The Rings Of Power Review

[Note: This is an abridged, more spoiler-free version of our recap of the first two episodes of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. The full recap will publish, like all recaps, once you’ve been able to actually see the show—in this case, tomorrow night at 11 p.m. ET. Future recaps will be available after each episode airs for the rest of this season. In the meantime, consider this an appetizer/first reaction to a series we’re very excited about.]
If the writings of JRR Tolkien teach anything, it’s that the road goes on and on. In Middle Earth, stories never end. they live on in the characters who survive them, in those who tell them, and in the people who read them. Stories are a living thing for Tolkien. He often likened them to trees, with deep roots and changing leaves that grow taller and fuller with each addition. Only in this context does a billion-dollar adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings appendices make sense. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power does not demarcate the end of one story and the beginning of the next. Each rhythm resonates with the other, echoing the history and legacy of Tolkien’s creation and our relationship to it. JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece of literary wonder is not a hill. It is a mountain of dirt and ore. air and water; and countless little pieces that reflect one another. Each part of its ecosystem has a story to tell that enlightens and enriches others. In The Rings Of Power, the viewer never consumes a story, but an entire story in a few lines. 2022 TV-14 Action/Adventure/Drama

MOLD

Benjamin Walker High King Gil-galad Ismael Cruz Cordova Arrondir

CREATORS

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne

SUMMARY

Set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama will transport viewers back to a time where great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and were destroyed, unlikely heroes tested, hope hung on the best threads, and the greatest villain ever to emerge from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover the entire world in darkness. Set in a time of relative peace, the series follows a cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they deal with the long-awaited re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the enchanting forests of the elven capital of Lindon, to the fascinating island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms… The expectations for the most expensive show ever are undoubtedly high, but the lowest point we had to clear was making something coherent out of the densest and most modern fantasy series on Earth. The good news is that in its first two episodes, Rings Of Power isn’t just good. It’s amazing. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay’s interpretation of Tolkien’s world doesn’t just match the world Peter Jackson created in the early 2000s, but also folds into a larger cultural story about Tolkien and what he continues to inspire his work to the people. Rings Of Power makes it clear that every story in Middle-earth is part of the larger whole and treats every moment, big and small, with appropriate grace and grandeur, where a fresh berry is as miraculous as a wizard’s stone. The optimistic Rings Of Power finds a world worth fighting for. G/O Media may receive a commission 28% discount. Apple AirPods Pro wireless headphones Music+ These are the pinnacle of Apple AirPod design and feature active noise cancellation, transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s around you, spatial audio for accuracy, adaptive EQ and are even sweat-resistant. Rings Of Power takes place about 3,000 years before Frodo’s journey in Lord Of The Rings. With so much history to unpack, director JA Bayona takes a page from Jackson’s book and opens with a prologue narrated by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who immediately personalizes this story to draw us in. Galadriel explains how the first dark lord Morgoth waged a centuries-long “War Of Wrath” on Valinor, culminating in Morgoth’s death, the rise of Morgoth’s apprentice Sauron, and the Elves leaving Valinor for Middle-earth. When Sauron’s forces kill her brother Finrod, it sparks in Galadriel a quest to stop all crime in Gotham City to hunt down Sauron’s forces wherever they roam. By making this threat personal to Galadriel, the show provides firm ground for the audience. With so many Dark Lords and strange Elven names and words, it would be easy to get lost in the thicket. Payne, McKay and their writers’ room were right to give her a clear target with Sauron while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This is a personal battle for Galadriel, but one that affects each character in different ways. Galadriel isn’t the only Elf interested in ROP. When we meet our old friend Elrond (played with unexpected warmth by Robert Aramaio), he’s scribbling away at a book, trying to find the perfect metaphor for Galadriel’s quest for Sauron. In their first dynamite scene together, we see the gap between Elrond and Galadriel. Galadriel may be like Batman on a never-ending quest for revenge, but Aramayo plays Elrond like Obi-Wan Kenobi, countering the weight of that mythology with pure love for his friend. And there’s a lot of love and respect between the characters in this show, giving it a very light-hearted tone compared to other, sadder fantasy series. We leave the great adventure of the Elves and meet a nomadic race of half-breeds known as the Harfoots. Their camp is reminiscent of the Lost Boys village in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, with secret compartments and clever string-based mechanisms. It’s probably catnip for kids with growing imaginations, and yet our Mr. Harfoot, Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), aspires to something more. Kavenagh has an ease on camera that exudes the confidence of this production, delivering a performance that money can’t fake. Her strength and determination feel authentic, even if the character can’t verbalize what drives her. Of course, he’ll get more than he bargained for when a mysterious bearded man known as The Stranger (Daniel Wayman) crashes into Middle Earth in a meteorite. While the show takes its time introducing us to the world and its original teams, there’s no point in dragging. The plot is propulsive, which isn’t necessarily a term one would use to describe Tolkien. Even Jackson’s beloved trilogy films were often accused with complaints of being just people walking in the woods. But the adventure here is immediate and fluid. Despite the deep cult ties, the beats are easy to follow but never weaken. Rings Of Power has an advantage. The series is reportedly the most expensive ever, with more than $460 million going into the first season alone. The seemingly unlimited budget and time have made the production rich and immersive. Marvel movies have extreme budgets, but often feel stilted due to shortcomings in special effects or the feeling that the actors are not in the same room. There is none of that here. When Elrond walks through the Mines of Moria, his awe matches ours. In perfect unison, the actors work with the effects, such as makeup, costumes, practical sets and CGI. No one ever seems to be talking into a tennis ball or rushing to meet a release date. When large-scale CGI effects are necessary, Bayona cleverly directs the action in ways that keep us engaged with the actors. Galadriel’s battle with a sea serpent features some of the worst CGI of the series, but Bayona shoots around the monster closing our perspective on Galadriel. We see only what he sees: flashes of a tail and the crew of the faltering raft fall dead into the water. It’s amazing to see a show like this not show off its computer generated creations. Restraint is appreciated. Taking their time as they set up their pieces, Payne and McKay establish the type of world Tolkien created, a world of hope but no guarantees. There’s plenty of that here, as tracks are tested and relationships need tending. However, they all feed the same story. Rings Of Power seems to focus on the bonds that bind communities and people together, not just the darkness that binds the Ring. In the first two episodes, these bonds are strong.

