Last Updated on 05/09/2024 by Arun jain
Trust is a big deal, especially in Middle-earth. Those are the key takeaways directors Louise Hooper and Sana Hamari and writer Glenys Mullins are keen to provide. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of PowerNo latest episode. It’s a simple yet effective throughline that makes for one of the most focused (and satisfying) entries of the second season. And yet Episode 4’s emphasis on trust also underscores where it’s missing — not just between our heroes, but between the show and its audience.
[Ed note: This article contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, episode 4.]
With the setup for Season 2 now largely out of the way, Episode 4 is mercifully relieved of the responsibility of checking in with each member. Power of the RingsA sprawling cast of Instead, the fourth episode just zeroes in on three narrative threads, all of which revolve around how much (or how little) everyone trusts the people around them. Elrond and the newly deposed Galadriel epitomize this; His barrow-downs are undermined by mistrust before the tour even begins. She has bought the prophetic powers of her ring; It’s not a fan. Meanwhile, over in Pelargir, Isildur and Arondir aren’t quite sold on Astrid yet. Things aren’t much better in Rhûn either. The Stranger is paying attention to the divine powers where he needs to stay – which is apparently Tom Bombadil’s holiday house – when the people outside the stores don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Nori and Poppy.
But as is often the case with Prime Video series, the effectiveness of each storyline varies significantly. The Galadriel/Elrond stuff is easily the strongest. Will continue to win over the purists Power of the RingsJRR Tolkien’s depiction of Galadriel’s ring against the original canon, but the drama that this deviation provides continues to pay off. Not only does it give Robert Aramaio and Morfid Clarke room to show off their respective performances, but the friction between their characters feels authentic within the context of the show. Clark’s Galadriel is Impulsive and guided by his gutWhile Aramayo’s Elrond is decidedly a more cautious customer. Of course they’re going to take a diametrically opposed position on something like world-saving – or -ending – as a ring of power. It is a debate with two equally valid sides that reinforces the overall moral stupidity that (Rightly or wrongly) Power of the Rings brings to The Lord of the Rings.
Unfortunately, everything that goes down in Pelargir seems a little bland in comparison. When we glimpsed Astrid’s brand last episode, it meant she was on a sneaky spy mission for Adar. Yet there was also the very real possibility that Power of the Rings The showrunners were setting us up for a disappointing bait and switch with Astrid — and, disappointingly, that’s what happens. At its core, the Pelargir subplot boils down to Astrid and Isildur trusting his trust — if his apparent eagerness to be more than “just friends” — is ultimately rewarded. It lacks the layered emotional dissonance of Galadriel and Elrond’s interplay, and if this is a “Is Astrid the Mole of Mordor?” Ark, it would have been best left out altogether.
Then there is the Rhûn piece of the puzzle. It’s no secret Nor has this subplot been doing much for me this season, and episode 4 didn’t change my mind. Events in the eastern corner of Middle-earth are still far from the overarching story and are moving at a haphazard pace, with a vague sense of their greater significance (a stranger will join the fight against Sauron… someday?). It’s gotten to the point where we believe showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay plan to combine the Stranger’s journey with everything else. Power of the Rings It is an exercise of faith in its own right. And it’s not easy when they serve up stuff like the Poppy/Merrimack romance that feels like filler, and – its gritty. Fine and store dialogue – it is not a particularly suitable filler.
That said, the filler seems mostly geared toward shouting out as much Lord of the Rings lore as possible is representative of Episode 4’s bigger problem: trusting its audience. There is a clear lack of faith in the audience’s ability to engage with Lord of the Rings An outing that didn’t drown in the fan service on display here. Admittedly, there is little point in playing Tolkien’s Middle-earth sandbox And at least don’t use it Some No toys. What’s more, to some extent, it is inevitable. Finally, This Power of the Rings It is Lord of the Rings A prequel you’d expect some of the latter’s characters and concepts to show up in the former. But like Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, there are times where these Rick Dalton click-and-point moments feel like natural extensions of the story, and times when they feel forced.
Tom Bombadil A prime example is the “forced” category. Rory Kinnear is an inspired bit of casting and his performance is reliably solid, but there’s no getting around it: Tolkien describes an eccentric, enigmatic forest guardian completely oblivious to the bigger picture. But in Episode 4, Tom is a typical sage mentor, someone focused on Middle-earth affairs and actively interested in the inevitable showdown with Sauron – so basically the exact opposite of what Tolkien had in mind. Which begs the question: why use it? If a stranger must have a mystical life coach, why not run with another Istar? Blue Wizards are (probably) on the scene – And in Rhûn, no less! – At this point in the Middle-Earth timeline. Maybe because Tom Bombadil’s live-action debut appealed to fans more than just another bearded old guy with a stick?
The events of episode 4 are very similar. Sure, one of them is neat to see Long lost wivesBut even that novelty seems to be the only reason they get in on the action. And so it is inevitable that their inclusion here feels contrived, not to mention alien to their established characterization. Like guidance counselor Tom Bombadil, he holds back the beloved element of the IP in the story to gain cheap traction with viewers, instead of supporting them to buy more than just superficial lore drops.
But as I said earlier, this doesn’t apply to all of Episode 4’s canon callbacks. Some of them actually build on Tolkien’s legendarium (rather than just hand-waving in its direction) — or, failing that, weave it into the story in a way that feels organic and purposeful rather than exploitative. Take the baro-white fight. This isn’t just inspired by the previously unused undead baddies gimmick; It’s an atmospheric set-piece that injects some action into the proceedings when needed. The same goes for the swamp monster that attacked the Pelargir crew. More than just a nod to Tolkien’s “nameless creatures,” the Beastie’s arrival gives Astrid a chance to reclaim Isildur and Arondir’s good books in properly dramatic fashion. That deep cut into the story has a purpose beyond crowd-pleasing.
So, at equilibrium, Power of the Rings Season 2 kicks off this week with its fanservice-heavy approach. Does Episode 4 move the needle more, in terms of the show’s main narrative? Not really. But then, that’s not the only measure of a successful episode; Characters and relationships need to be developed, not just plot. Additionally, the Galadriel/Adar meeting of the minds provides ample signposting for the rest of the second season’s installments. As it stands, all roads (except the one through Rhone, natch) most likely lead to Season 2. The much-hyped three-episode-long Siege of Arijan. Here is all hope Power of the RingsThe trust issues are well and truly out of the question before we get there.
Post The Rings of Power Episode 4 finds some footing in the midst of his trust issues appeared first Polygon.