grade trash.
  3. Julesko
    Sep 2, 2022
    8
    Pretty good start, don’t believe the review bombers, they live on the wrong side of history, and the wrong side of Tolkien mythology, which has always allowed for diversity.
  4. Sleepyguy7452
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    It looks nice. That's about it. Bland dialogue, limited acting performance and questionable choices for direction and casting, especially about Galadriel. Can we just hire writers that are actually good please?
  5. Cenacles
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Completely needless deviations from the actual source material and a bizarre commitment to misunderstanding Tolkien.
  6. dajif31574
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    predictable and boring first. but most importantly it doesn't follow the actual lotr lore, with a few embarrassing anachronisms
  7. liamshort
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Not a big fan of this… Given the money Amazon has thrown at it and the source material, I was expecting more. Not great.

    I’ve followed the controversy of this show, upon viewing we now know it was warranted!
  8. WillianSanches
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Woke garbage. If Tolkien was alive today he would die again after watching such a crap
  9. d_mouse
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    It's worse than poorly written fan fiction, it's terribly written and poorly executed corporate fiction with no resemblence to Tolkien's work apparently cost Amazon $1B to make. If I was Jeff Bezos I'd be asking for my money back
  10. iragelac
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Não é Senhor dos Anéis. Um desrespeito com Tolkien. Série chata, sem entusiasmo.
  11. capt_morgan
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Just boring beyond boring; super long shoots of faces and dragging drooling simpleton dialog covered up in old english.
  12. Melkor_Bauglir
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Great visual but nothing else here. Costumes are ok but not great. Music is kind of forgettable. Writing is simple bad. I can say much about the actors since with this writing they can't do much. And if you wonder how accurate it is to Tolkien's work i will only say it is as accurate as Melkor's song was to Iluvatar's.
  13. baarbara
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    I really enjoyed the show. The visual is stunning and the music by Bear McCreary (Outlander) is wonderful. The cast is perfect. Even though it's not Tolkien, it does him justice.
  14. MoONDarkBR
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    only the series cgi works. costumes, script and interpretation of the actors, horrible.
  15. caw6795
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Really disappointing. I'm a huge LOTR fan and was hopeful this show would at least be mediocre, but it's honestly a mess. The first episode jumps all over the place introducing character after character after character and unfortunately none of them are memorable or engaging. On top of that, the dialogue is quite bad with a lot of really overwrought, awkward language that seems to beReally disappointing. I'm a huge LOTR fan and was hopeful this show would at least be mediocre, but it's honestly a mess. The first episode jumps all over the place introducing character after character after character and unfortunately none of them are memorable or engaging. On top of that, the dialogue is quite bad with a lot of really overwrought, awkward language that seems to be reaching for a quality found in Tolkien, but failing miserably.

    The show looks expensive, but it's still a TV show. Most scenes are just two or three people standing around talking about what might happen or something going on somewhere else. They're talking in front of a green-screen with a pretty background, so it's kind of nice to look at, but not very compelling.

    What I'm most surprised by is how lackluster the acting is. I didn't expect great performances, but I wasn't anticipating just how ineffective all of the actors are. Lot's of bulging eyes, raised eyebrows, and over-exaggerated facial expressions to express emotion, but there's nothing that feels genuine, real, or human.

