Annlyel James 
Uncover the joy and excitement of The Rings of Power’s second season. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Tolkien like never before on Prime Video.
To say I am thrilled with the second season of The Rings of Power is an understatement. Two years ago, when we were reintroduced to the world of Tolkien through a modern, diverse lens with the series’ first season, I loved the show immensely. Was it a bit slow and confusing at times? Yes, but the love for the source material and the hard work put into bringing Middle-Earth to life was astounding. I was overjoyed after learning that the series would have a second season. However, having now finished watching the entire second season, I am amazed by how much I’ve enjoyed it. There are numerous highlights and outstanding performances, but to prevent this post from becoming too lengthy, I will categorize my thoughts into three sections: performances, relationships, and technical accomplishments.
Performances
There are a lot of characters in The Rings of Power, but some performances that genuinely stuck out to me throughout this season deserve mention. Here are those five performances.
Sophia Nomvete as Disa
I was already very fond of Durin and Disa’s loving relationship in the first season of The Rings Of Power. How they handled adversity, but this season allowed Disa to shine. She displayed, with every scene that she occupied, two things: why Prince Durin fell head over heels for her with piercing amber eyes and kindly but beautiful features, and why she was destined to one day become Queen of Khazad-Dum with her steely resolve and her unyielding strength. She provided essential support to King Durin III and his son, Prince Durin, with her insightful wisdom that effectively eased their constant tension. Like Durin, she was ready to do whatever was necessary to protect her people. Often, wives are portrayed in a very simplistic manner. Still, Disa is a captivating character in her own right, and her story will undoubtedly become even more compelling.
Sam Hazeldine as Adar
I was devastated when it was announced that Joseph Mawle wouldn’t be returning for The Rings of Power‘s second season. He was quickly the most fascinating character in the season. That being said, Hazeldine’s performance as the Uruk leader has undoubtedly been one of the season’s highlights. Unlike Mawle, who gave a softer, quieter approach to the character, Hazeldine conveyed Adar’s warrior/commander side to a tee. Yet, he always retained that elvish quality that made Adar such a compelling character. By the season’s finale, he was undoubtedly one of my favorite characters in the series, and honestly, I’m a bit devastated that he didn’t survive the season. Here’s to hoping Hazeldine will be brought back as a resurrected elf from the Halls of Mandos in later seasons to help the elves face Sauron. *fingers crossed*
Robert Aramayo as Elrond
Elrond has always been one of the most exciting characters in the Tolkien stories. In the first season, he was one of the few characters I genuinely enjoyed. His kindness and steadfastness in loyalty to the ones he cared about were so beautiful to witness. But this season challenged Elrond. We saw him have this crucial emotional arc with Galadriel that began with betrayal and distrust and ended with forgiveness and deep affection. We got to see him become a great warrior, and we saw him deal with grief and loss, which will undoubtedly impact him even further in the coming seasons. Aramayo’s spot-on portrayal of this young Elven poet/warrior who will one day become one of Middle-Earth’s most significant leaders and most respected heroes is genuinely one of the highlights of this series so far.
Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor
I know many have repeatedly said that Charles Edwards’ performance as Celebrimbor has been a revelation this season. I will be yet another viewer adding to the praise that has befallen this man because of his outstanding performance. Watching him transform from this wise, kind lord of Eregion to this near-broken, but at the end, a resolute elf who Sauron’s will had enslaved was genuinely heartbreaking. And yet, out of that entire arresting performance, it will undoubtedly be his scenes in the final two episodes that genuinely stick out. One line in particular never fails to send chills up my spine: “You are He, are you not?” The way Edwards delivers that line is powerful yet haunting, further reiterating how terrifying Sauron truly is.
Charlie Vickers as Sauron
I can’t mention outstanding performances without acknowledging Vickers’ jaw-dropping portrayal of Sauron this season. He offered so many shades to this character, from downright diabolical, kind and friendly, and perfectly seductive, in a way that made me completely understand why it was so easy for him to trick people. And sometimes, he’d be all of those things in one scene! He has portrayed Sauron in a way that offers so many fascinating, complex layers to the dark lord.
However, he never comes as redeemable in the same way as a character like Kylo Ren. Vickers’ unabashedly evil portrayal of the dark lord was undoubtedly the season’s highlight for me. While I’m not confident that Vickers will get award recognition for this performance, he should. Now, when I think of Sauron, I will first think of Vickers’ portrayal, which shows how impactful his performance was.
The Relation (ships)
One of the fun things about this show is delving into the relationships that help offer greater depth to this story, and The Rings of Power is full of them. Last season, my favorite relationship was the friendship between Elrond and Prince Durin, which was the only storyline in the season that I truly felt attached to. I had many this season, and I will even discuss some of the enticing shipping content. So, with no further delay, let’s first talk about MÃrendel.
Since the end of the first season, I felt the relationship between Elendil and MÃriel was leaning further than strictly platonic. Sure enough, it seems I would be right. The relationship between the two Numenorean Faithful was one of the absolute highlights of the series because we got to see them begin to care for one another more and more without it feeling forced into the storyline between the two characters.
