In fact, since it was announced a few years ago, Amazon’s high The Lord of the Rings prequel series, The Ring of Power, has predicted its fate to many. In fact, the series’ quests seem fraught with peril. It should captivate a general audience and rival the Peter Jackson film trilogy of the early 2000s. As Galadriel says, even the slightest hesitation will lead to failure.
With the first two episodes set to air Thursday night (with new episodes streaming every Friday, starting next week), the reviews are pouring in. Amazing or boring? The misfire many predicted, or one show to rule them all?
Read on for a variety of opinions, along with other notable recent features about the series.
“Shiny, not precious yet.” [The New York Times]
James Poniewozik, chief television critic for The New York Times, wrote that in its early stages, the series “doesn’t reinvent the ring”. However, he adds, “We add some new filigree.” “It immediately conjures up the visual spell of the film. More importantly, it ultimately creates its own swashback and storytelling magic on occasion. Some come in the form of “Starmen” traveling to Middle-earth via meteors, while others have nuanced depictions of Galadriel. ” Poniewozik writes. “But she interesting“
“Entering blockbuster television era with ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘The Rings of Power'” [The New York Times]
Times opinion columnist Ross Douthat believes that not only will the big-budget fantasy show succeed, but it will also set the tone for a new era of television: the era of blockbuster TV. I’m here. The challenge for The Rings of Power is to humanize its epic sweeps and spotlight characters that audiences can relate to. The show “needs more politics and personalities and non-magical conflicts,” he wrote Douthat. “There’s only so much you can do with tales of echoing elves.”
“Don’t make a Tolkien cinematic universe” [The New York Times]
Dr. Michael DC Drout, a researcher of Tolkien’s work, is wary of the trend of creating franchises out of literary works. Especially in this case, without the knowledge or permission of the deceased. Audiences will be disappointed with Amazon’s series, Drout predicts, because it lacks the “literary and moral depth” of Tolkien’s world. He asks, “Can a company as eager to dominate as Amazon truly understand this perspective and adapt its morality to the screen?”
“The Amazon prequel is like a catastrophe.” [Entertainment Weekly]
Is it a bad sign that critic Darren Franich is rooting for Orc? Now that’s what I call Middle-earth! Karaoke.” For now, he’s got maps (“more interesting than informative”), special effects (mostly “Monty Python”), plots, etc. that shouldn’t be there. I struggle with finding laughter in places.
“The first episode of ‘Ring of Power’ just skims the surface of ‘Lord of the Rings'” [Polygon]
Leon Miller said that the first two episodes of the series “fall short” despite being “impressive cinematic” with “brave camerawork”. “It’s all great, but it’s all too familiar,” he wrote. Expanding on Tolkien’s mythology and reinforcing the show’s awkward dialogue helps solve the problem. He was a Don of Oxford who not only studied languages, but invented his own for fun.
“Looking Down on the Trolls: What’s Behind the Battle for the Ring of Power?” [The A.V. Club]
Debate over diversity and inclusivity in “Lord of the Rings” tends to attract trolls, with Cindy White saying that angry brokers who want the series to fail “mainstream alt-right ideologies”. From that, anger to the influence.” Hint? “Look for inflammatory statements within ALL CAP and words like ‘awakened’, ‘SJW’ and ‘normative’ used in a derogatory sense,” she wrote.
Many predicted that Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel would be a disaster. [The Los Angeles Times]
Critic Robert Lloyd believes the series falls in the gray middle ground of “neither catastrophe nor triumph”, casting actors of color and supporting female characters, particularly Galadriel (played by Morphid Clarke). ) to the foreground would benefit the show. But it’s “a matter of poor writing, not a bad idea,” he says.
“‘The Rings of Power’ makes the most of its rich lore (and Amazon’s budget).” [Variety]
Variety’s chief TV critic, Caroline Framke, sees beauty in the way the series balances so many different characters and storylines like a spinning dish. up to where you left off. However, Galadriel remains the most stable of these plates. And for those wondering if the show is safe for kids to watch, she decides, “Yes, as long as they can handle the war and the occasional orc jump scares.”
“A Spectacular Cinematic Return to Middle-earth” [The Independent]
“A spectacle-filled return to a lovingly rendered Middle-earth,” writes Kevin EG Perry. Despite the promise of a “very big adventure,” he thinks one of his best parts of the show is that something, or someone, is small. “Harfoots is what really makes ‘The Rings of Power’ work,” he wrote. “These pastoral scenes capture the magic of his BBC version of The Chronicles of Narnia in the late ’80s.”
“Amazon’s Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power gets small-screen high fantasy done right.” [The Verge]
While some may object to the show’s initial pacing, author Charles Pulliam Moore argues that “how elves experience and perceive time in a very different way than other races that are not long-lived.” I regard it as a very effective way of explaining what to do. Elves are also now presented as “complex and flawed”. Man,” rather than as a mysterious being. And despite the enormous computer-generated costs that are attested, Pulliam-Moore still manages to provide “some of the series’ most truly magical moments.” Practical effects such as the hole are most appreciated.
“Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series is truly amazing and puts ‘House of the Dragon’ to shame.” [The Daily Beast]
Critic Nick Scheger praised how the show incorporates beloved characters, especially Galadriel (the soul of “The Ring of Power”), while also establishing a brilliant new kingdom. But it’s the carefully calculated tone of the show he admires most. .
“‘The Rings of Power’ is too big to crush” [Vulture]
The show is big, writes Kathryn VanArendonk. Too big for the small screen, too big to fail, too big to ignore, and perhaps not even to be ridiculed. I have an open mind.”) Brute force of that size also poses some existential problems. essentially make it a different species?