“I’ve many names,” the con artist previously generally known as Halbrand sneers on a number of events all through season 2 of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy.” It is a recurring assertion that has the added bonus of placing J.R.R. Tolkien’s most well-known villain, the Darkish Lord Sauron, on the forefront of the motion. However the bigger query of what, precisely, is in a reputation has dogged each step of manufacturing on this Prime Video collection because the second it was first introduced. The primary batch of episodes did not precisely quell many issues upon launch in late 2022 a couple of mega-corporation leveraging the franchise model to take expanded materials (tailored not from any particular novel, however from the appendices positioned in “The Return of the King” novel) and assemble a whole narrative out of spare components. The general outcome was a promising, if uneven debut that supplied tantalizing hints of a present that might, sometime, stay as much as the complete potential of Tolkien’s beloved fantasy universe.
Two lengthy years later, that day feels nearer than ever earlier than with “The Rings of Energy” season 2, a darker, bolder, and extra complicated story in each means. The place the primary season struggled to combine its sprawling ensemble or discover a lot of a thematic hyperlink between disparate storylines on a weekly foundation, these eight episodes (all of which have been screened early for critics to assessment) are a marked enchancment in arguably probably the most oft-repeated criticism (those not made in unhealthy religion, at the least) from season 1 — the writing. This time round, extraneous characters are ruthlessly written out, unwieldy subplots have been streamlined or trimmed, and we frequently go complete episodes with out forcing visits to sure protagonists or locations, all to the advantage of a a lot stronger and extra targeted season. Showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay return to shepherd this sophomore effort, backed by a author’s room together with Gennifer Hutchison, Jason Cahill, Helen Shang, Glenise Mullins, Nicholas Adams, and Justin Doble. And whereas they’ve insisted previous reactions have not influenced current outcomes, it is abundantly clear that the artistic workforce refused to relaxation on their laurels, both.
Although it does not fairly attain the heights of Tolkien’s authentic novels or Peter Jackson’s variations, “The Rings of Energy” seems like the subsequent smartest thing: a assured, thrilling, and gloriously nerdy return to Center-earth.
Season 2 is a villain-centric tragedy
“The Rings of Energy” has taken its justifiable share of lumps for straying from the precise textual content of Tolkien’s writing — an inevitability for an adaptation condensing actually hundreds of years of lore right into a cohesive story — however the collection stays staunchly trustworthy to the writer’s spirit. To wit, this surprisingly darkish second act of the story is a slow-motion tragedy within the making. The place season 1 started from the attitude of the elf warrior Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and her origin in a land eternally bathed in mild, season 2 takes the precise reverse method with a shadowy prologue detailing Sauron’s rise after his grasp Morgoth’s fall. This hauntingly rendered vignette would possibly as properly be an announcement of intent for the episodes to come back, redirecting the main focus squarely on its central antagonist(s) and additional emphasizing Galadriel and Sauron (Charlie Vickers) as fractured reflections of each other. And even after we return to the current, choosing up mere moments after the season 1 finale, an impending sense of doom permeates each nook of Center-earth.
Mockingly, this bleaker tone permits the solid and characters to shine brighter than ever. The place the primary season waded via a variety of preamble to get to its eponymous rings, season 2 instantly places these objects of energy centerstage. Our essential duo of Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel are at a crossroads concerning using the three solid within the finale. Does the chance of Sauron’s attainable affect poisoning the one hope of saving their folks outweigh their potential salvation? The cautious Elrond definitely thinks so and finds himself utterly at odds with the ever-stubborn Galadriel, a shrewd alternative that provides way more depth to their dynamic and injects a relentless supply of momentum that carries over to varied different arcs, as properly. Equally, Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) stroll their very own path because the gifting of seven dwarven rings promise an answer to their realm’s issues, although at a valuable price. Even within the farthest-flung plot, following the Harfoot Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) (and, finally, Rory Kinnear because the completely pleasant Tom Bombadil) within the desert of Rhûn, the specter of Sauron and rumors of a attainable ally (Ciarán Hinds’ mysterious “Darkish Wizard”) cling heavy overhead and additional connects them to the broader battle.
