ThisLord of the Ringsreview contains spoilers forThe Rings of Power.
Eight episodes in,The Rings of Powerfeels like its finally kicking into gear.
And not only did people talk about rings, they actually made some!
The show has finally cleared up the issue ofwho Halbrand and the Stranger actually are, thank goodness.
But we think that is very, very unlikely.
We see the same technique used in Galadriels confrontation with Sauron.
But it also plays perfectly sensibly to anyone who doesnt know or doesnt remember that line.
There are still some niggling issues here.
We desperately need to know more about Gil-galad and Chancellor Pharazon.
What does it mean to give Gil-galad a Ring of Power?
What sort of person (Elf) is he?
Is he likely to abuse that power, or use it wisely?
Any viewer who hasnt read Tolkien has no idea.
What sort of person is he, other than someone who doesnt like Elves very much?
Is he a threat, or an ally?
We need to feel we have the same knowledge of who Gil-galad and Pharazon really are.
After weeks and weeks of slow pacing, this all came out far too quickly.
Durin and Disa werent even in this episode.
For book fans, its a huge, gaping hole in the plot.
Presumably Sauron will go andforge those 16 ringsin season 2, or Celebrimbor will.
Its certainly a resolvable issue, but leaving it unresolved across the gap between seasons is a bit perplexing.
What exactly is going on with Earien and thepalantir?
Who were the Dweller, the Ascetic, and the Nomad?
Where has Isildur got to?
(Hes with that horseElendilwas obsessed with, isnt he?)
And whats up withthe Balrognow awake in Khazad-dum?
Overall, though, this was by far the most satisfying hour ofThe Rings of Poweryet.
The story is coming together and things are moving forward in a direction that makes sense.
Heres hoping that season 2 will continue the upward trend.
Rating:
4 out of 5