    Overall I was extremely disappointed with the first episode, but I decided to give the second episode a shot. About 20 minutes in I turned it off and went to bed. I'm a HUGE LOTR fan, and this show is certainly not for me. And it seems far more niche and nerdy than the original films. So who exactly is the audience for this disaster?    … Expand
  16. Rethar
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    J.R.R. Tolkien: “Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made”. + wtf is this. After watching
  17. Utahbones
    Sep 2, 2022
    8
    It starts slow but thats common for a world building saga. Has a lot of potential.
  18. leapeescape
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    There is no literary basis for any of this. The dialogue does not feel like Tolkein. All the $ in the world wont make this LOTR.
  19. 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
  20. bigchez2143
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Horrible show. Bad Acting. Bad Story. A slap in a face for Tolkien fans and Tolkien's work. I could not watch 10 minutes of the show. I had to turn off this trash.
  21. MGoldman
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Really slow and underwhelming. Needed better plot in the first episodes and the quality is bad.
  22. clarkestar
    Sep 2, 2022
    9
    Based on just the first two episodes... The Power of the Rings is outstanding. If you're a fan of Middle Earth, or Jackson's adaptations of TLOTR, or just mildly curious, there is a lot to like here. Yes, as a spectacle, it is stunning, with grand sweeping vistas of lushly detailed environments, but this is high fantasy lore, with plenty of exposition around Middle Earth's Second Age.Based on just the first two episodes... The Power of the Rings is outstanding. If you're a fan of Middle Earth, or Jackson's adaptations of TLOTR, or just mildly curious, there is a lot to like here. Yes, as a spectacle, it is stunning, with grand sweeping vistas of lushly detailed environments, but this is high fantasy lore, with plenty of exposition around Middle Earth's Second Age. Personally, I think The Power of the Rings is outstanding (so far). Thank you Amazon for your care and attention in creating such a fully realised and polished Middle Earth narrative.… Expand
  23. 6speed
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This is a hard pass for fans of the books and Tolkien. It's really a shame to see how far Amazon is going to silence any critique. It shows you how much knowledge and respect they lack for the story itself.
  24. Nathantootill88
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Probably the most boring fantasy series I've ever seen, was falling asleep trying to muster my way through this garbage
  25. JFRiley
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Cancel this before it causes more damage. As well all know this is NOT Tolkien, they just stole the name and pasted **** writing and characters over his legacy
  26. Jurojin
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Schön endlich mehr von Tolkien zu sehen und wenn es so gut ist wie diese Serie umso besser… Expand
  27. DX87
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Essa série é um desrespeito a obra e isso se resume em uma palavra ABOMINAÇÃO!!!!!
  28. Shanrodia
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    A series that is just there to surf on the renaming of the universe by spitting in the face of this universe to integrate the American woke propaganda. No thanks.
  29. serkancamlica
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This production is a complete disappointment. this show doesn't make any sense. excessively tasteless. Was this project really necessary?
  30. ballistic
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    I couldn't finish the episode, it was so boring. The characters are stereotypes and the CGI is very visble.
  31. nateoak10
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Lots of review bombing here from a culture war that started before the shows release. So let’s take a more objective approach and not one that was determined months before release

    Visuals : simply put it is the best show visually ever put on screen. Nothing more needs to be said. Acting : it’s well done. I was a bit worried over elrond specifically as the new actor doesn’t resemble Hugo    Lots of review bombing here from a culture war that started before the shows release. So let’s take a more objective approach and not one that was determined months before release

    Visuals : simply put it is the best show visually ever put on screen. Nothing more needs to be said.

