I actually think the two highlighted areas could resolve themselves. I know a lot of people were rather unhappy with how Galadriel was portrayed, but I think if they play it right, they can use her getting deceived as a way to grow the character. A way to turn her into the version we know from the OT.
With that said, I do agree for the most part. There seemed to be a lot of really poor decisions made by the writers. And I have to wonder if we will eventually look back on some of this similar to how Star Wars fans look at Hayden Christiansen? We may realize the actors were not the problem but it was just poor writing that did them in.
My understanding was that the writers really wrote themselves through hoops due to the mangled nature of the properties that they had rights to and the properties they didn't.
I think they managed to acquire more rights for this season so I hope it gets better.
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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This fell under my radar a few weeks ago, and I don't think it really means much except to reinforce Amazon's commitment in streaming?
Quote:
Amazon Prime Video Buys U.K.’s Historic Bray Studios, Where ‘Rings of Power’ Season 2 Was Filmed
Amazon Prime Video is acquiring the U.K.’s Bray Film Studios, the historic site it recently set up as a production hub for the second season of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.”
The deal marks Amazon’s first acquisition of a physical studio in the U.K., with Bray set to be used for new and continuing TV series and feature films. In early 2022, Prime Video signed a multimillion dollar long-term lease at Shepperton Studios. In the U.S., Amazon owns The Culver Studios in Culver City, California.
The acquisition of Bray Film Studios, around 26 miles from central London, includes approximately 53,600 square feet of sound stage space across five stages, 77,400 square feet of workshops, 39,400 square feet of office, 182,900 square feet of backlot and 156,000 square feet of parking space. The first production to be located there following the purchase will be the second season of the Russo Brothers’ spy series “Citadel,” starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, which is scheduled to begin filming in September.
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Hmmm...it would be very easy for me to just skip this show. I remember almost nothing from season 1.
Yeah...I'll be the Judge of whether or not something sucks, but you raise something of a good point.
I think back to Season 1 and I can vaguely tell you some things about it, but not much. And memorability or lack thereof is kind of a telling metric.
At the moment though? I have Amazon Prime already, largely just for Office Supplies, so I get this anyways, and I can throw it on a screen. I'm not going to make time to really sit down and watch it.
But...your point stands. They've really got to figure this out or flush it.
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
Yeah the reviews seem almost universally negative. This was always going to be pretty ambitious but it's such a shame that they can't do a better job with the pacing and character development.
Last week, I rewatched the first season over three or four days and found myself enjoying it more than I expected. While I liked it the first time around, I tend to get much more critical on repeat viewings. For context, I've read everything Tolkien, and choose to look past discrepancies and glaring omissions.
While the first season effectively tries to capture the grandeur of Tolkien's Middle-earth and the technical brilliance Peter Jackson's films while carving its own path, the show's narrative suffers from pacing issues and unnecessary subplots that ultimately detract from the core storylines and characters that could have made it truly compelling.
First off, the Harfoot storyline really dragged the show down; almost every scene involving them stank. Bronwyn and Arondir's forbidden love felt tedious and pointless—they're no Aragorn and Arwen, and their storyline didn’t need to be included or highlighted to the degree it was. The Southlands plot mostly felt like a chore, though the third act had some redeeming moments. I understand why it was included, but I just wish it had been, y'know, better.
Now that the show is done teasing us with the Stranger/Gandalf/Sauron mystery, Mordor established, and I hope the travelling circus of Harfoots is left behind while Nori goes east, allowing the story to pick up some momentum.
There was just so much going on in season one. Tightening things up would benefit the show immensely. They should focus on the Elves, Sauron, and the Numenoreans, with some Dwarven encounters thrown in for good measure.
On a positive note, some of the characters are genuinely likeable and charming. Elrond and Durin are fantastic, and their relationship feels believable. Elendil embodies the stoic king we all expect him to be, which I recall thinking two years ago when the show first aired. I’m not yet sold on Isildur, but we’ll see how his character develops.
I just can't get past Sauron looking exactly like Jamie Tartt from Ted Lasso. While his character had some moments, overall, I wasn’t that impressed. Galadriel was hit or miss; there were scenes where I didn’t believe for a second that she was a wise elven leader—or even an elf.
The show certainly excels in visuals, costumes, and sets, but its potential is undermined by a bloated narrative and distracting subplots. By focusing on Elves, Sauron, and Numenoreans, with some Dwarves for good measure, the show could tighten up its storytelling and more effectively capture the epic scope of Middle-earth.
As it stands, the series struggles to balance its ambition with coherent, engaging storytelling.
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Galadriel was hit or miss; there were scenes where I didn’t believe for a second that she was a wise elven leader—or even an elf.
For the purpose of the show, they're using the darker Galadriel backstories written by Tolkien where she was often arrogant and ambitious (like many of the leading elves). Most likely they're trying to show why she would still be so tempted by the One Ring thousands of years later.
Quote:
It was not until two long ages more had passed, when at last all that she had desired in her youth came to her hand, the Ring of Power and the dominion of Middle-earth which she had dreamed, that her wisdom was full grown and she rejected it, and passing the last test departed from Middle-earth for ever.
(from Unfinished Tales)
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Yeah the reviews seem almost universally negative. This was always going to be pretty ambitious but it's such a shame that they can't do a better job with the pacing and character development.
This seems to be a common issue these days. I think a lot of showrunners and writers are thinking in terms of telling a story over however many episodes they are given and have lost sight of having well-paced episodes that stand on their own even when part of a bigger story.
This seems to be a common issue these days. I think a lot of showrunners and writers are thinking in terms of telling a story over however many episodes they are given and have lost sight of having well-paced episodes that stand on their own even when part of a bigger story.
I think this take is actually rather apt.
Unfortunately this whole endeavour seems like a hodge-podge make-shift cobbling together of IPs attempting to tell what seems like a fairly aimless story all things considered.
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This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
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If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
So I'm 2 minutes in and wondering to myself. why we have yet another expensive TV project that doesn't give a #### about the viewing experience when it comes to night scenes. I don't really care how authentic it is / isn't just light the actors for the damn night scenes.
1990s low budget are you afraid of the dark, note how you can see their faces, we have the technology
I've enjoyed these first 3 episodes. I was not particularly critical of the first season or lore issues. But I do agree there were several plot lines that just weren't working. So far, I feel like most of those have improved. I feel like the characters have better motives and the tension and differing opinions makes sense.
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I saw a headline after a headline slamming The Rings of Power season 2 before it had even begun, and yet I thought the first episodes were pretty good. I don't know if I'm totally out of sync with things, or something else is going on!
It seems they're teasing the audience with the idea that Saruman is this dark wizard in Rhun, and that's just going off his looks. I don't think he is? I don't remember if there are any other wizards other than the five Istari.
By taking the story to Rhun, the showrunners probably have a lot more room to explore and freedom to do what they want.
From what I gathered, that Rhun Saruman lookalike isn't an Istari. More a witch king or one of the 9 kind of guys. He might get a ring.
Although the Blue Wizards might figure into things as well.
I'm guessing now the actual Saruman, is the nameless guy wandering around with the halflings. He was the 1st ( if you don't count the Blue Wizards)Istari to land on middle earth's shores in the books, so it should be him.
So far I've liked the first three episodes. Definitely has better pacing than the beginning of season one.
It's going to be fun watching celebrimbors descent into madness.
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