However as genuinely nice as Clark’s icier flip as Galadriel and Aramayo’s righteously indignant tackle Elrond are particularly, it is the steadily-unfolding psychodrama between the nice craftsman Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and Sauron (disguised as an emissary of the gods named Annatar — and, sure, it is neatly defined why the previous could be fooled by the latter’s elf ears and wig) which succeeds greatest because the backbone holding collectively all the season. Hardcore purists and informal followers alike will make a feast out of all of the Biblical imagery and operatic storytelling at play, reducing to the center of Tolkien’s most compelling tragedy. Nowhere does “The Rings of Energy” actually stay as much as its lofty requirements than when it returns to this season-long arc, a fantasy-fueled stage play that elevates Vickers and Edwards among the many most commanding performances of all the franchise and that, regardless of your self, may need you rooting for the villain.
The Rings of Energy is an imperfect enchancment
For a collection that represents fairly probably the most costly funding ever made on this streaming period, “The Rings of Energy” legitimately could not afford to permit any extra rising pains to carry itself again. The truth that it does not is essentially a product of that outsized finances manifesting on-screen extra tangibly than earlier than. We nonetheless get loads of these epic vistas, sweeping panorama photographs, and nifty map transitions that the general public now associates with “The Lord of the Rings,” although this time they’re built-in with the sensible units and lived-in environments and copious quantities of seamless VFX work as easily as ever. The directing workforce of Charlotte Brändström, Louise Hooper, and Sanaa Hamri do not redefine the feel and appear of Center-earth a lot as they refine it, taking a largely invisible method to capturing the present’s particular conception of the world whereas preserving it in line with Peter Jackson and the late cinematographer Andrew Lesnie’s efforts. Brändström’s course of the largest battle sequence(s) of the season deserves a particular shoutout, blowing final season’s skirmish within the Southlands out of the water. And, after all, all of those visuals are enhanced by composer Bear McCreary’s good rating, a worthy successor to Howard Shore’s iconic work on the unique film trilogy, weaving collectively acquainted leitmotifs and themes to maintain us grounded in emotion each step of the way in which.
Fortunately, all this consideration to technical element implies that even among the extra distracting flaws scattered all through season 2 do not put too a lot of a damper on issues. As a lot because the writers appear to have a greater grasp on pacing and story construction, some outdated habits leftover from earlier episodes make like Sauron and show tough to totally die. The Númenórean arc takes some huge swings, a few of that are executed extra questionably than others (like a politics-heavy plot that includes an tried coup), however it could actually’t assist however really feel misplaced at sea (if not an outright slog) with out acquainted faces like Galadriel and even Halbrand preserving us invested. Nevertheless it’s the dealing with of characters like Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova), and Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) that fares most poorly — a product of characters who’ve clearly overstayed their narrative usefulness or are caught spinning their wheels for extra vital developments sooner or later. To place it one other means, these points hit a nadir within the lackluster third episode and solely enhance from there … which maybe explains why Amazon bundled the primary three collectively in a single supersized premiere.
It is to the present’s credit score, nonetheless, that even these strained setbacks do not utterly boring the season’s sharp edge. Every time these minor missteps threaten to derail the proceedings, we’re whisked away on episodic adventures crammed with monstrous creatures from Tolkien’s bestiary or refreshingly lighthearted bursts of earnest sincerity or stirring songs telling tales of tragedy and whimsy. (Belief me, Bombadil followers, you will not be upset.) And thru all of it, the irresistible attract of Sauron’s scheming all however reaches via the display screen and grabs us viewers by the throat. The Darkish Lord would possibly go by many names, however season 2 is the second when “The Rings of Energy” formally makes one for itself.
/Movie Score: 7 out of 10
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy” premieres its first three episodes August 29, 2024, and new episodes stream on Prime Video each Thursday till October 3, 2024.