    Acting : it’s well done. I was a bit worried over elrond specifically as the new actor doesn’t resemble Hugo Weaving but I bought into his version of the character. It’s a very charming cast without a weak performance in sight. Writing : it’s a good vs evil story and all the tropes that come with that. But lord of the rings is the original good vs evil fantasy story as is. Can it be cookie cutter if you designed the cookie? I enjoyed and thought it was very in line with the world. Soundtrack: I was surprised when I saw Howard shore actually only did the opening theme. It sounds just like the films. All in all , it’s the best show ever put to screen as it should be with that budget. I think as a LOTR fan I can sit through slower world building more than most. So maybe a newer more casual viewers may think it’s a little slow to start and they wouldn’t be wrong. It’s also not a rated R program like Game Of Thrones so if that’s more your thing keep it in mind. But this is objectively a fantastic show that you don’t need prior LOTR knowledge of to understand if you’re new. Please , try to ignore the obvious review bombing here as people have aligned political beliefs to this show (female lead and black cast has certain people upset) and are hiding behind dishonest criticism. Watch for yourself. It’s stunning.    … Expand
  32. edmondhonda304
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Nothing can sum up better my opinion about this TV Show than this quote:
    "Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made"
    Tolkien
  33. m0nkeybones
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    A whole different world that doesn't feel like The Lord of the Rings. It lacks the passion and feeling of smelling and tasting iron and blood when swords cross. The smell of burning flesh as the city catches fire.
    No attention to detail or tribute to Tolkien's created world. It's a richly written story that feels like a blank sheet of paper
  34. Ingoo
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    It's an abomination. I thought there was no way this could be worse then the hobbit but somehow it is.
  35. Bagends64
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    The series is actually really fun. I agree with some criticism but most of these reviewers only watched episode one. A lot of the stiffness gets fixed in episode 2. The show is its own thing and expecting it to be lord of the rings is stupid. It's a cool fantasy with interesting characters and a vibrant world. My actual rating is 8/10 but gave it a 10 because people feel the need to reviewThe series is actually really fun. I agree with some criticism but most of these reviewers only watched episode one. A lot of the stiffness gets fixed in episode 2. The show is its own thing and expecting it to be lord of the rings is stupid. It's a cool fantasy with interesting characters and a vibrant world. My actual rating is 8/10 but gave it a 10 because people feel the need to review bomb it. Give it a try and be open minded.… Expand
  36. Sunlikepedro
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    A breathtaking and absolutely marvelous show handmade for the pure-hearted Tolkien fans that used to daydream about adaptations while reading The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales and for those who loved the movie trilogy and wondered "is there more to this tale?" With strong writing, even stronger acting and characterization, and literally the best visuals ever seen on the small screen,A breathtaking and absolutely marvelous show handmade for the pure-hearted Tolkien fans that used to daydream about adaptations while reading The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales and for those who loved the movie trilogy and wondered "is there more to this tale?" With strong writing, even stronger acting and characterization, and literally the best visuals ever seen on the small screen, The Rings of Power is a feast for all those with a passion for fantasy.… Expand
  37. Nobody88
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    I just want to something more. Not feels like Tolkien world. This scenario is terrible. These issues are hackneyed and clichéd. From me, only 4/10
  38. righteousrage
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Just awful. Galadriel was an over-the-top Mary Sue. Somehow, she was a greater warrior than all of the Fellowship characters combined. As she took down an ice troll single handed without breaking a sweat when the Fellowship together barely defeated a cave troll in the trilogy. Also somehow, she can swim 100s of miles in no time. Other characters in the series can also walk 100s of miles in no time as well. It's so boring, the characters are not likeable and deviate to so very far from the books. The writing is just plain bad. They should have spent less on special effects and hired better writers. The idea that 2 guys who wrote a bad Star Trek movie could emulate Tolkien is insane.… Expand
  39. Cantongamer
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Where to start... Bad writing, bad acting, stupid story, moronic dialog... FX were really good (that's why I didn't give it a 0). Now the icing on this turd is how it crapped all over the property we love. Tolkien's story was not about modern people or races of this Earth. It was about the history of Arda.
  40. Tha_Likely_Lad
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Very Boring after 2 hours. Won't be watching the rest. Elves are not Elf like at all and I mean that from an intelligence point of view as well as asthetics. Scenes look nice but that should be a given considering the budget.
  41. william_homyk
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    An absolute abomination. I'm not sure what's worse the dialogue or the plotlines
  42. selloween
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Fancy effects, terrible writing, bland and boring. A total disappointment. Tolkien would turn in his grave.
  43. Calcharger
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Great fantasy series. May not be exactly like the stories in the Silmarillion but that doesn't mean I wasn't wholly entertained. Love it.
  44. gkjones013
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    It's hard to find a place to start with this.
    Firstly, the interviews with the showrunners and cast were telling. They were more focused on diversity and modernizing a timeless fantasy tale than they were on crafting a great story and characters.
    Galadriel (now Guyladriel) was reduced from an Elven Enchantress titled The Lady of the Lorien, she's now some kind of armor-wearing elven    It's hard to find a place to start with this.
    Firstly, the interviews with the showrunners and cast were telling. They were more focused on diversity and modernizing a timeless fantasy tale than they were on crafting a great story and characters.
    Galadriel (now Guyladriel) was reduced from an Elven Enchantress titled The Lady of the Lorien, she's now some kind of armor-wearing elven warrior. Sauron (now Soyron) is some weird abomination that's supposed to be intimidating.
    The story is disjointed and lost as if it's being told to you by someone with dementia and they're trying to recall it. It's slow-paced and doesn't give you much to hold onto to stay interested.
    Many original characters from the Silmarillion were cut, and new original characters from Amazon were inserted.
    What had the potential to be a great timeless fantasy story based on European folklore from Tolkien, is weighed down by modern politics and poor story writing. Avoid and rewatch the LoTR or Hobbit movies, or better yet read the books, to get your fantasy fix.    … Expand
  45. 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.
  46. SinuousGrace
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Feels like an imposter set piece put together by know-nothing activists. Astounding that this much money was spent on something that had "be an engrossing, immersive, watchable show consistent with the spirit and lore of Tolkien and Jackson" way way down on the list of priorities behind "push the desired establishment successor ideology" and "stick it to the 'toxic' fandom." I hope theyFeels like an imposter set piece put together by know-nothing activists. Astounding that this much money was spent on something that had "be an engrossing, immersive, watchable show consistent with the spirit and lore of Tolkien and Jackson" way way down on the list of priorities behind "push the desired establishment successor ideology" and "stick it to the 'toxic' fandom." I hope they lose a ton of money on this cynical cash grab.… Expand
  47. esorokin
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Doesn't respect the original at all. A series can be inclusive, but it was done in a wrong way.
  48. 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
  49. Joe_Pascal
    Sep 2, 2022
    7
    I fully understand the anger about 'woke' shoehorning of diverse actors in this show. Tolkien intended Middle Earth to be evocative of European folklore and as such I do believe the appearance of the characters ought to be faithful to that. Rings of Power wastes no time in "subverting the expectations" of the viewer in that respect and the pushback I think is not surprising. It will be, II fully understand the anger about 'woke' shoehorning of diverse actors in this show. Tolkien intended Middle Earth to be evocative of European folklore and as such I do believe the appearance of the characters ought to be faithful to that. Rings of Power wastes no time in "subverting the expectations" of the viewer in that respect and the pushback I think is not surprising. It will be, I suspect, a rather jarring running theme in this show. One thing that jumped out at me was the (diverse) elf/human romance that is shoved in our faces almost immediately and feels very awkward and forced. There seems no real point to it other than the obvious.