title: “The Rings Of Power Review Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-18” author: “Regina Braun”

[Note: This is an abridged, more spoiler-free version of our recap of the first two episodes of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. The full recap will publish, like all recaps, once you’ve been able to actually see the show—in this case, tomorrow night at 11 p.m. ET. Future recaps will be available after each episode airs for the rest of this season. In the meantime, consider this an appetizer/first reaction to a series we’re very excited about.]
If the writings of JRR Tolkien teach anything, it’s that the road goes on and on. In Middle Earth, stories never end. they live on in the characters who survive them, in those who tell them, and in the people who read them. Stories are a living thing for Tolkien. He often likened them to trees, with deep roots and changing leaves that grow taller and fuller with each addition. Only in this context does a billion-dollar adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings appendices make sense. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power does not demarcate the end of one story and the beginning of the next. Each rhythm resonates with the other, echoing the history and legacy of Tolkien’s creation and our relationship to it. JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece of literary wonder is not a hill. It is a mountain of dirt and ore. air and water; and countless little pieces that reflect one another. Each part of its ecosystem has a story to tell that enlightens and enriches others. In The Rings Of Power, the viewer never consumes a story, but an entire story in a few lines. 2022 TV-14 Action/Adventure/Drama

MOLD

Benjamin Walker High King Gil-galad Ismael Cruz Cordova Arrondir

CREATORS

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne

SUMMARY

Set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama will transport viewers back to a time where great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and were destroyed, unlikely heroes tested, hope hung on the best threads, and the greatest villain ever to emerge from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover the entire world in darkness. Set in a time of relative peace, the series follows a cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they deal with the long-awaited re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the enchanting forests of the elven capital of Lindon, to the fascinating island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms… The expectations for the most expensive show ever are undoubtedly high, but the lowest point we had to clear was making something coherent out of the densest and most modern fantasy series on Earth. The good news is that in its first two episodes, Rings Of Power isn’t just good. It’s amazing. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay’s interpretation of Tolkien’s world doesn’t just match the world Peter Jackson created in the early 2000s, but also folds into a larger cultural story about Tolkien and what he continues to inspire his work to the people. Rings Of Power makes it clear that every story in Middle-earth is part of the larger whole and treats every moment, big and small, with appropriate grace and grandeur, where a fresh berry is as miraculous as a wizard’s stone. The optimistic Rings Of Power finds a world worth fighting for. G/O Media may receive a commission 28% discount. Apple AirPods Pro wireless headphones Music+ These are the pinnacle of Apple AirPod design and feature active noise cancellation, transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s around you, spatial audio for accuracy, adaptive EQ and are even sweat-resistant. Rings Of Power takes place about 3,000 years before Frodo’s journey in Lord Of The Rings. With so much history to unpack, director JA Bayona takes a page from Jackson’s book and opens with a prologue narrated by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who immediately personalizes this story to draw us in. Galadriel explains how the first dark lord Morgoth waged a centuries-long “War Of Wrath” on Valinor, culminating in Morgoth’s death, the rise of Morgoth’s apprentice Sauron, and the