The first trailer for the Rings of Power: Season 2 just released, and I’ve already watched it many times. It proves that Season 2 actually exists and is looming out of the darkness of the unknown close before us, something I had started to vaguely doubt would ever happen. This short trailer contains many interesting things; old characters, new characters, hints of interesting events, and glimpses of new rings. All in all, it seems really exciting and promising.

This event brought back to mind an issue which I have thought much on: Is the Rings of Power a good show Tolkienologically? It is true that it is very controversial, and myriads of different opinions can be found about it. You have probably gathered by now that I am something of a fan. What first got me interested in the Rings of Power was the fact that it is meant to be a portrayal of Tolkien’s world, but that is not the reason I like it so much it. I enjoy it because it was made very well; the actors are very skilled, the sets are amazing, the soundtrack is perhaps best of all. True, a few lines might have been written better, but I’m not here to find all the show’s errors, I wish to analyze the overall effect.

This is how I like to judge whether a production is a ‘good’ show or movie: While I’m watching it, do I think about the making of it, or about the story? Do I think “Oh, that man’s such a good actor!”, or “Wow! I wonder how they filmed that?”, or am I engrossed in the plot and storyline, not even thinking about actors or music, but feeling the emotions they were meant to evoke, loving, hating, grieving, and rejoicing with the characters? The Rings of Power certainly did that to me when I first watched it. So in that sense, I would consider it to be good show.

But now we get to the more debated side of things. Does it do the books justice?

First of all, I ask you this question: Could any film we could make? Tolkien described things which were beyond description, and there is no way we could fully recreate what was in his mind.

But maybe in some ways we could still do a little better. What most book fans are upset about is certain nonsensical departures from the original lore, and the diffusing of modern culture with that of Middle Earth. They do have a point.

Would Tolkien have liked the Rings of Power? I don’t think so. In adapting the events for film, it departs too far even from the known storyline, and is probably very estranged from his vision of those events. He would not have approved. But in a way, it’s all his fault. In a letter to Milton Waldman which is found at the beginning of the Silmarillion he wrote:

“Once upon a time (my crest has long since fallen) I had a mind to make a body of more or less connected legend….. The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama.”

He sought to make a mythology for his country, England, and in a way, I think he succeeded. His legacy remains today as one of the most popular stories in modern culture. Think about tales of King Arthur or Norse mythology. Many modern adaptations of these myths are films and other things are made today which the make the first tellers of these stories shake their heads in despair, but this is part and parcel of creating such an enduring work. Many people love the works of excellent writers, but these writers may not always approve of other interpretations of their own stories. However, there is nothing they can do about this.

But although this show is somewhat inaccurate, it’s still a tremendous watch, and I wait for it with great anticipation.