Prime Video delivered one of the biggest fantasy moments of San Diego Comic-Con, transporting more than 6,500 fans inside Hall H back to Middle-earth with an expansive first look at the long-awaited third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Alongside a dramatic new teaser trailer, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay revealed a wealth of new casting announcements, character reveals and story details that promise the series’ most ambitious chapter yet.

With Sauron’s rise accelerating and the fate of every kingdom hanging in the balance, Season Three looks set to embrace the full scale of Tolkien’s legendary Second Age.

Watch the all-new trailer below:

One Ring to rule them all

Five years have passed since the catastrophic fall of Eregion, and the balance of power has shifted dramatically across Middle-earth.

Sauron’s armies now sweep across the continent, conquering all who stand before them. Only a handful of strongholds remain unconquered, including the mountain kingdom of Khazad-dûm and the Elven realms of Lindon and Rivendell. Deep within Mordor, the Dark Lord has completed the construction of Barad-dûr, where his obsession has become singular:
forging the One Ring.

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The newly released teaser embraces a noticeably darker tone, teasing enormous battles, fractured alliances, and a war that threatens to consume every race of Middle-earth. As Sauron’s influence spreads, Elves, Dwarves, Men and Wizards will be forced into uneasy alliances if they hope to prevent complete domination.

New heroes, new villains and familiar faces return

Comic-Con also delivered several major casting reveals that further expand Tolkien’s world.

Jamie Campbell Bower officially joins the series as Celeborn, Galadriel’s long-lost husband, while Andor star Zubin Varla will portray Khamûl the Easterling, one of the legendary figures whose fate is closely tied to Sauron’s growing power.

The panel also introduced several new additions to the ensemble. Eddie Marsan will play Thrain, the older brother of King Durin IV, bringing fresh tension to the Dwarven storyline. Andrew Richardson steps into the role of Anarion, Elendil’s younger son and brother to Isildur, while Adam Young portrays the mysterious Orc Marnûkh, a character whose true loyalties remain shrouded in mystery.

Returning cast members Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charlie Vickers and Daniel Weyman joined the Hall H presentation to discuss the evolving conflict and the growing stakes awaiting audiences this season.

The Balrog finally finds its voice

One of Comic-Con’s biggest surprises came during an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette exploring the creatures of Season Three.

Fans were treated to fresh glimpses of Fell Beasts, towering Mûmakil, terrifying Orc legions and the long-awaited return of the Balrog. For the very first time in the franchise’s history, the legendary demon of shadow and flame will speak—and its voice belongs to none other than Simon Pegg.

It’s an unexpected casting choice that immediately became one of the convention’s biggest talking points.

Even the Ringwraiths have an origin

The surprises didn’t end there.

Midway through the Hall H presentation, the panel was interrupted by the arrival of four heavily armoured Nazgnagôl—fearsome new servants of Sauron introduced during the Second Age. Acting as early predecessors to the Nazgûl, these ominous ring-servants offered fans another glimpse into how The Rings of Power continues expanding Tolkien’s mythology while laying the foundations for the stories audiences know from The Lord of the Rings.

It was a memorable theatrical moment that perfectly captured the scale Prime Video is aiming for.

Since its debut, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has become one of Prime Video’s flagship productions, attracting more than 185 million viewers worldwide while establishing itself as one of the platform’s biggest global successes.

The kingdoms of Middle-earth stand fractured. Sauron is stronger than ever before. The One Ring is about to be forged. Every alliance will be tested, every kingdom pushed to the brink, and the legendary war that shaped Tolkien’s world is finally beginning.

For longtime Tolkien fans and fantasy lovers alike, this first glimpse suggests The Rings of Power is preparing to deliver its biggest, darkest and most spectacular season yet.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Three premieres exclusively on Prime Video on 11 November 2026, with the first four episodes launching together before the remaining episodes roll out weekly through to the season finale on 25 November.

