REVIEW: ‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 1 Pays Off

I was skeptical after the first couple of episodes of Prime Video’s Lord of the Rings: The Ring of Power. With multiple seasons already confirmed and a successful attempt at capturing J.R.R. Tolkien’s long-form style (the way that man could describe a tree), The Rings of Power Season 1 started with a whimper instead of a bang. Editing choices on where to cut each episode left the first half of our journey back to Middle Earth oddly paced. But then Episode 4 happened and all of the pieces that had been set up began revealing the larger story. Now, with the season’s end, the slow start pays off.

In order to review this season as a whole I rewatched it all in one sitting, and to be honest, getting the chance to see each story choice one after the other made more sense. While the weekly release schedule led to awkward episode endings, when you could hit play on the next episode immediately after, the story finally felt like a building wave. This isn’t an issue of being “slow,” it’s an issue of choosing a weekly release while still editing each episode like it’s going to be watched immediately after the previous one. Ultimately though, when watched in one-sitting this editing style works, and with such a stellar penultimate episode and finale, The Rings of Power Season 1 pays off on everything it promised.

While some elements of the series were too simple compared to its contemporaries, like costuming and hair, there is so much that compensates. Specifically, while the elves feel too human and dull, the dwarves are stunningly brought to life. We see the decadent beauty of Moria in the set design, the detailing of the make-up effects work, and the gorgeous golden and metal-toned costuming that complement both Prince Durin and Disa alike. Additionally, their make-up, costumes, and hair were complimented by epic looks into the beautiful mines. And with moments like Disa’s song in Episode 4, I couldn’t have wanted anything more for my favorite race in Middle Earth.

On top of that, The Rings of Power Season 1 has returned to showcasing the incredible effectiveness of practical effects, none more so than the orc camps and the destruction they bring. Each orc has a plethora of detail in their face and body prosthetics, their costumes, and even their voices that make them feel intimidating and complete. The practical effects in the action moments of the season are powerful and wonderous, all of which help push the narrative out of its quiet moments with strength.

That said, it’s the quiet moments that are actually where The Rings of Power Season 1 truly highlighted why Lord of the Rings was a formative story for me, and why it has resonated with so many for over half a century. While we see moments of resiliency and perseverance through hardship throughout the series, it’s Episode 7 that captures the struggle to find the light in the darkness.

Sure, the build-up was there since the beginning of the series. The trauma that the characters of this season have gone through isn’t happening for the first time, but rather, they’re taking their time to feel it. Taking this one step further, our heroes choose to stumble lost in the darkness, grasping for light, in order to keep moving forward through uncertainty. That’s what Lord of the Rings is about, and that’s what The Rings of Power has captured expertly in this season.

From the elves to the Harfoot to the dwarves and the humans, there are spaces of exploration and perseverance. Seeing that be cast into darkness by the season’s end allows the story to follow a similar trajectory to the story we know and love, from the world that this is based in. Hope is where we begin.

Hopes of casting the orcs out of the Southlands, hopes of saving the elves with mithril, and more. But instead, the Southlands have become Mordor and the mining of the mithril will lead to the destruction of Moria. Being able to see the writing on the wall of each choice doesn’t hinder the story, in fact, it builds tension. Every moment of happiness in the finale episode is overshadowed by Sauron’s looming presence.

With more seasons greenlit, we know that The Rings of Power Season 1 is just the beginning. And despite some changes I think could have been handled better (namely the pushing of modern gendered hairstyles on elves—yes, it’s still frustrating), the season pays off on what it promised to do. In the final episode, with the one ring’s true purpose looming over the characters, you can feel everything deepening. Emotionally and lore-wise, The Rings of Power stands to reach even higher success next season as we head into darker times with even higher stakes.

My heart is full seeing The Rings of Power Season 1 come to an end. The showrunners have a love for the world, the magic that we can find there, and the important way the franchise navigates holding onto hope when everything seems lost. Building on itself in every subsequent episode, it may have taken some time to find its way, but damn, it pays off.

The Rings of Power Season 1 is available now, exclusively on Prime Video.