I’d like to admit up front that I’m not a Tolkien expert. In fact, my knowledge of the LOTR universe is surface at best. So I walked into my screenings of the first two episodes of Prime Video’s new series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with only marginal awareness of the subject matter.
In a way, this might actually have enhanced my enjoyment of the ambitious project, which will be rolled out with a launch of the first two episodes on September 1 and 2 (depending upon your time zone), followed by a weekly release of the remaining six parts in 240 countries and multiple languages.
Credit: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
Walking in “blind” with a limited understanding of Middle-earth, I quickly took to the storytelling, the strong character development, the outstanding musical score, and the beautiful cinematography of the project. Missing–though not totally absent–were the drawn-out, gruesome battle scenes that led me to tune out or turn off the feature-length films. In their place, I found tender, relationship-driven moments that have actually intrigued me enough to be anxious for more. I’ll definitely make time to watch the films once I’ve completed the series. Maybe this new foreknowledge of all things Orc will help me understand all of the trekking and battling.
Credit: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video
As much as I would like to, I’m not yet promising to read the Tolkien originals, so I’m not yet a complete “convert”. And yes, you can feel free to send your scolding emails as a reply to this viewing suggestion. I’ll be anxious to hear from the throngs who even love The Silmarillion as to their perceptions of this new series. Do those of you who have the entire mythology memorized have high hopes for this new series?
Synopsis:
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Source: Amazon Studios
Full of action, intrigue, and heart, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power opens a powerful new portal into Middle-earth. Whether you’re a lifelong Tolkien fan or simply someone looking for brilliant storytelling, this newly imagined retelling of a classic is a masterpiece all its own.
Join @LisaHendey for a look at The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power @LOTRonPrime @PrimeVideo coming 9/1&2. #TheRingsOfPower Share on XSee The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Prime Video beginning September 1.