Image: Prime Video

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In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. As friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good — Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots — will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all: each other.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was an unprecedented Prime Video streaming event, showcasing a thoroughly epic new take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s collective Legendarium. The first season had a vast job to do in establishing the world of Middle Earth’s Second Age and introducing a collective of characters, both familiar and new, and all of it led to a shocking conclusion where the Dark Lord Sauron, long thought destroyed, revealed himself once more, and in the process set about the events to come. Where Season One of The Rings of Power felt like it was establishing the world of Tolkien’s Second Age, Season Two throws audiences into the presence of a new darkness that is beginning to grip the lands of Middle Earth. This darkness comes in the form of both Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and Adar (Sam Hazeldine), who has declared himself the Lord of the Southlands and who is working to build his own kingdom of the Orcs in Mordor. This focus on a narrative that seeks to explore the Dark Side of Tolkien’s world is an interesting point of view and not something normally seen in fantasy works, and it makes for a daring new viewing experience.

Key to this second season of The Rings of Power is the reveal of Charlie Vickers’s heroic Halbrand as actually being the reincarnated form of the Dark Lord Sauron, and this epitome of all evil is ready to put his plan for ultimate power into action. Vickers’s revelation as Sauron was Season One’s biggest shock, and now that he’s free to wreak havoc and move forward with his plan for total domination of Middle Earth, things start to get interesting. Vickers gets to move away from the charades and mask of Halbrand and instead gives a performance that is shaped by seduction and temptation. What we see from Vickers is a series of multiple characters, all of different shapes and forms, but whose actions are the pursuit of one true goal. We see the dark shadow of Halbrand, now open in his manipulations as Sauron, and his calculated actions to lead him to power, which sees him return to the forge of Eregion and his revelation to the master craftsman Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) as Annatar, ‘The Lord of Gifts’, and in this guise, we see Vickers transformed into a beacon of pure godly light, whose beautiful form hides a terrible motivation.

The presence of Sauron and his expanded presence in Season Two of The Rings of Power, as presented through Vickers’ performance, unfolds into an exploration of the theme of creativity and its impact on the narrative of The Rings of Power. Via the art of creativity, we see the power to both create and destroy, and it is in the actions of Sauron, through the guise of Annatar, with the help of Celebrimbor, begin their work on the rings of power that will come to ensnare all of Middle Earth. This theme of creativity and its use for either construction or destruction keeps the action of The Rings of Power interesting, and it gives a unique perspective through which to view the narrative. It is in Vickers’ performance as Annatar that we see this hunger for knowledge and a will to almost bend art and the power of vision to his own ends, and it makes his presence as Suaron more threatening and intense because of it.

Season Two of The Rings of Power sees many radical shifts to the narrative, and this is evident in the presence of the lady Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who Sauron has deceived is now left low as a character, and challenged by everything she has ever believed in. She is also left at odds with Elrond (Robert Aramayo). The two have fallen out over the presence of the Rings of Power, while we are only at the beginning of Galadriel’s narrative in The Rings of Power this season. It is clear that there is a fracturing in the Elvish world, and that Rings of Power will grow dissent among its ranks.

The action of The Rings of Power also moves out in a bold new direction this season, particularly for the character of Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), who, in offering her help to The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), travels with him into the harsh and barren lands of Rhûn. This new setting is a major departure from the typical European setting of Tolkien’s work, and until now, it has never really been realised on screen for audiences. The sand, beige and burnt orange colours of the desert create a clear juxtaposition for audiences of what we have previously come to know of Middle Earth, and this new environment creates a real test for Nori and The Stranger and new sides of their characters are revealed with dramatic new depth. The presence of The Stranger’s expanded magic is also present in these early episodes, and we see a new shade to magic through the lens of Middle Earth, and there’s a real sense of it being influenced by the power of nature, and it reacts with dramatic and violent tension that will cause a real reaction in audiences.