    However.... If you can ignore the above, I think you will find a very enjoyable show here. Sure, the acting is hit and miss, the dialogue is a bit am-dram and yes, it goes without saying that Galadriel, the female lead, is yawn-inducingly Mary Sue at times.... BUT... my goodness is the world of Middle Earth ever BEAUTIFUL, as are the costumes and the effects. Top brownie points to the artists/designers because this aspect alone is good enough to keep me watching for the time being.

    So I'd say don't be put off giving this a watch by the somewhat hysterical backlash (1's and 2's are not objectively representative of the show's quality). It's critics are entirely justified in their complaints, but there's still a lot to enjoy here.    … Expand
  50. HOFFERN
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    People need to chill down. Stop the hate. It’s getting ridiculous, and is why we cannot have nice things.

    The show is imo absolutely amazing - everything we could hope for in a fantasy show. Yes, they adapted it for TV, meaning it has creative freedom… but so what? This is better than every fantasy show we have gotten on TV the last decade.. truly refreshing. Amazing sets and scenery,    People need to chill down. Stop the hate. It’s getting ridiculous, and is why we cannot have nice things.

    The show is imo absolutely amazing - everything we could hope for in a fantasy show. Yes, they adapted it for TV, meaning it has creative freedom… but so what? This is better than every fantasy show we have gotten on TV the last decade.. truly refreshing. Amazing sets and scenery, filming is great, pace is great, story is so far also great.. with no cringe worthy dialogue. Extremely refreshing.. especially compared to Wheel of Time, and in my opinion much better than the Hobbit trilogy.. especially due to the fact that it does not feel overdone and more practical effects instead of overdone CGI work.    … Expand
  51. Clintf5
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Dang I wanted to like this so bad. It does have great CGI. But the characters are totally forgettable and not what I would expect from a good fantasy series. Casting and writing is horrible. Is there a storyline? I’m not sure yet.
  52. BillCooper2049
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    “Evil cannot create anything new, they can only corrupt and ruin good forces have invented or made”
  53. Leo37
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    If this show was just an attempt to make a fantasy series, I would rate maybe 2 points above. But actually, this is an abomination against a literary masterpiece. Stop insulting fans with terrible adaptions.
  54. Stevenlide
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    They spent a lot of money but the story is lacking. Doesn't even attempt to get the viewer interested outside of some cool special effects.
  55. Kekwoo
    Sep 2, 2022
    8
    Beautiful visually, good actors, overall quite liked. I didn't expect much from him, but I was pleasantly surprised
  56. ar1urius
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Great first episode. Enjoyed it more than even the movies. Hope it will stay in production and Amazon ignores the review bombing from the rabid fanbase.
  57. Lookatmenow
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Me parece absurdo que usen bots para darle críticas negativas. La serie tiene la mejor banda sonora jamás escuchada en una serie. La calidad visual está a un nivel inalcanzable. Los actores están fantásticos y parece que son perfectos para cada uno. J Bayona ha hecho un trabajo impecable y se nota que hay mucho cuidado por hacer las cosas bien. Un 10
  58. SmalHans
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bad acting, boring story, horrible halfling camp, halflings are the wrong size in shots with the hunters. Only thing they nailed is the elf ears..… Expand
  59. jd999
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Conflict in the Rings of Power is not in Mordor. It is not in Middle Earth. The conflict is in the actors representing the characters. "Good and Evil" in this series is the fight against whiteness and men, typified by flying in the face of Tolkein's intentions with a creation that is based on nothing Tolkein wrote. The whole point of the Rings of Power is to showcase Black Equity andConflict in the Rings of Power is not in Mordor. It is not in Middle Earth. The conflict is in the actors representing the characters. "Good and Evil" in this series is the fight against whiteness and men, typified by flying in the face of Tolkein's intentions with a creation that is based on nothing Tolkein wrote. The whole point of the Rings of Power is to showcase Black Equity and Feminism, cue reverential capitalization. The plot is filled with Destiny style Manichean talk about "the light and dark," which is to say there is none of Tolkein's Christian themes at work here. How could they find a place in this Woke citadel? This show is not a bout "fantasy" or The Lord of the Rings. They used Tolkein's project precisely so they could defecate on its white male corpse, which is to say Tolkein is not the point. Blacks and women are. Middle Earth is just a prop for racial and sexual equity.… Expand
  60. Rubino
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Not even the slightest related to the masterpiece Jackson has created and truly undeserving of the title :The Lord of the Rings.
  61. mari2k
