There’s a lot riding on Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings series The Rings of Power. For one, it’s reportedly the most expensive TV show ever made, with Amazon coughing up over $1 billion for five seasons in Middle Earth. Not to mention that J.R.R. Tolkien’s stories are some of the most beloved fantasy novels ever written, with an adored trilogy of film adaptations to boot courtesy of Peter Jackson.
With just a week to go until the series launches, the first reactions from critics are trickling in via Twitter. Of course, we should be wary of some hyperbolic tweets — but despite all the trepidation surrounding the show, the word is that Rings of Power is the luscious spectacle we’ve been waiting for.
The verdict from journalists is almost universally positive, with some lauding the “lush and expansive” scope of the Morfydd Clark-starring series. Others have noted that it packs an overwhelming bunch of new characters, storylines and ideas in the two episodes screened to critics.
The most effusive praise comes from the likes of TV Guide writer Kat Moon, who described the Tolkien adaptation as “grand, bold, and ambitious”, and highlighted the “stunning” shots of Middle Earth. Likewise, The Playlist journalist Gregory Ellwood complimented The Impossible and Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom helmer J.A. Bayona for directing “the HELL out of the first two episodes.” He also named Markella Kavenagh (Harfoot, Elanor "Nori" Brandyfoot), Robert Aramayo (Elrond, played by Hugo Weaving in the Jackson films), and Owain Arthur (Dwarven prince Durin IV).
In another glowing review, journalist Lucy James says the series is “slower, and I’m savouring all the build up.” Like the walk to Mordor, Rings of Power is very much setting off on its own path, as James adds: “Beyond a couple of cheeky nods, it’s not trying to be Jackson’s trilogy, it’s standing apart on its own, and I am so excited to see where it goes.”
Some critics were more cautious. Despite the mostly positive take, Inverse critic Eric Francisco is still uncertain whether Rings of Power will “sit alongside Jackson’s films or deserve Tolkien’s name” but praised the series as “big, bold, and beautiful to behold.” “It’s all the maximalist pizazz one might expect from a historically expensive production,” he added. Alex Zalben at Decider concurs, writing that it “takes a while to get going, and there's a LOT going on.”
But above all, the sheer ambition of Rings of Power alone is worth the watch. Brandon Katz, TV Reporter for The Wrap, describes the exploration of Middle Earth as a “spectacular sight to behold” and that the “scale, scope, ambition and grandiosity is unrivalled on TV. The overwhelming consensus is that you should watch Rings of Power on the biggest screen possible. Too bad it’s a TV show destined to be watched on phones during the commute, then.