For “The Rings of Power” to achieve Amazon’s dream of streaming-war conquest, and live up to J.R.R. Tolkien’s original stories, the series will have to pair its impressive vision with more than just deep pockets
”, but none has become a broad cultural phenomenon befitting a service with more than 200m users worldwide. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, spearheaded the acquisition of the rights to “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”, no doubt hoping that such stories would propel Amazon to the front of the streaming pack.
Underlying Amazon’s effort is its willingness to spend its way to success. Many in Hollywood have long predicted that Amazon would come to dominate the streaming wars thanks to its seemingly bottomless coffers, only to see the company fall short of turning silver into silver-screen winnings. But “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” does not fall short, at least when it comes to spectacle and scope.
The show’s story is also elaborate. “The Rings of Power” condenses swathes of Tolkien lore, particularly a 3,400-year period known as the Second Age, into a shorter timeline and follows a large ensemble of elves, dwarves, humans and hobbits as they confront a growing darkness. There are familiar names among the vast troupe, including Galadriel —at this point an elf warrior determined to root out evil—and Elrond , a half-elven politician looking to keep the peace.
Ardent fans will appreciate the references to the original works; more casual observers may struggle to keep the various characters, settings and storylines straight. In the two episodes released for review, the showrunners, J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, have ensured that the story moves forward confidently and with purpose. Whether that can be maintained across the other six episodes, and then in subsequent seasons, is uncertain.
After all, what made “The Lord of the Rings” so effective was the simplicity of the underlying idea. Take away all the different languages, mythologies, races and lands, and you are left with two friends carrying out one clear objective. Tolkien’s ultimate theme was the power of ordinary people to confront evil.
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