Season Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is moving forward with a dramatic sense of pace, and we’re witnessing a bold new chapter of the Tolkien’s narrative as dark forces align, and the tools that will ensnare all of Middle Earth are brought to life, and a colossal season of high fantasy action awaits audiences as this series moves forward.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is now streaming on Prime Video.

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In anticipation of the new season, we sat down with the cast including, harlie Vickers (Sauron/Annatar), Markella Kavenagh (Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot) and Tyroe Muhafidin (Theo) to discuss the events of the upcoming series, and just what audiences can expect from this radically new series.

Watch our full interview with the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below:

It was fantastic to meet Charlie, Markella and Tyroe, who were incredibly open and warm in their response and discussed how the theme of creativity is shaping much of the action behind Season Two, just how far Sauron’s seduction stretches in his pursuit of ultimate power and how the land of Rhûn features heavily into our deeper exploration of the narrative this season.

We also learnt about Charlie’s dramatic hair changes and just whether the elf Annatar would headline an 80s hair metal band, just what tracks got Markella’s Nori into her groove, and how high Tyroe’s Theo will be flying this season with his stunt work.

Here’s the official synopsis:

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. As friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good — Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots — will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all: each other.

It was fantastic to speak with Charlie, Markella and Tyroe, and audiences will be well-pumped for the adventure, magic and dawning of the Dark Lord Sauron as he makes his claim for control of Middle Earth in Season Two.

Watch the final trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below:

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is NOW streaming on Prime Video.

Image: Prime Video

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Watch the all-new trailer for Season Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron (Vickers) has returned. Cast out by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. As friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good—Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots—will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all: each other.

At nearly four minutes long, this latest trailer for the Second Season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power gives audiences a look into its vast scope and committed action as the Dark Lord Sauron (Charlie Vickers) makes his intentions known and begins to craft his tools of deceit in his quest for total power: The Rings of Power! It’s an epic rush that sees our lead characters scattered to the vast corners of Middle Earth as they seek a way to unify and challenge the growing power of Sauron. And audiences will be thrown into a whirlwind adventure in this new season.

This new trailer was presented at a special panel as a part of this year’s San Diego Comic Con, where they presented the first look trailer for 6,500 fans who were packed into Hall H for the announcement.

Fans were also excited to see a glimpse of many of the fantastical, and sometimes frightening, creatures that will appear this season, including a young Shelob, an army of Barrow-wights, Hill-troll Damrod, a Sea Worm, and even Ents! The riveted crowd also enjoyed teases of several major battle scenes that will be pivotal to Season Two’s storylines.

The cast members who participated in the show’s Hall H panel were Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Robert Aramayo, Maxim Baldry, Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Trystan Gravelle, Sam Hazeldine, Ema Horvath, Tyroe Muhafidin, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Charlie Vickers, Benjamin Walker, and Daniel Weyman.

This all-new trailer dials up the excitement, danger, action, and passion of J.R.R. Tolkien’s grand world, and Season Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power promises a full-on rush when it arrives on Prime Video on August 29.

Image: Prime Video

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Check out the new teaser trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power below:

The debut teaser trailer takes viewers on an action-packed journey back to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Second Age, and shows the ascending evil presence of Sauron as he continues his vengeful quest for complete power. Showcasing the cinematic splendour that the series is known for and heralding the return of many fan-favorite characters, including Galadriel, Elrond, Prince Durin IV, Arondir, and Celebrimbor, this first look also reveals the much-anticipated creation of more Rings.

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.

Standing front and centre amidst all the fanfare surrounding the new series is Charlie Vickers in the role of Sauron, one of the world’s greatest literary villains, appearing in a new form – one that will aid him in deceiving the denizens of Middle-earth. The new teaser places Vickers Sauron at the very heart of the action, and this new series will very much delve into how Sauron came to deceive those around him in his quest for ultimate power.

