A Cherished Fantasy Universe
As a lifelong fan of the Lord of the Rings universe, I was extremely enthusiastic about watching Rings of Power. I hoped that the highest budget show in cinema history would do justice to the world I loved so much as a child. However, the show is decidedly not doing that, to such an abysmal extreme that I feel season 2 is actually worse than season 1, if that were even possible.
Continuity Issues Galore
Rings of Power suffers from a never-ending parade of extreme continuity issues that affect the viewer’s conscious and subconscious experience. Small continuity problems are unavoidable, but when they are large and frequent, they detract from the overall quality of the show.
Cheaply Imitating the Peter Jackson Trilogy
The show resorts to cheaply imitating core concepts from the Peter Jackson trilogy in an almost insultingly incompetent way. It’s worth noting that the early 2000s Peter Jackson films cost significantly less to make per hour than the Rings of Power seasons, even when considering inflation.
Continuity of Logic Failures
In addition to general continuity issues, Rings of Power has what can only be described as continuity of logic failures. These make the entire show a jumbled, nonsensical mess that seems to be wearing the face of Lord of the Rings while having none of the substance.
Comparing Battles: Helms Deep vs. Rings of Power
The Battle of Helms Deep in The Two Towers is a masterclass in basic logic compared to the battles in Rings of Power. In Helms Deep, there’s a sense of overwhelming odds, with characters acting like an army is attacking them. In contrast, the battles in Rings of Power lack logical continuity and make no sense whatsoever.
An Indefensible Insult to Lord of the Rings
While the special effects in Rings of Power may be beautiful at times, the show’s terrible directing and garbage writing make it an indefensible insult to the Lord of the Rings universe. Despite being the most expensive series ever made, it fails to create a truly successful and well-rounded experience.
Final Thoughts
As a die-hard fan of the Lord of the Rings universe, it pains me to see Rings of Power fall so short of expectations. The show’s numerous issues, from continuity problems to logical inconsistencies, make it an objectively terrible adaptation of Tolkien’s beloved fantasy world. So far, season 2 is a 2 out of 10, and it’s hard to imagine how the show can redeem itself moving forward.