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    1 Star for SFX. Everything else is garbage. No this is not Tolkien anymore... it has nothing to do with LOTR. Bad , boring, full of political correctness.
  62. swissloki
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    Personajes con la personalidad de una bolsa de patatas, diálogos planos y sin substancia, ambientación más que mejorable en el universo Tolkien... Es un horror. Lo único salvable es la música y el estilo de dirección (se nota la mano de Bayona). Todo lo demás es un abusurdo sin sentido.
  63. darthstatto
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Amazing television. The Rings of Power draws you into its world with mind-blowing visuals, intriguing characters and tantalizing mystery.
  64. DM327
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    That was boring, soulless and the only thing it was good at is pushing it’s stupid identity politics. When will big studios realise that we don’t want them to incorporate modern day issues in our beloved fantasy worlds. Show is absolute sh*t, amozon are greedy b*stards, it’s not worth your time.
  65. kourosh_77
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    I Gave High score Only for Music and Visual ... This is absolute disaster for every fan of tolkien!
  66. Lakatus
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Was really hard to continue watching after seeing an elf with a modern haircut, but kept going. The acting is weak but watchable. What`s really bad is the script.
  67. LothlorienElf
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    I don't even really know what to say to this. I gave it a shot, even though I wasn't too interested in it after the trailers and actually didn't even want to watch it at all in the first place. But I did. And this is what I think:
    After two hours I am still not interested in the characters. I can't even remember their names. I still don't feel like I am in Middle Earth, a place that a lot    I don't even really know what to say to this. I gave it a shot, even though I wasn't too interested in it after the trailers and actually didn't even want to watch it at all in the first place. But I did. And this is what I think:
    After two hours I am still not interested in the characters. I can't even remember their names. I still don't feel like I am in Middle Earth, a place that a lot of us call home, where we like to go after a stressful day.
    This here, this seems like watching a Version of "Game of Thrones/The Witcher", not a TV Show that has something to do with The Lord of the Rings. All I can really say is that nothing there caught my attention. And the supposed "Elves" in this TV Show are a disgrace, especially to Tolkien.    … Expand
  68. Grahambennett69
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Bruh why is there so much hate for this show. It’s not even that bad. It’s obv not as good as the movies but it is definitely still good. Exited to see what the rest of the show has to offer.
  69. max-009007
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    This is a disgrace to Tolkien's creation, but there is one plus, after this series, Peter Jackson's trilogy seems even more brilliant
  70. plitern
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Beautiful visuals but undermines Tolkien's characters and established aesthetics. He wrote it with European folklore, catholicism, and paganism in mind.
  71. merimeche
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Slow serie galadriel is a powerful femal elf better that every one specially man sorry this not for me
  72. affsxD
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this is not tolkien bad dialogues and even worse actors why did you use lord of the rings if you have no intention of following tolkien's universe… Expand
  73. Arturos
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    the worst series, the acting is very bad to mediocre. don't watch this trash now i need therapy and some bleach for my eyes
  74. darkistorrik
    Sep 2, 2022
    6
    A solid 6 for me. Yes, it's not what the fans expected, but it's still interesting, better graphics and special effects. Good music (just good, not the best). But it's certainly not 10/10. The plot is too simple, the series wants to please everyone, but it doesn’t work out (no nudity, not enough blood and dirt, everything is too clean, there are no emotions of the actors, except for aA solid 6 for me. Yes, it's not what the fans expected, but it's still interesting, better graphics and special effects. Good music (just good, not the best). But it's certainly not 10/10. The plot is too simple, the series wants to please everyone, but it doesn’t work out (no nudity, not enough blood and dirt, everything is too clean, there are no emotions of the actors, except for a couple)
    But I would love to watch the whole season. Perhaps it will get better.    … Expand
  75. johngjepsen
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    I really wish they had access to the lore this is based on. Just the LOTR appendices is not enough and it shows. If you enjoy high fantasy but never read Tolkien then maybe you'll enjoy this but as someone who grew up on these books, it is JARRING seeing these characters butchered before my eyes. I had such high hope but this is clearly a monstrously expensive fan fiction loosely based in Arda.
  76. viroodiem
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    Well... Its pretty at least.