 

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Alongside the new presentation of the trailer, Prime Video has also released an all-new, behind-the-scenes featurette that delves into Season Two and gives audiences a tase of what is to come.

Check out the new featurette below:

Brace yourself for a series of epic scale and immense size when Season Two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power arrives on Prime Video on August 29.

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Nori questions her instincts; Elrond struggles to stay true to his oath; Halbrand weighs his destiny; The Southlanders brace for attack.

A war is brewing between the light and the dark, and each member of Middle Earth is readying to choose their sides. But not all the sides are devoted to battle and there is much back and forth in Episode Five of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, ‘Partings’. In this episode the audience is able to spend time with both the Númenorions and the sides of darkness under Adar and his orcish horde. And the coming fight will not be a simple one. Much conflict is brewing in the battle to come and again we see the to and fro of Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), who is the clament to the throne of The Southlands, and who has so far has turned away from his future and destiny. But destiny can only be ignored for so long, and here in ‘Partings’ Halbrand has a decisive choice to make.

‘Partings’ also sees us return to the migration of the Harfoots and we learn more of the budding friendship of the inquisitive Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) and the mysterious Stranger (Daniel Weyman). Questions of purpose and character are raised and a shocking turn of events threatens the very foundation of their friendship. Fans who have been longing for a larger display of magic will be intrigued by The Stranger’s actions. And things get explosive. Creators J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay are keeping their cards close to the chest in relation to the actions and character of The Stranger, but his presence has been noted and a dark shadow is interested in his power.

Episode Five also places a lot of its attention upon the partnership of Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Durin IV (Owain Arthur), who have decided to work together and travel back to the Kingdom of Lindon, where secrets and manipulations await them. This focus on Lindon and the presence of the new ore Mithril will keep fans very intrigued thanks to its focus on Tolkien’s lore and the presentation of some very big ideas. One sequence, in particular, is sure to have fans salivating and it’s an epic moment for the series to present to fans, and hopefully will set up what could be one of the most exciting moments of the series going forward.

Again the scale of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is taken to another level in Episode Five, ‘Partings’ and the full might of Númenor is on full display as their army readies for war. Clad in shining armour and reading for a fight, this is the Second Age of Middle Earth in all its glory and it’s an utterly impressive sight to witness at the culminating moments of the episode. But with the pageantry and pomp of the ceremony, there is also the threat of war, and a battle dawns on the horizons for Númenor and the lands of Middle Earth.

‘Partings’ has some incredible visuals in its presentation and the sides of light and dark are readying for a fight. The battle is to come and it will get furious.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video.

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Queen Regent Míriel’s faith is tested; Isildur finds himself at a crossroads; Elrond uncovers a secret; Arondir is given an ultimatum; Theo disobeys Bronwyn.

Episode by episode in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power we’re coming into the Second Age of Middle Earth and in Episode Four, ‘The Big Wave’ we are gifted with plenty of new lore and the origins of some of the most treasured concepts from Tolkien’s Legendarium. Director Wayne Che Yip returns following his work on Episode Three, ‘Adar’, and he’s able to explore more of the background to events and plot points that long-time Tolkein fans are familiar with. His focus on the prophetic fate of the island kingdom of Númenor is one of the episode’s most epic moments, and much character development and motivation comes forth from this fated event that he delivers to audiences.

Having ended Episode Three on a shocking cliffhanger, Yip now presents audiences with the mysterious Adar. And this dark spirit is one of the most intriguing characters introduced so far. Brought to life by Joseph Mawle, Adar is a scarred Sindon elf from the Eldar days, and you sense the darkness and malice in this thoughtful and calculating character thanks to Mawle’s performance. There’s a real sense of danger about Mawle’s Adar and he issues an ultimatum to the captured Sindar elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova). Adar’s full appearance is one of the most exciting moments of the episode, and his presence and shadow as an embodiment of evil, along with his true identity, is certain to only grow from this moment.