Elves leaving Valinor for Middle-earth. When Sauron’s forces kill her brother Finrod, it sparks in Galadriel a quest to stop all crime in Gotham City to hunt down Sauron’s forces wherever they roam. By making this threat personal to Galadriel, the show provides firm ground for the audience. With so many Dark Lords and strange Elven names and words, it would be easy to get lost in the thicket. Payne, McKay and their writers’ room were right to give her a clear target with Sauron while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This is a personal battle for Galadriel, but one that affects each character in different ways. Galadriel isn’t the only Elf interested in ROP. When we meet our old friend Elrond (played with unexpected warmth by Robert Aramaio), he’s scribbling away at a book, trying to find the perfect metaphor for Galadriel’s quest for Sauron. In their first dynamite scene together, we see the gap between Elrond and Galadriel. Galadriel may be like Batman on a never-ending quest for revenge, but Aramayo plays Elrond like Obi-Wan Kenobi, countering the weight of that mythology with pure love for his friend. And there’s a lot of love and respect between the characters in this show, giving it a very light-hearted tone compared to other, sadder fantasy series. We leave the great adventure of the Elves and meet a nomadic race of half-breeds known as the Harfoots. Their camp is reminiscent of the Lost Boys village in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, with secret compartments and clever string-based mechanisms. It’s probably catnip for kids with growing imaginations, and yet our Mr. Harfoot, Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), aspires to something more. Kavenagh has an ease on camera that exudes the confidence of this production, delivering a performance that money can’t fake. Her strength and determination feel authentic, even if the character can’t verbalize what drives her. Of course, he’ll get more than he bargained for when a mysterious bearded man known as The Stranger (Daniel Wayman) crashes into Middle Earth in a meteorite. While the show takes its time introducing us to the world and its original teams, there’s no point in dragging. The plot is propulsive, which isn’t necessarily a term one would use to describe Tolkien. Even Jackson’s beloved trilogy films were often accused with complaints of being just people walking in the woods. But the adventure here is immediate and fluid. Despite the deep cult ties, the beats are easy to follow but never weaken. Rings Of Power has an advantage. The series is reportedly the most expensive ever, with more than $460 million going into the first season alone. The seemingly unlimited budget and time have made the production rich and immersive. Marvel movies have extreme budgets, but often feel stilted due to shortcomings in special effects or the feeling that the actors are not in the same room. There is none of that here. When Elrond walks through the Mines of Moria, his awe matches ours. In perfect unison, the actors work with the effects, such as makeup, costumes, practical sets and CGI. No one ever seems to be talking into a tennis ball or rushing to meet a release date. When large-scale CGI effects are necessary, Bayona cleverly directs the action in ways that keep us engaged with the actors. Galadriel’s battle with a sea serpent features some of the worst CGI of the series, but Bayona shoots around the monster closing our perspective on Galadriel. We see only what he sees: flashes of a tail and the crew of the faltering raft fall dead into the water. It’s amazing to see a show like this not show off its computer generated creations. Restraint is appreciated. Taking their time as they set up their pieces, Payne and McKay establish the type of world Tolkien created, a world of hope but no guarantees. There’s plenty of that here, as tracks are tested and relationships need tending. However, they all feed the same story. Rings Of Power seems to focus on the bonds that bind communities and people together, not just the darkness that binds the Ring. In the first two episodes, these bonds are strong.

title: “The Rings Of Power Review Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Robert Christianson”

