The Rings of Power season 2 is the thrilling and faithful Lord of the Rings show I’ve wanted all along on Prime Video

I like The Rings of Power. I appreciate it’s not to everyone’s taste, especially long-time The Lord of the Rings fans who felt it betrayed J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary literary works. Some of the criticism leveled at The Rings of Power season 1 was valid, but I maintain that it’s a good show; one that, without the weight of expectation that Tolkien’s source material brings with it, would have been judged more kindly.

You can replace ‘good’ with ‘great’ in my eyes now, because The Rings of Power season 2 is even better than its predecessor. A few issues linger from the high-fantasy show’s first season, but overall I believe the hit Prime Video series strikes a largely pleasing balance between Tolkien’s literature and its new material as it forges its own path through Middle-earth’s Second Age.

And in the darkness, bind them

Season 2 finds Middle-earth’s races still reeling from events in The Rings of Power season 1 episode 6 and its season 1 finale. In Lindon, the elves not only quarrel over what to do with the three rings that were forged last season, but also Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) return, which Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) unintentionally aided and abetted. Over in Khazad-dûm, the superstitious dwarves contend with a potentially calamitous earthquake – generated by Mount Doom’s creation in season 1 – and the familial fallout between King Durin (Peter Mullen) and his son Durin IV (Owain Arthur).