    I am not going to focus on casting choices. The fact is that the show is just boring. Perhaps from seeing this type of show/movie over and over again for the last quarter century. The problem is that it is bloated. Its clear they tried their best to maintain visuals on par with the films but they should have focused more on the story telling and pacing.    Well... Its pretty at least.

    I am not going to focus on casting choices. The fact is that the show is just boring. Perhaps from seeing this type of show/movie over and over again for the last quarter century.

    The problem is that it is bloated. Its clear they tried their best to maintain visuals on par with the films but they should have focused more on the story telling and pacing. None of the characters are likable. It doesnt take long before the question of "why do I care" will inevitably come up.

    This is far from a problem that plagues this show as the new GoT spinoff has the exact same problem.

    In the end its going to get crushed under the weight of its budget and Amazon will quickly deem it a failure. It might get as much as two seasons but dont expect a second one. Its far from terrible but its definitely further from enjoyable.    … Expand
  77. Lucen
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    I was willing to give this show a chance despite all the criticism. There have been examples of other fantasy shows with non-cannon diverse casting that turned out great. For example The Witcher. Unfortunately TRoP managed underperform even my lowest expectations.

    There are some good things about the show. The music and visuals are incredible. They also did a great job with the Dwarves.    I was willing to give this show a chance despite all the criticism. There have been examples of other fantasy shows with non-cannon diverse casting that turned out great. For example The Witcher. Unfortunately TRoP managed underperform even my lowest expectations.

    There are some good things about the show. The music and visuals are incredible. They also did a great job with the Dwarves.

    Sadly the negatives greatly outweigh the positives. Galadriel's character is a bit too heroic and almost feels like Indiana Jones. However, I expect her to change throughout the show as her character develops.

    However, the real deal breaker for me is the blatant and obtrusive allegory. Particularly the historic relationship between elves and humans being compared to whites and blacks in the USA. Some of the dialogue is so on the nose that I physically cringed while watching the show.

    Before anyone claims what I'm saying is racist please understand. I believe it is incredibly important to educate people about slavery in the USA and for them to understand that the impact of that era can still be felt today. However, this type of messaging has absolutely no place in LoTR and is a disgrace to Tolkien in my opinion.    … Expand
  78. derSi
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    I really enjoyed it. Much better than expected! I really like the way of Story telling.
  79. siki11683
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Absolutely horrible, can’t believe after all the wait this is what we finally got.
  80. SenpaiEXE
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Yet another woke show that is terrible in every single aspect (visuals excluded). Go woke, go broke.
  81. rodrigo666
    Sep 2, 2022
    4
    Bad casting, flat and highly dull plot with some absurdities, and no compromise with the original material. The direction has little to do with such poor written material.
  82. MakcRox
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Надо же так было испортить такую замечательную книгу
  83. FocusBarahona
    Sep 2, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Me han gustado los dos capitulos, jamas hay que ver esta serie que sera totalmente apegada a Tolkien, creo que eso ciega a muchos.… Expand
  84. raorian
    Sep 2, 2022
    4
    They completely missed the mark with galadriel, which should have been stoic and majestic. they could have made her battle oriented, but they should have given her light armor and a spear... galadriel is the worst part, but they also did a lot really well, and overall it's worth a watch. obviously not as good as lotr proper.
  85. Autumn_Dream
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Tolkien's works have been ruined by woke identity politics and it breaks my heart. I will not be watching further. My Amazon Prime will not be renewed.
  86. e1sky
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    I am very upset about this **** I can’t even imagine that someone can make something bad like that about Tolkien’s stories. It’s only about SJW and nothing about this wonderful world and characters.
  87. sonny2dap
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    I gave this a shot in the hope that the internet reactionary stuff was simply that, I am sad to say the reactionaries were right. Whilst the show looks pretty enough and the sound design so far has been in keeping with what you would expect the rest is poor. The dialogue is awful, the casting is terrible and I'm not talking about the brown washing of western European folklore, honestly theI gave this a shot in the hope that the internet reactionary stuff was simply that, I am sad to say the reactionaries were right. Whilst the show looks pretty enough and the sound design so far has been in keeping with what you would expect the rest is poor. The dialogue is awful, the casting is terrible and I'm not talking about the brown washing of western European folklore, honestly the "regal" elves of Tolkien are not to be found here, the high king and all the elves of note have essentially 0 screen presence. How you can spend so much money and get your casting so wrong is a mystery to me. The knockoff hobbits are a complete nonsense and seem to be tonally discordant with the rest of the show. I could go on but I'll leave you with this, House of the Dragon has also just launched and so far has relatively little combat/action but the dialogue, Intrigue and casting is exactly what you expect from big budget fantasy and it's enjoyable, the sooner the ROP is RIP the better.… Expand
  88. madmalthus
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This is what happens when you simultaneously try to create a "timeless tale" as well as one that "reflects today's values and culture". Special FX fail to distract from the stultifying, time-bound and heavy-handed conceits so typical of today's creatively vacuous entertainment industry.
  89. LukeLL
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    I was sososo hopeful and the beginning really blew me away.
    The looks of it are truly breathtaking - of course with that budget!
    If you think about the content, the actors, the plot, the writing its really not good. First the indroduction to the world - people who know tolkiens world will be mad, and for beginners its anyways confusing. The aesthetics of the elves are horrible,    I was sososo hopeful and the beginning really blew me away.
    The looks of it are truly breathtaking - of course with that budget!

