03/10/2024
The Rings of Power: A Decent Fantasy but a Flawed Lord of the Rings Prequel
When Amazon announced The Rings of Power, it carried the heavy expectations of Tolkien fans eager to see Middle-earth's Second Age brought to life with the respect and authenticity it deserves. However, while the show delivers a high-budget fantasy spectacle, it struggles to live up to the legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien's world. Despite its flaws as a Lord of the Rings prequel, The Rings of Power can still be appreciated as a standalone fantasy series, provided viewers are open to its modern and sometimes simplistic storytelling.
A Tale of Two Series: When Fantasy Meets Lore
Let’s start with what The Rings of Power does right. It offers stunning visuals, epic battles, and a good-versus-evil narrative familiar to fans of high fantasy. For those looking for light-hearted, escapist entertainment, this show provides that glossy adventure with dazzling special effects. In this sense, it works as "brain-rot" fantasy—an easy watch when you want to immerse yourself in an action-packed world without delving too deep into its lore. It may not capture Tolkien's intricate world-building, but it doesn’t have to for every viewer to enjoy it.
However, The Rings of Power set itself up as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings, which is where it falters. By invoking Tolkien’s mythos, it invites the scrutiny of fans who cherish the complexities and the deep-rooted lore of Middle-earth. The Second Age, with its tales of Númenor, the forging of the Rings, and Sauron’s rise, is a rich period in Tolkien’s legendarium. Yet the show condenses these centuries of history into a narrow narrative, creating characters and timelines that often contradict the original source material.
When Lore Takes a Backseat
The deviations from Tolkien's established lore are among the most glaring issues for many fans. Characters like Galadriel are reimagined in ways that strip them of their original depth. Galadriel, a wise and powerful elf with centuries of experience, is presented more as a vengeful warrior. Elrond, known in Tolkien’s works as a figure of might and wisdom, is depicted more as an ambitious politician. These alterations lead to a disconnect for those familiar with Tolkien’s characterizations, reducing multi-dimensional figures to more simplistic versions.
Further complicating matters, the show's pacing feels uneven. The Rings of Power swings between dragging out minor plot points and rushing through major events without proper buildup. This scattered narrative approach makes it challenging to maintain the epic scale and emotional investment that Tolkien’s world deserves. While Peter Jackson's films also deviated from the canon, they managed to preserve the core themes and emotional weight of Tolkien's story, something The Rings of Power struggles to achieve.
A Problematic Approach to Diversity and Inclusion
One of the more contentious aspects of the series is its approach to diversity and inclusion. In recent years, modern entertainment has made strides in reflecting the world's variety of cultures, ethnicities, and identities. However, The Rings of Power opts to showcase this diversity in ways that feel forced rather than natural to Tolkien's world. The lore of Middle-earth already has established places for Black and Asian peoples, such as the lands of Harad and Rhûn, each with their own histories, cultures, and mythologies. By choosing to diversify existing characters rather than explore these parts of Tolkien's world, the show missed an opportunity to enrich the story with authentic cultural representation.
The producers' reliance on actors' skin color as the primary means of depicting diversity can feel superficial, especially in a world as detailed as Middle-earth. Diversity is not solely about appearances; it’s about the stories, traditions, and mythologies that shape different peoples. In Tolkien's legendarium, cultures like the Haradrim and the Easterlings have rich backgrounds that could have been explored, showing how their myths and histories were shaped within the context of Middle-earth. Instead, the show’s attempt at inclusivity seems disconnected from the lore and more aligned with modern-day expectations, which ironically leads to criticism and hostility from some viewers.
This approach can give the impression that "diversity and inclusion" is being prioritized over script fluidity, well-written characters, and adherence to established lore. By ignoring the extensive mythos already present in Tolkien’s world, The Rings of Power inadvertently invites backlash that could have been avoided by thoughtfully integrating diversity in a way that enriches the story rather than feeling imposed.
A Series for Light Fantasy, Not for Lore Purists
Despite these shortcomings, The Rings of Power can still be appreciated for what it is: a grand, epic fantasy series that looks stunning and provides entertaining escapism. It’s okay for fantasy stories to offer spectacle over substance from time to time. If viewers go in expecting light, action-packed fantasy rather than a faithful Lord of the Rings prequel, they may find enjoyment in its glossy visuals and dramatic set pieces.
While Peter Jackson's adaptations also took liberties with Tolkien's texts, they did so while preserving the emotional core and narrative integrity of the story. The Rings of Power, in contrast, seems more concerned with modernizing Middle-earth than honoring its essence. For die-hard Tolkien enthusiasts, this can be disappointing. However, for those who prefer not to be bogged down by lore and are looking for a more casual fantasy experience, it offers just that.
In Conclusion
The Rings of Power may not live up to the standards set by Tolkien’s legendarium, but it has its place in the realm of modern fantasy. Its lore inconsistencies, uneven character development, and problematic handling of diversity make it a flawed prequel to The Lord of the Rings. Nevertheless, it can still be enjoyed as a high-budget fantasy series for those looking for a bit of escapist fun.
The show could have taken a different route—exploring regions like Harad and Rhûn and bringing to life their unique myths and histories, showcasing the true diversity within Middle-earth. Instead, its reliance on surface-level diversity and its detachment from established lore leave it open to criticism. However, if you’re willing to view The Rings of Power as its own entity, detached from the intricacies of Tolkien's world, it might just provide an enjoyable, if imperfect, adventure.
In the end, it’s okay to enjoy a bit of light-hearted, glossy fantasy—even if it doesn’t quite capture the magic of the world it seeks to prelude.
META Insights leader, equestrian champ, weightlifting athlete, model, mentor, and literary virtuoso. Award-winner in tech, agriculture, and literature.