Much of the focus of ‘The Big Wave’ centres on the grand island kingdom of Númenor, and we see key moments in its history and future which will shape the entire course of The Rings of Power moving forward. Also introduced in this episode is the mystical palantír, a supernatural orb of predestination, and its history and significance take a major place in this episode. Foreseeing the destruction of Númenor in a vision, the Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) continues in her quarrels with Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) until a compromise of fate is reached. Addai-Robinson and Clark have considerable back and forth within this episode, and this fated compromise that both of their characters reach provides the set-up for the battle that is to come against the shadows.

We also return to the Dwarven region of Khazad-dûm as Linden elf Elrond (Robert Aramayo) looks into the clandestine activity of his Dwarven friend Durin IV (Owain Arthur) who has busied himself with secretive mining activity beneath the Mirrormere. Swearing Elrond to absolute loyalty he shows the elf his discovery of the new ore ‘Mithril’, a commodity so powerful and rare that all forces of Middle Earth would strive to possess it. This discovery of Mithral by Durin is one of the most important, and stunning moments of ‘The Great Wave’ as it signifies an important moment of Tolkien’s Legendarium and its application to The Rings of Power will have significant importance to the narrative as we move forward into the story.

‘The Great Wave’ has many significant moments included in the episode and fans will pick up on the details of Tolkien’s world throughout its presentation. With a balance of drama and character development, plus some intriguing action beats, it’s an important part of the continuation and growth of The Rings of Power, and a battle between light and the shadows is brewing.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video.

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Arondir finds himself a captive; Galadriel and Halbrand explore a legendary kingdom; Elendil is given a new assignment; Nori faces consequences.

After the narrative exposition of ‘Shadows of the Past’ and ‘Adrift’ it now feels like we’re properly getting into the meat of the story of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. And there’s a lot of drama present in Episode Three, ‘Adar’. Director Wayne Yip helps to extend the scale of the series, by ramping up the action and intensity, and audiences can expect some solid excitement, along with a good bit of hack and slash for good measure. Exotic new lands, broad new characters, and a new focused narrative all start to make their way into ‘Adar’, and the pace picks up quickly.

The episode’s monumental moment comes as Galadriel and Halbrand find themselves in the domain of the mighty island kingdom of Númenor. Bold in power and beautiful in its scale, Númenor is an almost Atlantean-like realm of mass seapower, which with its mighty ships and stoic navy holds sway over the oceans of the Sundering Seas. Its design bears a similar style to Venetian-Renaissance quality, and its appearance in the series is utterly breathtaking to witness. The significance of Númenor is high in Rings of Power, as we are introduced to important characters of Tolkien’s Legendarium. These include the stalwart and dutiful Elendil ( Lloyd Owen), a Númenórean naval captain of lost royal blood; and his two children, the high-spirited Isildur (Maxim Baldry) and the inquisitive Eärien (Ema Horvath). Each has an important part to play in this growing narrative, and their introductions, along with the revelation of Halbrand’s past lead to plenty of drama.

Along with the growing drama faced by Galadriel and Halbrand and the discovery of a chilling intention, we also return to the migration of the Harfoots, and a shocking revelation places Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) in big trouble. Faced with the hardships of a bold decision, it’s in this moment where we see themes that were close to Tolkien’s heart, such as the need for friends, comradeship, and family come into focus. It’s these feelings that will have a major implication on the story moving forward. This trust that Nori places in The Stranger is also rewarded, and their journey together is only to further intertwine as we move forward into The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

However, the crux of ‘Adar’ for me involved the warrior Silvan elf Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) who finds himself a prisoner enslaved to the brutal whips of the Orcish threat once thought lost to time. Put to work excavating a trench to help shield these foul beasts from the burning rays of the sun, Arondir through wit, cunning and strength, crafts a plan to escape and the action is ramped all the way up. Director Wayne Yip showcases a fair bit of gore in Arondir’s battle, and Córdova proves himself to be a strong hero and action star in the making. This fight scene between the captured Silvan Elves and the monstrous Orcs is a greater serving of the action of this series to unfold, and let it be said that these battles are filled with cold steel, and they cut hard.

