The hype surrounding The Rings of Power has shown just how divided people are. There are those who are open to this new extention and retelling of the Second Age of Middle-Earth. Then there are those who are very resistant, fearing for the source material’s integrity. However, we’re just excited to see the beauty of Middle-Earth back on our screens again. Sure, tensions are somewhat high due to the amount of weight this show carries, as well as the pressure that’s bearing down on it, but this is a truly exciting time.
Thanks to Empire’s coverage of The Rings of Power, we’ve actually learnt a lot more about Amazon Studios’ bold endeavour into Middle-Earth. One of the biggest issues with huge franchises, and we’ve seen it with Star Wars and now Jurassic World, is planning. There never seems to be a coherrent plan that helps bind these franchises together. There’s a lack of structure which ultimately leads to unrefined and messy storytelling. TV shows have it worse. How far in advance can you plan with the dark threat of cancellation looming over you like the burning eye of Sauron. While not a Tv series, that is a problem that Sony’s The Amazing Spider-Man dealt with. However, it seems as though The Rings of Power won’t have to worry about any of that.
According to showrunner JD Payne, the narrative of The Rings of Power is essentially complete with a beginning, middle, and end across all five seasons. Payne even teased that they know what the final shot of the last episode is going to be. “The rights that Amazon bought were for a 50-hour show. They knew from the beginning that was the size of the canvas – this was a big story with a clear beginning, middle and end. There are things in the first season that don’t pay off until Season 5.” Payne said.
The Rings of Power promises a lot. These five seasons are looking to create and tell a story that covers some major events from Middle-Earth’s history. We’re looking at the forging of the various Rings, to the gradual rise of Sauron. But on top of that, there’s so much more happening. We’ll be travelling far and wide to various locations and following characters both new and old. In it’s essence, The Rings of Power feels like an opportunity to explore new elements and story threads, all the while being supported by the source material that will form the backbone and struction of this ambitious series.
“It was like Tolkien put some stars in the sky and let us make out the constellations,” Payne explains. “In his letters [particularly in one to his publisher], Tolkien talked about wanting to leave behind a mythology that ‘left scope for other minds and hands, wielding the tools of paint, music and drama.’ We’re doing what Tolkien wanted. As long as we felt like every invention of ours was true to his essence, we knew we were on the right track.”
“The pressure would drive us insane if we didn’t feel like there was a story here that didn’t come from us. It comes from a bigger place,” says Patrick McKay, The Rings of Power‘s showrunner. “It came from Tolkien and we’re just the stewards of it. We trust those ideas so deeply, because they’re not ours. We’re custodians, at best.”
Whether you’re for or against The Rings of Power, there’s no denying that this series will be something special. This is an opportunity for new fans to learn more about Middle-Earth and its various inhabitants, both evil and good. With a budget that exceeds every other show in existence, The Rings of Power will be a spectacle of epic proportions.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power starts streaming from September 2nd exclusively on Amazon Prime. Are you excited? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