[Note: This is an abridged, more spoiler-free version of our recap of the first two episodes of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. The full recap will publish, like all recaps, once you’ve been able to actually see the show—in this case, tomorrow night at 11 p.m. ET. Future recaps will be available after each episode airs for the rest of this season. In the meantime, consider this an appetizer/first reaction to a series we’re very excited about.]
If the writings of JRR Tolkien teach anything, it’s that the road goes on and on. In Middle Earth, stories never end. they live on in the characters who survive them, in those who tell them, and in the people who read them. Stories are a living thing for Tolkien. He often likened them to trees, with deep roots and changing leaves that grow taller and fuller with each addition. Only in this context does a billion-dollar adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings appendices make sense. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power does not demarcate the end of one story and the beginning of the next. Each rhythm resonates with the other, echoing the history and legacy of Tolkien’s creation and our relationship to it. JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece of literary wonder is not a hill. It is a mountain of dirt and ore. air and water; and countless little pieces that reflect one another. Each part of its ecosystem has a story to tell that enlightens and enriches others. In The Rings Of Power, the viewer never consumes a story, but an entire story in a few lines. 2022 TV-14 Action/Adventure/Drama

MOLD

Benjamin Walker High King Gil-galad Ismael Cruz Cordova Arrondir

CREATORS

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne

SUMMARY

Set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama will transport viewers back to a time where great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and were destroyed, unlikely heroes tested, hope hung on the best threads, and the greatest villain ever to emerge from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover the entire world in darkness. Set in a time of relative peace, the series follows a cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they deal with the long-awaited re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the enchanting forests of the elven capital of Lindon, to the fascinating island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms… The expectations for the most expensive show ever are undoubtedly high, but the lowest point we had to clear was making something coherent out of the densest and most modern fantasy series on Earth. The good news is that in its first two episodes, Rings Of Power isn’t just good. It’s amazing. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay’s interpretation of Tolkien’s world doesn’t just match the world Peter Jackson created in the early 2000s, but also folds into a larger cultural story about Tolkien and what he continues to inspire his work to the people. Rings Of Power makes it clear that every story in Middle-earth is part of the larger whole and treats every moment, big and small, with appropriate grace and grandeur, where a fresh berry is as miraculous as a wizard’s stone. The optimistic Rings Of Power finds a world worth fighting for. G/O Media may receive a commission 28% discount. Apple AirPods Pro wireless headphones Music+ These are the pinnacle of Apple AirPod design and feature active noise cancellation, transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s around you, spatial audio for accuracy, adaptive EQ and are even sweat-resistant. Rings Of Power takes place about 3,000 years before Frodo’s journey in Lord Of The Rings. With so much history to unpack, director JA Bayona takes a page from Jackson’s book and opens with a prologue narrated by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who immediately personalizes this story to draw us in. Galadriel explains how the first dark lord Morgoth waged a centuries-long “War Of Wrath” on Valinor, culminating in Morgoth’s death, the rise of Morgoth’s apprentice Sauron, and the Elves leaving Valinor for Middle-earth. When Sauron’s forces kill her brother Finrod, it sparks in Galadriel a quest to stop all crime in Gotham City to hunt down Sauron’s forces wherever they roam. By making this threat personal to Galadriel, the show provides firm ground for the audience. With so many Dark Lords and strange Elven names and words, it would be easy to get lost in the thicket. Payne, McKay and their writers’ room were right to give her a clear target with Sauron while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This is a personal battle for Galadriel, but one that affects each character in different ways. Galadriel isn’t the only Elf interested in ROP. When we meet our old friend Elrond (played with unexpected warmth by Robert Aramaio), he’s scribbling away at a book, trying to find the perfect metaphor for Galadriel’s quest for Sauron. In their first dynamite scene together, we see the gap between Elrond and Galadriel. Galadriel may be like Batman on a never-ending quest for revenge, but Aramayo plays Elrond like Obi-Wan Kenobi, countering the weight of that mythology with pure love for his friend. And there’s a lot of love and respect between the characters in this show, giving it a very light-hearted tone compared to other, sadder fantasy series. We leave the great adventure of the Elves and meet a nomadic race of half-breeds known as the Harfoots. Their camp is reminiscent of the Lost Boys village in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, with secret compartments and clever string-based mechanisms. It’s probably catnip for kids with growing imaginations, and yet our Mr. Harfoot, Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), aspires to something more. Kavenagh has an ease on camera that exudes the confidence of this production, delivering a performance that money can’t fake. Her strength and determination feel authentic, even if the character can’t verbalize what drives her. Of course, he’ll get more than he bargained for when a mysterious bearded man known as The Stranger (Daniel Wayman) crashes into Middle Earth in a meteorite. While the show takes its time introducing us to the world and its original teams, there’s no point in dragging. The plot is propulsive, which isn’t necessarily a term one would use to describe Tolkien. Even Jackson’s beloved trilogy films were often accused with complaints of being just people walking in the woods. But the adventure here is immediate and fluid. Despite the deep cult ties, the beats are easy to follow but never weaken. Rings Of Power has an advantage. The series is reportedly the most expensive ever, with more than $460 million going into the first season alone. The seemingly unlimited budget and time have made the production rich and immersive. Marvel movies have extreme budgets, but often feel stilted due to shortcomings in special effects or the feeling that the actors are not in the same room. There is none of that here. When Elrond walks through the Mines of Moria, his awe matches ours. In perfect unison, the actors work with the effects, such as makeup, costumes, practical sets and CGI. No one ever seems to be talking into a tennis ball or rushing to meet a release date. When large-scale CGI effects are necessary, Bayona cleverly directs the action in ways that keep us engaged with the actors. Galadriel’s battle with a sea serpent features some of the worst CGI of the series, but Bayona shoots around the monster closing our perspective on Galadriel. We see only what he sees: flashes of a tail and the crew of the faltering raft fall dead into the water. It’s amazing to see a show like this not show off its computer generated creations. Restraint is appreciated. Taking their time as they set up their pieces, Payne and McKay establish the type of world Tolkien created, a world of hope but no guarantees. There’s plenty of that here, as tracks are tested and relationships need tending. However, they all feed the same story. Rings Of Power seems to focus on the bonds that bind communities and people together, not just the darkness that binds the Ring. In the first two episodes, these bonds are strong.