But Arondir’s fight is left in vain as though valiant he is, is soon brought towards the terrifying presence of the Orc’s revered leader, the one whom they whisper in a sinister tone, ‘Adar’. Although we get a brief glimpse of the mysterious Adar, we are not permitted to his true guise, but it’s evident that this is a dark and dangerous foe, whose name translated into Tolkien’s Elvish translates to the word ‘Father’. And with his presence, a new evil has now arisen in the world of Middle Earth.

The tension and excitement are rising in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and we’ve now arrived at a moment of critical importance as the villains of the series began to take form, and the drama builds to a new level.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video.

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Galadriel finds a new ally; Elrond faces a cold reception from an old friend; Nori endeavours to help a Stranger; Arondir searches for answers while Bronwyn warns her people of a threat.

Following on from the immense scale and spectacle of Episode One, ‘A Shadow of The Past’ we now find our core characters moving forward in their respective journeys and Bayona ramps up the intensity and action in Episode Two, ‘Adrift’. Diving away from the Elvish homeland of Valinor, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) finds herself lost at sea and brought into contact with the scarred human Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), who is running from the flames of his past. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) is brought into the service of revered Elvish smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and charts an imposing quest to the realm of the Dwarf-lords of Khazad-dûm; Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) begins to come to terms with the mysterious Stranger (Daniel Weyman) whose path she has crossed, while Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) and Browyn (Nazanin Boniadi) come face-to-face with a dark force previously thought lost to history.

‘Adrift’ feels like it is the second part of this first chapter of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Bayona, alongside showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay, fleshes out the initial characters we first meet, alongside a host of new additions to the cast. These new characters include the heavy-handed, irascible yet noble Dwarven Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur), his wife, the elegant and good-natured Disa (Sophia Nomvete), and gruff human survivor Halbrand, who distrusts Galadriel and is hiding some painful secrets. ‘Adrift’ also brings audiences into the threat of this new series and for the first time, we lock eyes with the murderous Orcish presence. And these beasts are particularly foul and nasty. The presence of the Orcs in the Second Age of Middle Earth is handled with a compelling bit of suspense, and their twisted presence and dark threat will only grow as the series moves forward.

Where ‘A Shadow of the Past’ was about setting the introduction to the series and showcasing the scale of this narrative, ‘Adrift’ moves forward quickly into the action. The narrative moves at speed and the first appearance of problems and conflict begins to surface in our characters’ stories. All of our major characters come face-to-face with their first strifes and this keeps the viewing experience exciting. For favourite episode moments, I would have to count Elrond’s journey to the centre of Khazad-dûm as a particularly exciting moment due to its colossal scale and Bear McCreary’s heavy score that accompanies it. Arondir’s pursuit of the orcish horde brings plenty of shock and suspense, but it’s Browyn’s scrap with a violent and twisted Orc threat that takes ‘Adrift’ to a whole other level, and the intensity that Bayona captures will leave audiences flushed with adrenaline.

A greater narrative is beginning to build out in ‘Adrift’ and while we are only at the first stages and start of this new series, the first chapter of this new story is told by the completion of this episode. It’s an exciting watch, and the ability to see how Payne and McKay approach action is something that will excite fans. It’s not just the thrills that will only engage audiences, much mystery abounds in ‘Adrift’, and there are questions that follow. This mystery is chiefly present in the presence of The Stranger, the man who fell from the sky in a ball of fire and who was rescued by Nori Brandyfoot. Gripped by amnesia, and possessed of stunning, otherworldly power, The Stranger is an intriguing character and his presence inspires much wonder that is sure to be explored as we move further into this series.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has the promise of much intrigue, drama and action, and fantasy fans seeking their fix will be very eager to follow where the Second Age of Middle Earth takes us with its narrative.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video.

