As far as epic fantasy goes, J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth-set masterpiece is the golden standard. That's why even mixed viewer reactions following the conclusion of Rings of Power season 1 weren't going to dissuade fans from anticipating the next installment of the TV series.
Now, almost exactly one year later, millions of fans worldwide are flocking to Amazon Prime for another magical dive into the brilliant world depicted in The Lord of The Rings.
Rings of Power season 2 is just around the corner, with a tantalizing trailer heralding what is sure to be an upgrade on season 1.
Here are 4 things you should know before you start watching it!
Arguably the biggest thing to anticipate in Rings of Power season 2 is the introduction of the Dark Lord Sauron into proceedings.
While much of the story won't come as a surprise to fans of J.R.R Tolkien's works, there's still plenty to excite viewers in seeing Sauron disguised as Celebrimbor (check out the trailer below).
The bane of Middle Earth comes bearing gifts, and his return promises to deepen the conflict and add a new layer of complexity to the story.
An exciting bit of trivia about Rings of Power season 2 involves its all-female team of directors. Sanaa Hamri and Louise Hooper each direct two episodes, while Charlotte Brändström, who directed episodes 6 and 7 of Rings of Power season 1, returns to the helm for episodes 1, 3, 7, and 8 of season 2
The show's production designer, Ramsey Avery, reiterates the uniqueness of Rings of Power, stating that “We weren’t trying to reproduce what had been seen in the [Peter Jackson] movies, or what was seen by some other concept artist for Tolkien’s work. So, it was all coming up with fresh and new ideas that told a very specific story.”
The final battle in Rings of Power season 2 will span an entire three episodes!
In an interview with Empire Magazine, co-showrunner Patrick McKay teased hardcore LoTR fans with Peter-Jackson-nurtured appetites for epic battles. “We love a good battle. The plan with season two would be to do something much bigger, on a much grander scale that would take place not just overnight, but over multiple days, weeks, months, and episodes,” he said.
So, fans, prepare yourself for one of the biggest battles Middle-earth has ever seen! Something to rival Helm's Deep, the Battle of Five Armies, and all the other epic battles in the Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies!
For the first time, fans will get to see the Entwives on screen. These elusive characters, long mentioned in Tolkien's lore, are finally making their appearance in Rings of Power season 2.
Showrunner Patrick McKay gave fans some juicy details. "This season, we have an incredible sequence involving the character Arondir in the middle of the season, where he's going to uncover a mystery that will lead him to a very surprising encounter with a pair of Ents," he said.
Rings of Power season 2 will begin streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video from August 29th, when the first three episodes will be released, with the final five episodes airing weekly through October 3rd, 2024.
The Rings of Power is loosely based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, with five seasons planned for the series.