    If you think about the content, the actors, the plot, the writing its really not good.

    First the indroduction to the world - people who know tolkiens world will be mad, and for beginners its anyways confusing.

    The aesthetics of the elves are horrible, sorry- , No long hair, nothing, really nothing noble, nowhere close to how they were described. I feel like the elves are not fitting and not worthy of tolkien AT ALL. Besides that theyre all written like normal humans.

    Especially Kelebrimbor looks freakin horrible (while he should be still younger than Galadriel!)

    What is this fighting scene against the snowtroll? That move from galadriel, was like straight out of an indian action movie.

    Why Galadriel can swim from Valinor back to middle earth? This is really such a rubbish scene and close to got season 8.
    Why she can be saved from underwater and they swim back to a non moving raft in the middle of a storm?

    The Harfoots - whyyy are they inside this series? Really the most uninteresting plot and not even existing in tolkins lore.

    So all in all besides the visuals a huge disappointment. Its not enough to just throw money at such a beloved franchise!    … Expand
  90. 4em
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. .
    If Amazon did one thing right, it's spliting Tolkien fanbase in half.
    I was so angered, more and more after each trailer by them trying to forcefully push their agenda through the show. I was determined not to watch it, not to spoil the amazing world but I talked myself into checking it out. Im glad I did, so I can actually give a proper reviev but I hate myself for spoiling the world to my eyes and memory...

    This is not the Middle-Earth we wanted...

    The camera was good, outside combat. During combat, it was really chaotic with too much cuts. The music is quite decent but doesn't really stand out. (The music during dwarf scenes was, on the contrary, really terrible, childish, like in some fairy tale, not epic fantasy world..), the scenery during harfoot scenes is nice..

    Some actors acting was good, like Halbarand, Celebrimbor, the giant, the innkeeper, even Elrond occasionaly but it was mostly bellow avarage. I was especially disappointed by Gil-Gallad, Arondir and mainly by Galadriel herself. Her lack of expression, be it either facial or gestures, is big. She is like a robot, programmed to say what what was given to her. Overall, too much time spent on boring scenes like eating snails, while moments of interest are short or left out completely...

    The clothing was all wierd and wrong. Galadriel's light shirt on ocean was fine but her armor was too much. Galad's gold was too much, arondir's armor was too much. Harfoot clothing was decent, even though I have no idea why they had to make gipsies out of them...

    Dwarves are just one big NO. Music was childish, they made them swing from side to side when walking and look all dirty and homeless..

    Clothing was my third biggest concern proved right...

    Ny second biggest concern was, as said, their agenda. I love me some good actors of colour and I was kinda fine by them placing them among humans but mixing them even into dwarves and elves was another big NO. Thats not how they are portrayed anywhere and if they thought they can get through with it under such famous and loved LotR logo, no. No one seems to learn from the dislikes and by destroying one franchise after another by these choices...