By the season’s end, when the queen gives Elendil one of the most iconic swords in Middle-Earth lore, Narsil, it feels earned and like a perfect conclusion to their combined storyline in this season. I can’t wait to see how their stories will continue moving forward. Still, I find it interesting that their destinies are beginning to depart from one another, especially if you know where the story is most likely headed in the third season on Prime Video.
Galadriel and Adar
Another relationship that gained surprising development this season was the tenuous alliance between Galadriel and Adar. It was not something I could’ve foreseen, but it was an exciting prospect. The storyline of these two hardened warriors haunted by trauma at the hands of the one they grew to care for, Sauron, and their chance to bond over that shared torment with subtly romantic implications. Adar’s death saddens me because I believe their alliance could’ve made for an exciting storyline in future seasons on Prime Video. Alas, this will not be the case.
I also enjoyed other storylines in this season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The Stranger and Tom Bombadil’s Luke Skywalker/Yoda-esque journey in Rhun concluded with one of my favorite scenes in the series thus far as they sat in his hut singing. I could write an entire essay on the complexities displayed in the relationship between Celebrimbor and Sauron, that’s how good their storyline was. There was excellent development for Theo in this season via his connection to Arondir and, surprisingly, Isildur, which was nice to see.
This season made Theo a slightly more compelling character, which I hadn’t expected. Prince Durin’s somewhat tenuous relationship with his father was beautifully handled and led to an emotional conclusion that is genuinely one of the standout scenes of the season. But of course, before leaving this category, I have to address the elephant in the room, which is the friendship between Elrond and Galadriel.
Elrond and Galadriel
If you had told me a couple of months ago that Galadriel would kiss in this season, I would’ve immediately assumed this mystery smooch would be between her and Sauron (most likely in the form of Halbrand who she seemed to care deeply for) or Celeborn who would’ve been secretly cast in the season. Instead, much to my utter astonishment, this kiss was between her and her dear friend, Elrond.
Now, I’m immediately going to put it out there that I’m one of the few fans of the series who liked the kiss. I thought it was a beautiful development in their relationship. Suppose we are to honestly believe it was merely a distraction to hand her the pin so she could free herself and that their feelings for one another are still 100% platonic. In that case, I think the kiss beautifully signified a couple of things in their relationship.
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Considering that before the kiss, Elrond whispered, “Forgive me” it’s evident in those last fleeting moments that he’s trying to let her know he’s no longer upset with her and that, once again, he’ll always be her friend.
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This could be the last time he sees her, considering there’s a genuine chance one of them may not return from this battle alive. I think, at that moment, he felt a kiss was the best way to say how much he loved her without wasting too much time with the orcs lingering.
Alternate Storylines?
That being said, as spiritual as the actors have tried to claim the moment between Elrond and Galadriel to be, the framing and the music quickly says otherwise. So, is this the beginning of a romance we could’ve never seen coming? Well, this is an adaptation of Tolkien’s works, and in a throwaway line from a discarded paragraph, Tolkien had an alternate version where Galadriel is, indeed, the wife of Elrond. If the showrunners were to go in this direction, it could lead to quite an intriguing development later when Celeborn inevitably reenters the picture. Are they setting up a fascinating elven love triangle worthy of a soap opera in the middle of this epic battle against the forces of darkness? Or will the showrunners uphold the lore that we know and maintain the spiritual nature of their relationship? Only time will tell.
The Technical Achievements
There is no way I could’ve concluded this post without expressing my profound adoration for everyone’s contribution to the technical aspects of this season. From the first episode to the last, the series seemed to be lightyears better in quality, from cinematography to costume design. Even the production design felt so much richer and more complex. And the visual effects?! Every scene was crafted with the utmost detail, and I genuinely believe that in a decade, people will look back at this incredible story and marvel at the level of cinematic excellence brought to the small screen. This show looks better than most movies, and that’s saying something.
And I cannot praise Bear McCreary’s outstanding score, which seemed to top itself with another profoundly epic soundtrack that has been an utter marvel to absorb over the past season. There’s one piece titled “The Sun Yet Shines” that’s so unbelievably beautiful, triumphant, and brilliant that I’ll be astonished if McCreary doesn’t get nominated for an Emmy for Best Score. He’s become one of my favorite composers in recent years, and this score only solidified why he was THE perfect choice to compose the sound of this new story in Middle-Earth.
Conclusion
While watching The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, my journey has been nothing short of rewarding. From its three-episode premiere to its jaw-dropping finale, my voyage back to Middle-Earth has solidified why this is still and will always be my favorite fandom. I can’t wait to see how epic and grand the story will become in its third season.
Catch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power only on Prime Video. Subscribe here.
Annlyel James is a Senior Correspondent of The Future of the Force. She is passionate about Star Wars and Marvel but loves a wide variety of movie genres. Aside from her role with Future of the Force she also writes for her blog: annlyelonline. Follow her on Twitter where she channels the Force frequently!