title: “The Rings Of Power Review Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-01” author: “Raymond Sloan”

[Note: This is an abridged, more spoiler-free version of our recap of the first two episodes of The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power. The full recap will publish, like all recaps, once you’ve been able to actually see the show—in this case, tomorrow night at 11 p.m. ET. Future recaps will be available after each episode airs for the rest of this season. In the meantime, consider this an appetizer/first reaction to a series we’re very excited about.]
If the writings of JRR Tolkien teach anything, it’s that the road goes on and on. In Middle Earth, stories never end. they live on in the characters who survive them, in those who tell them, and in the people who read them. Stories are a living thing for Tolkien. He often likened them to trees, with deep roots and changing leaves that grow taller and fuller with each addition. Only in this context does a billion-dollar adaptation of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings appendices make sense. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power does not demarcate the end of one story and the beginning of the next. Each rhythm resonates with the other, echoing the history and legacy of Tolkien’s creation and our relationship to it. JRR Tolkien’s masterpiece of literary wonder is not a hill. It is a mountain of dirt and ore. air and water; and countless little pieces that reflect one another. Each part of its ecosystem has a story to tell that enlightens and enriches others. In The Rings Of Power, the viewer never consumes a story, but an entire story in a few lines. 2022 TV-14 Action/Adventure/Drama