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In the midst of the Second Age of Middle Earth, mighty battles are fought and new empires are forged as evil once thought destroyed shows its mark and a group of varied characters, both heroic and ordinary, make their first steps in a larger journey.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has enchanted audiences the world over with its thrilling tale of good versus evil, and its story is regarded as one of the greatest pieces of narrative ever crafted. While we are familiar with Frodo Baggins’s journey to destroy the one ring in the fires of Mount Doom, this was only a part of Tolkien’s great Legendarium as he termed it, and many more stories exist to be told in Middle Earth. This is where Prime Video takes us in what is the most epic undertaking of modern television history with The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. And no expense has been spared in bringing this new story to life. In The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power we journey to Tolkien’s Second Age, and are witness to an entirely different Middle Earth where a new journey now awaits.

Under the stewardship of showrunners J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay, alongside the direction of J. A. Bayona, Episode One of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, ‘Shadow of the Past’ is brought to life. And it is a monumental epic. Without leaning into spoilers, the world-building of this first episode is towering and immense. With a monumental scale, audiences are transported to the mighty citadel of Lindon, capital of the Elves, along with finding themselves on the lush wildlands of Rhovanion and the rugged and hardy lands of The Southlands, the realm of Men, and all of these locations, and their vast architecture, set dressing, populace and artistry transport audiences back to the realm of Middle Earth. The series creators have worked to bring a lived-in texture and feel to Tolkien’s world and there is much to enchant the eyes of its audience.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a truly colossal vision, and this is a streaming series on a whole other level. Its 17-minute introductory chapter sets the stage for what is to come, and the action, drama and intensity are dialled up as we are introduced to the series’ central character Galadriel, a young elf who has devoted herself to the art of the sword for centuries and who is far away from the elder stateswoman that she will one day become. It is Welsh actress Morfydd Clark who has the responsibility of bringing the Lady of Light to full-bodied life in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and she brings an entirely new spirit and motivation to this character that audiences will find captivating and unexpected. Clark’s Galadriel is the frame from which this story will grow and her presence leads much into the exposition that the series will follow.

While we’ve known for some time about the large and varied cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Episode One, ‘Shadow of the Past’ introduces us to this first group of characters who help to build out its first chapter. We meet a young and untested Elrond, played by Robert Aramayo, who although a talented architect and would-be politician is trying to find his place in the capital of Lindon and who acts as a reflection to Clark’s Galadriel. To the South we meet the inquisitive and adventurous Harfoot, Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot, played by Markella Kavenagh whose spirit yearns for something more, along with Ismael Cruz Córdova’s Arondir; a stoic warrior Silvan Elf who shares a complicated and hidden love for the mortal woman Bronwyn played by Nazanin Boniadi, a healer, who longs to reciprocate his closed-off love.

It is through these juxtaposing stories of these first characters that The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power begins to build out, and even with their differences we begin to see connectivity at work. Payne and McKay, with the assistance of Bayona, are planting the seeds of this story and it is something brand new and different. Delving into Tolkien’s gigantic lore they are able to find new paths and routes to the heart of the story of The Lord of the Rings than we previously knew about, and the foundation is being built in this first episode. Each of these characters is possessed by a yearning for adventure, and forces, both evil and mysterious, find their way into their paths thus we have the start of a grand new mythos.

‘Shadow of the Past’ is but the start of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and what we have with this episode is the set-up for what is to come. It creates the intrigue and that first beat of this new series and ends with one hell of a bang. The first step towards adventure has been made, and it’s time to follow the untrod path forward into a new Middle Earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power streams on Prime Video.

Image: Prime Video

The post ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ – ‘Shadow of the Past’ – Review appeared first on SpicyPulp.