    But my first and biggest concern was the amount of CGI. In the trailers, every second shot was made of pc effects and it is the same with the show... even though they look mostly great, they are still CGI. The hobbit was denounced by the fanbase because of it yet they did not care and threw the effects into every second location... pc effects should be used when creating things that cant be get by normal means like dragons or a meteor shower but no make your whole world built on it..
    Smaller details like elves with no long hair, really fast pace without giving people much time to sink something in and the ever present oversaturation dont help either...

    I watched the first two episodes, sadly, and I wont be watching anymore, nothing in there cought my eye to go on...

    Also, I do not like Galadriel's actor but thats just my personal feeling. And if you are annoyed every time the main character walks into the scenes, there isnt much else to really enjoy    … Expand
  91. shikamaru31789
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    I remember being so excited when this show was first announced. My excitement quickly turned to resentment the more I learned about it. First I read in 2021 that it would have sex scenes, something Tolkien would totally be against. Then I saw the casting and realized that they had created black dwarves and elves (which don't exist in Tolkien's world) instead of creating POC (people ofI remember being so excited when this show was first announced. My excitement quickly turned to resentment the more I learned about it. First I read in 2021 that it would have sex scenes, something Tolkien would totally be against. Then I saw the casting and realized that they had created black dwarves and elves (which don't exist in Tolkien's world) instead of creating POC (people of color) characters from Harad and Rhun to meet Amazon Studios' diversity requirements. Then I learned that they had made Galadriel an armor clad army leader (which she never was, her husband Celeborn and Elrond lead the armies during the 2nd age) and had made Elrond an architect and politician, neither of which is consistent with the lore. Then I saw they had a woman playing Annatar/Sauron which resulted in him looking trans. Then I saw that they over-relied on CGI even more than Peter Jackson did while making the Hobbit. Then I saw that the opening of the show is literally just a ripoff of the opening for soap opera Young and the Restless. Then I saw cheesy rope a cheesy rope fighting scene.

    This show is just a laundry list of bad decisions by Amazon and the showrunners. The only highlight at all is the opening theme song composed by LOTR/The Hobbit composer Howard Shore. I truly think this will be the most expensive flop of all-time, and we already have multiple insiders suggesting that the future of Amazon Studios rests on this series, if it fails, Amazon may close Amazon Studios and rely solely on 3rd party licensed shows and movies to push Prime Video.    … Expand
  92. JaredTU
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    Garbage, pure plastic soulless garbage made by egotistical pricks. I was so bored I had to scroll through half of the first episode. It is completely alcking any wonder, awe, magic or sense of humanity. A true disgrace.
  93. Tidal
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    The show is absolutely amazing. It’s visually stunning, a trully cinematic experience with very good actors and characters beautifully developed in a plot that promises great things. All the magic and essence of Tolkien is there. A milestone in television. For sure it will be one of the most watched shows of the year and a front runner for the awards season.
  94. daLira
    Sep 2, 2022
    2
    Well... what to say, despite all it's controversy, trying to ignore it, there's the hard fact of the lore... and it's reduction to a teenage drama is bad, really bad.
    But you can watch it.

    TL;DR: If you like Witcher season 2, you can witch it. If you're rather a book fan, do not.
  95. Andy11111
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    **** like i've never seen before. Politically motivated picture for those who neglect the original story and the lore, for those who reprint the story wnd values.
  96. PowSmackBlam
    Sep 2, 2022
    3
    Pretty much everything that made Peter Jackson’s work so good is absent in this show. Heart, whimsy, relatable characters are no where to be seen here. The performances and story are so wooden and lifeless, even the sheen of solid post production can’t salvage this show from being a bland, soulless slog.
  97. Gojira54
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    The story is wildly disconnected from the source material. Visuals are good and the acting is on par with most tv series. There is potential but as is often the case it is entirely wasted and likely lost.
  98. Melora
    Sep 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A calculated insult against the source material. Astonishingly dishonest theft of something great.… Expand
  99. Slyderer
    Sep 2, 2022
    1
    Bad acting, boring story telling, not the same grade of love and details I am used to in LOTR.

    No actor/actress who is able to carry the first seasion (like a Sean Bean/Lena Heady or Henry Cavil).

    World looks kinda good. Music is okay,
  100. wally001
    Sep 2, 2022
    10
    Great show! There are too many trolls who wouldn’t be pleased no matter the result.
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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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