MOLD

Benjamin Walker High King Gil-galad Ismael Cruz Cordova Arrondir

CREATORS

Patrick McKay, John D. Payne

SUMMARY

Set thousands of years before the events of JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this epic drama will transport viewers back to a time where great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and were destroyed, unlikely heroes tested, hope hung on the best threads, and the greatest villain ever to emerge from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover the entire world in darkness. Set in a time of relative peace, the series follows a cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they deal with the long-awaited re-emergence of evil in Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the enchanting forests of the elven capital of Lindon, to the fascinating island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms… The expectations for the most expensive show ever are undoubtedly high, but the lowest point we had to clear was making something coherent out of the densest and most modern fantasy series on Earth. The good news is that in its first two episodes, Rings Of Power isn’t just good. It’s amazing. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay’s interpretation of Tolkien’s world doesn’t just match the world Peter Jackson created in the early 2000s, but also folds into a larger cultural story about Tolkien and what he continues to inspire his work to the people. Rings Of Power makes it clear that every story in Middle-earth is part of the larger whole and treats every moment, big and small, with appropriate grace and grandeur, where a fresh berry is as miraculous as a wizard’s stone. The optimistic Rings Of Power finds a world worth fighting for. G/O Media may receive a commission 28% discount. Apple AirPods Pro wireless headphones Music+ These are the pinnacle of Apple AirPod design and feature active noise cancellation, transparency mode for when you need to hear what’s around you, spatial audio for accuracy, adaptive EQ and are even sweat-resistant. Rings Of Power takes place about 3,000 years before Frodo’s journey in Lord Of The Rings. With so much history to unpack, director JA Bayona takes a page from Jackson’s book and opens with a prologue narrated by Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), who immediately personalizes this story to draw us in. Galadriel explains how the first dark lord Morgoth waged a centuries-long “War Of Wrath” on Valinor, culminating in Morgoth’s death, the rise of Morgoth’s apprentice Sauron, and the Elves leaving Valinor for Middle-earth. When Sauron’s forces kill her brother Finrod, it sparks in Galadriel a quest to stop all crime in Gotham City to hunt down Sauron’s forces wherever they roam. By making this threat personal to Galadriel, the show provides firm ground for the audience. With so many Dark Lords and strange Elven names and words, it would be easy to get lost in the thicket. Payne, McKay and their writers’ room were right to give her a clear target with Sauron while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. This is a personal battle for Galadriel, but one that affects each character in different ways. Galadriel isn’t the only Elf interested in ROP. When we meet our old friend Elrond (played with unexpected warmth by Robert Aramaio), he’s scribbling away at a book, trying to find the perfect metaphor for Galadriel’s quest for Sauron. In their first dynamite scene together, we see the gap between Elrond and Galadriel. Galadriel may be like Batman on a never-ending quest for revenge, but Aramayo plays Elrond like Obi-Wan Kenobi, countering the weight of that mythology with pure love for his friend. And there’s a lot of love and respect between the characters in this show, giving it a very light-hearted tone compared to other, sadder fantasy series. We leave the great adventure of the Elves and meet a nomadic race of half-breeds known as the Harfoots. Their camp is reminiscent of the Lost Boys village in Steven Spielberg’s Hook, with secret compartments and clever string-based mechanisms. It’s probably catnip for kids with growing imaginations, and yet our Mr. Harfoot, Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), aspires to something more. Kavenagh has an ease on camera that exudes the confidence of this production, delivering a performance that money can’t fake. Her strength and determination feel authentic, even if the character can’t verbalize what drives her. Of course, he’ll get more than he bargained for when a mysterious bearded man known as The Stranger (Daniel Wayman) crashes into Middle Earth in a meteorite. While the show takes its time introducing us to the world and its original teams, there’s no point in dragging. The plot is propulsive, which isn’t necessarily a term one would use to describe Tolkien. Even Jackson’s beloved trilogy films were often accused with complaints of being just people walking in the woods. But the adventure here is immediate and fluid. Despite the deep cult ties, the beats are easy to follow but never weaken. Rings Of Power has an advantage. The series is reportedly the most expensive ever, with more than $460 million going into the first season alone. The seemingly unlimited budget and time have made the production rich and immersive. Marvel movies have extreme budgets, but often feel stilted due to shortcomings in special effects or the feeling that the actors are not in the same room. There is none of that here. When Elrond walks through the Mines of Moria, his awe matches ours. In perfect unison, the actors work with the effects, such as makeup, costumes, practical sets and CGI. No one ever seems to be talking into a tennis ball or rushing to meet a release date. When large-scale CGI effects are necessary, Bayona cleverly directs the action in ways that keep us engaged with the actors. Galadriel’s battle with a sea serpent features some of the worst CGI of the series, but Bayona shoots around the monster closing our perspective on Galadriel. We see only what he sees: flashes of a tail and the crew of the faltering raft fall dead into the water. It’s amazing to see a show like this not show off its computer generated creations. Restraint is appreciated. Taking their time as they set up their pieces, Payne and McKay establish the type of world Tolkien created, a world of hope but no guarantees. There’s plenty of that here, as tracks are tested and relationships need tending. However, they all feed the same story. Rings Of Power seems to focus on the bonds that bind communities and people together, not just the darkness that binds the Ring. In the first two episodes, these bonds are strong.