Rings of Power: Season 1

 

Based on: The Lord of the Rings and related works by J.R.R. Tolkien

Developed by: J. D. Payne & Patrick McKay

Producers: Ron Ames & Chris Newman

Starring: Morfydd Clark (Galadriel), Robert Aramayo (Elrond), Ismael Cruz Córdova (Arondir), Nazanin Boniadi (Bronwyn), Tyroe Muhafidin (Theo), Lloyd Owen (Elendil), Cynthia Addai-Robinson (Míriel), Peter Mullan (Durin III), Owain Arthur (Durin IV), Sophia Nomvete (Disa), Lenny Henry (Sadoc), Markella Kavenagh ("Nori"), Megan Richards (Poppy), Daniel Weyman (The Stranger), Charlie Vickers (Halbrand), Joseph Mawle (Adar) 

This was a really fun series to watch! 

I understand it got mixed reviews--mostly from audiences--and mostly online, as far as I could tell. But I don't share in that negativity at all. I just loved the series. From beginning to end, every episode was great fun to watch and I was glued to the screen for all 8+ hours of it. I'll also state at the beginning here that I don't know much Tolkien lore: I've read The Hobbit and part of The Fellowship, but that's it. 

The series is mostly told from Galadriel's perspective, which was fascinating to me since she seemed to be one of the older, wiser, and more powerful elves in the LOTR movies. I loved how the series opens near what seems to be the beginning of the world, when Galadriel was young, at a time she describes as the "first dawn" and before the first sunset, when elves did not have a word for death. That was really cool to see and I loved how the world was depicted as being so pure. 

As she season went on, Galadriel was depicted as very forward and assertive to an abrasive extent, driven to her goal of fighting Suaron. I mostly liked this trait because Sauron was a looming threat throughout most of the season which everyone around her seemed to ignore; thus, her assertiveness was necessary. It did get over the top at times when diplomacy was clearly important, yet she was brazen and aggressive. Her actress, Morfydd Clark, has acknowledged in an interview with Variety that the character has to go through some tough stuff to become the serene, majestic figure she is in LOTR. 

Galadriel organizing human forces to war against the orcs

Other main characters that got my attention were Elron and Durin IV, whose wholesome and committed friendship remains my favorite aspect of the first season because it brought great, heartwarming dynamics and gave a wonderful and fairly intimate glimpse into Drawven culture and society during its prime. Another story followed the trio of Bronwyn, Theo, and Arondir, a human woman, her son, and an elf she's in love with, who band together as an effective warrior and leadership trio striving to protect their village from orcs. These two storylines plus Galadriel's provide much of the interesting meat of the story in my mind, though there's also a focus on a band of Harfoots (precursors to Hobbits) who take in a mysterious, supernatural stranger who falls from the sky in a meteorite. 

Elrond, my favorite character this season, being led through the spectacular dwarven city of Khazad-dûm (Moria) to meet Durin IV

Durin IV and Elrond

The two harfoots the season focuses on, Nori and Poppy

There's been a lot of speculation as the season went as to who would be revealed as Sauron and whether Gandalf would be revealed. Many people suspected that the aforementioned stranger would be Gandalf, given his kind demeanor, mysterious origins, and powerful magic. A band of orcs in the series was also led by a mysterious not-quite-orc and maybe-kind-of-elf figure (Adar) who many people suspected would become Sauron. The season finale did give some answers to these questions. 

The series' incredibly budget promised great production value and sweeping views; in these facets, it more than delivered. I was thrilled to watch the show on my TV (instead of computer) to give more square inches of space to those awesome effects and picturesque views. Many locations, whether elven, dwarven, human, or natural, offered sweeping areal shots over awesome landscapes, and great CGI brought to life the beautiful craftsmanship and architecture of these cities. That was a great treat every single episode. 

Another spectacular view, the human city of Númenor, where Galadriel spends a chunk of the season

Galadriel and Miriel, Queen of Númenor, who form an alliance

I don't actually have anything negative to say! Every plotline engaged me and was brought to a satisfying pause at the end of the season. Most every character was compelling, and even those who didn't interest me still served their purpose to the plot. The season laid great foundations for a coming series and I'm very invested in what happens next!