The Rings of Power: Season 2

I've heard good and bad things about Amazon Prime's multi-tiered The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, from both intense devotees and know-it-alls who (when all is said and done) know nothing. The intersecting voices have asked, was it necessary to launch such a series? Would Tolkien have approved of its prequel content? Is the result a loving homage or superfluous, make-a-buck blasphemy? 

I only know that there have been extensions and revisions to Tarzan of the Apes, Little Women, Moby Dick, Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Godfather, The Planet of the Apes (Monkey Planet), Gone with the Wind, The Lost World, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Flowers in the Attic, The Three Musketeers, War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and let's not forget King Arthur on the whole, so why not The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings? Why not show how the sinister Sauron (Charlie Vickers) came to forge his precious items, beyond his (Spoiler!) Halbrand disguise? Why not toss in some healthy competition among its leads to see where Captain Elrond (Robert Aramayo) lands (if anywhere)? Why not gaze once more upon the purposeful beauty of the Lady Galadriel (Morfydd Clark)? Is not the latter, in itself, enough cause to continue a storyline? 

The main thing is that the Rings of Power saga stays brassy yet honorable in the best, Adar (Joseph Mawle) way. Sure, the setups can get political here and there (and have). They can even stir some levity, but none of it should end up like Harry Potter or Rainbow Brite or Charmed or Oh, Calcutta!. In other words, it shouldn't be mushy and cushy or highbrow to a fault, only to appease those apathetic about J.R.R.'s Middle Earth. 

I believe Season 1 held its own, which means it didn't eclipse Peter Jackson's big-screen adaptations, but there's so much more yet to explore beyond this iceberg's tip. Will Season 2 strike a bigger chunk, and how successful will that chunk be? Hell, I don't know, but as long as it doesn't go down the tap-your-feminine-side, Star Wars trail or get all Captain Marvel bland, it ought do just fine among those who keep an open mind. We'll wait and see, though, and from there, judge better after that Numenor air settles. 

For the near present, the first three episodes of Season 2 will be queued to conquer at 3 am, August 29. 

The Rings of Power: Amazon's Tolkien Prequel

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power ruffled the feathers of some fans when it was announced. It wasn't (and couldn't be) pure J.R.R. Tolkien they declared and therefore its rise was blasphemous. But the way I look at it, Star Trek continued after Gene Roddenberry died, spawning many quality adventures that he did not oversee. The same goes for Planet of the Apes, which reinvented itself with marked prosperity well after Pierre Boulle, Rod Serling, Michael Wilson and Paul Dehn bid farewell. 

As  long as Tolkien's spirit haunts this new, Middle Earth incarnation, then we're set, and if its first two episodes are any indication, The Rings of Power succeeds big time in this respect. 

This ambitious, eight-episode, Amazon Prime endeavor, developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, ascends by being idyllic and majestic, but above all, edgy (and Bear McCreary score hits all the thematic chords with proper precision). To nurture the ideal verve, no sooner does one see children playing, they engage in a scuffle. The elves then leap into war, and the Lady Galadriel (played by enchanting Morfydd Clark) sets forth to avenge her brother, Finrod (the eloquent Will Fletcher) who's been slain by the evil Sauron (the shadowy Anson Boon). Among these melodramatic tiers, there's blood and death, dragons and Ents: pure Tolkien through and through. Okay, there's a political bent, as well, but it's tolerable and identifiable, due to the stately Elrod (the distinguished Robert Aramayo), who emboldens the atmosphere with justified pomp and regal command. 

Because of the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit movies (and the Stephen Strange ventures deserve credit here, too), the sorcery genre hasn't gone down the socio-sissified tubes, and it would have otherwise with franchises I won't dignify with mention. Let's face it, millennials don't dig Tolkien and won't dig this prequel. Rings of Power would prove too aggressive and purposeful for their bow-to-thy-foes philosophy.  

However, for those who like their mysticism muscular, equipped with a goddamn spine, then Rings of Power is just what the war-torn doctor ordered. This adventure, as with Tolkien's official, founding works, advocates the fine art of squashing tyranny and championing a righteous cause. If only we had more such honorable ilk at play these way-too-ball-less days, the current culture might not be plagued by such enormous despair. 

I can't say for certain if the series' kickoff, badass approach will thrive to the end, but so far, so good, and for that, I give my sincerest salute.