The Rings of Power Season 2, Episode 1 Recap: A Not-So Promising Start?

And so the Rings of Power (“TRoP”) returns to our screens, providing a much-needed counterbalance in the duology of epic 2024 fantasy series! Having covered the latter part of House of the Dragon’s second season, it seemed only fitting to extend my repertoire to include the latest instalment in Amazon Prime’s ‘adaptation’ of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium.

Amazon treated us to three episodes in one go on Thursday, August 29th. However, like poor Tolkien, who found himself forced to publish his incredible work in three separate volumes, I have decided to divide my attention equally between these first three episodes, reviewing each individually. So, without further ado, let’s analyse what this premiere, ‘Elven Kings Under the Sky,’ had to offer!

WARNING: Spoilers and heavy themes discussed below!

The Rings of Power: The Ruin of Sauron

We open with a flashback to the dawn of the Second Age, as Sauron (Jack Lowden) takes power and rallies the corrupt and Fallen elves, newly referred to as ‘orcs’, to his side. Alas, this rendition of the Dark Lord is no Morgoth. His motivational speech falls on deaf ears, and Adar (Sam Hazeldine, replacing Joseph Mawle in season one) leads the orcs in a grand betrayal which leaves Sauron powerless and bleeding out on the cold, dark floor of his stronghold of Forodwaith. This scene, attempting as it does to make us sympathise with an entirely different Sauron, falls impressively flat. One cannot help but wonder how did this unimpressive nonentity ever become the fear-inducing figure from the films?

Next, we are given a backstory for the Sauron (Charlie Vickers) we know and love from the first season, which is clearly designed to echo the story of Gollum from Peter Jackson’s films. Even the editing evokes memories of that horrifying montage; we fade to black every few seconds upon watching a strange mass of black tendrils consume any living creature it comes across. And yet, the weight of this origin story is lost on the viewer; gimmicky special effects and grandiose set pieces cannot compensate for a lack of originality.

This new, humbled Sauron learns from a weary traveller about the shifting fortunes of even the most powerful of this world’s inhabitants. He is no god, no king, not even truly a man; what fate may he carve out for himself now? It is this lost, insecure Sauron who captivated us so effectively in the show’s first season, who we now follow as his path leads him to Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). There is no doubt about it; this series succeeds best when it makes Sauron recognisably human.

TRoP: Aftermath

Moving back to current events, we follow as Galadriel gives chase to Elrond, the pair still reeling from the revelation of Halbrand’s real identity. Caught in the grip of her own mistakes, Galadriel is forced to reveal Sauron’s activities to High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker).

This leads to a veritable tour de force of a scene. Despite this series’ severe shortcomings, the most engaging dynamic is that between the great friends, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and Galadriel, and this confrontation before their King is no exception by far. Their powerful friendship is tested by the guilt and insecurity they both now feel after having been deceived, and all too understandably, they take out their frustration on one another, an impulse only the closest friendships can explain.

This, I would venture, is the one redeeming feature of this series. In abandoning the complexity of the books, the series may fatally ignore Tolkien’s powerful themes. But it does, to an extent, make the seismic events of this world intimately personal. As the viewers, we gain a more grounded perspective of these larger-than-life conflicts, and watching Galadriel and Elrond painfully exchange glances of genuine care and compassion as each chooses to follow a separate path is surprisingly compelling.

Thus, a brilliant tension is created as Elrond, not yet off the hook, works to destroy these three newly crafted rings he so fears. Gil-galad is not impressed by his disobedience, but he is convinced by Galadriel of the rings’ value. And so, we find Elrond and Galadriel, formerly influential figures amongst the Noldor elves and the closest of friends, on the verge of losing both, thanks to Sauron’s deception.

TRoP: Darkness Reigns

Meanwhile, Adar sets about enslaving as many of the men of the Southlands as he can, unknowingly capturing Sauron in the process, the demigod he believes to be dead. Dramatic irony is created here, as we, the audience, know that he holds his arch-rival in his hands once again, but he, alas, remains blissfully unaware.

Next, we follow the mysterious man (Daniel Weyman), whose identity we book readers will be well aware of. It is an interesting touch to have the early hobbits (Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards) play a fundamental role in teaching him how to use his magic to create as well as destroy. Though he has a ways to go, the repercussions of this close, affectionate association will be felt in this world for aeons to come. I admittedly rather enjoy the importance being placed on the ‘home’ and family in the character development of this would-be wizard.

TRoP: A Blessing and a Curse

Next, we are finally introduced to Círdan, the Shipwright (Ben Daniels). Elrond covertly meets with him in the Grey Havens, and theirs is an intriguing dynamic resembling that between an elder tutor and his young, head-strong pupil. However, the alliance between Galadriel and Gil-galad is altogether more tenuous. She believes in the three rings as the saving grace of the elves, their only chance to halt the ‘fading’, a literal dark disease in the series which, somewhat simplistically, dare I say even lazily, represents the decay inflicted by the passage of time on the works of the immortal elves, a pivotal theme in Tolkien’s works.

A riveting rivalry is thus created between Elrond and Galadriel; the former is right to fear the role of the three rings in a larger plan of domination by Sauron, but so is the latter in valuing their usefulness. Likewise, a reversal in fortune has occurred: Elrond is now a fugitive fleeing his King, whilst Galadriel assumes the role of Gil-galad’s reluctant servant. As they come face to face in the Grey Havens, Elrond challenges Galadriel as only the closest of friends can. Perceiving her guilt and insecurity in her role in Sauron’s return, he asks her, even if she believes the rings are free of Sauron’s influence, ‘are you?’

TRoP: Three Rings for the Elven Kings

Next, we witness Sauron swearing an oath of allegiance to Adar under false pretences, reviving his disguise as the long-lost King of the Southlands. His humiliation in being made to place his head at Adar’s feet belies his true intentions; a sly smirk reveals his desire for revenge.

Meanwhile, his dark plan begins to bear fruit. Beguiled by the rings, Círdan returns to Lindon bearing Narya, the ring of fire, upon his finger. His arrival shifts the tone of the scene, as Gil-galad’s mournful singing of the end of the age of the elves is replaced by a murmur of hope. Elrond’s anguished scream of protest causes Nenya, the ring of water, to cascade to the floor within Galadriel’s grasp. Finally, completing the triumvirate of ring-bearers, Gil-galad himself claims Vilya, the ring of air, in Tolkien’s words, the ‘greatest of the three’, ironically one day to be borne by Elrond himself.

Immediately, the rings take effect, giving life to Celebrimbor’s (Charles Edwards) vision and reversing the fortunes of the elves. As we are treated to an aesthetic final shot of the three rings working in unison, one cannot help but feel that we would have benefitted from being introduced to Círdan sooner. Having one of these rings go to a character we have only just met and been told is wise and noble feels a little hollow. Regardless, this scene binds this somewhat meandering and soulless series closer to the source material. Sauron’s arrival in Eregion helps to consolidate this series of unfortunate events, foreshadowing the conflict yet to come.

The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 1

In some ways, this premiere builds on more engaging aspects of season one’s finale. Elrond, Galadriel and Sauron continue to intrigue us in their characterisation and relationships with one another, and the strange man struggling to control his powers may yet have a larger part to play. Alas, such momentary and fleeting moments of triumph cannot conceal the sense that this series is biting off more than it can chew, failing as it does to comprehend what made Tolkien’s books so seminal in the first place.

Look out for my upcoming reviews of episodes two and three. The Rings of Power episode four airs on Amazon Prime on Thursday, September 5th.