Welcome back to the Weekend Watch, where each week we take a look at a new piece of film or television media and give it a review and recommendations. This week’s subject, as voted by our Instagram followers, is The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon Prime Video’s new show set in Middle Earth, thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogies. The show stars Morfydd Clark, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Nazanin Boniadi, and others as a slew of returning and new characters in the Lord of the Rings franchise. The first three episodes are streaming now, and that’s what this review will be based on. Let’s get into it.

Letter Grade: A-; a fun return to Middle Earth, it might not have as much of a pull for new viewers.

Should you Watch This Show? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: This show probably has more to offer fans of the franchise than new viewers, but its production value and originality might be enough for them too.

Why?

                The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power offers a new look at the history of Middle Earth, bringing a combination of familiar characters and new faces, set at the pivotal moments surrounding the forging of the Rings of Power. Thus far, the show has done a good job showcasing its many storylines, giving the audience a solid mix of action, potential romance, suspense, drama, and lore dumps across its three currently streaming episodes. The leading performers have done well with their roles so far, with Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel, Ismael Cruz Cordova’s Arondir, and Markella Kavenagh’s Nori Brandyfoot featuring as early standouts. With each of these new/old characters come storylines that should grasp the interest of Tolkien die-hards and new viewers. The stories of the fall of Numenor, the hunt for and return of Sauron, the forging of the Rings, the coming of the Istari (wizards), and the founding of the kingdoms of Gondor and Rohan have all been seeded just in these first episodes, offering plenty of potential for great tales as the show moves forward. Against the backdrop of these great moments, the show has also brought plenty of the personal character moments that made the Lord of the Rings trilogy into one of the greatest ever made. Galadriel’s rescue by Halbrand in the sea, Nori’s decision to help “the Stranger”, Arondir’s complicated relationship with Bronwyn, and Elrond’s friendship with the dwarf prince Durin and his wife are all personal moments that already stand out as important and memorable in these first episodes. But perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the show’s story so far has been the teasing of Sauron’s return. Due to the nature of the show’s overall story, we know Sauron is coming, but we don’t know the form he will take, other than deceptive. So far, at least two possibilities have been teased with potentially another coming at the conclusion of this week’s episode. I have enjoyed the mystery surrounding the show’s ultimate villain so far, and I feel that it has created some solid discourse around the show. In addition to its solid characters and story, the show’s production value has been high so far. Utilizing a combination of real locations and CGI like Jackson’s trilogies, the show looks and feels very much like a true return to Middle Earth. Being a television show, some of the CGI doesn’t look perfect, but revisiting The Hobbit trilogy, some of that wasn’t the best either. Additionally, the show also brought back Howard Shore to score the show, delivering new but familiar music to go along with this return to Middle Earth. Overall, The Rings of Power offers a refreshing return to Middle Earth, offering plenty of new stories and characters in a familiar setting to bring in both old fans and new. Check this one out, with new episodes streaming every Friday for the next few weeks.