The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy season 2 episode 8 “Shadow and Flame” closed out this leg of our journey with loss of life, and destruction, and a brand new future on the horizon for a lot of of its characters. It’s additionally the primary time in ages that I’ve really loved Sauron as a personality. That’s to not say that Charlie Vickers hasn’t executed an incredible job. He has. However I discover that season 2 spent a whole lot of time shifting chess items to provide us these two last grand episodes. And in setting all these chess items up, it was a bit bit an excessive amount of data that even I misplaced monitor of. That is coming from somebody who’s reviewing the present weekly. I can’t think about how somebody who isn’t into this world feels whereas watching.
The season 2 finale did do one thing about a few of my earlier complaints in terms of the present. It trimmed the fats. By that I imply that some particular story traces ended as a result of we had method too many. We had the loss of life of Celebrimbor, whose contributions had been essential to the story, however who’s usefulness has died out on this bloated present. We stated goodbye to King Durin, who went out in a flame crammed glory after eradicating the ring. After which we’ve Nori and Poppy, who stated goodbye to The Stranger, their half in all of this unusually (and swiftly) executed. Total, shifting the main target to much less storylines, will hopefully make this present a stronger contender in terms of the bounty of TV that we’ve happening proper now, particularly on streaming providers.
Spending time with the dwarves additionally solidified, at the least for me, that the present ought to have centered extra on their neighborhood earlier than bringing on The Stranger and the halflings. We didn’t get sufficient time with King Durin and his son. And it was solely within the loss of life of the King that I felt like I really understood the connection between these two. However you already know who ought to have been there? Or who ought to’ve been collectively extra usually? Elrond and Durin. I do know that each have a whole lot of stuff happening. However I hoped that the meme from The Sandman the place one of many characters says “You got here.” after which the Sandman replies with, “You known as.” would occur. Their friendship issues and I want the present would make investments extra in that.
Talking of the elves, it was fairly cool to see them combat, significantly Elrond. He’s all the time been portrayed as a political kind of ally. However he can throw it down like the remainder of them, particularly the elf with the bow aka Rían. She was the true MVP of “Shadow and Flame” and I want that we might have seen extra of her. The actress, Selina Lo, in all probability had a good time having this epic hero’s loss of life. However for the viewer, it felt like a missed alternative that may have enriched the Elven neighborhood if we obtained to know her extra as a substitute of simply the shenanigans of Galadriel and Elrond with a facet of Arondir being rightfully brooding within the woods.
I really feel like at this level in my evaluate for “Shadow and Flame” I’ve simply been complaining left and proper about how this present might trim issues down and what I need to see extra of. However belief me, there are some issues that I did like about this season two finale.
For one, I liked the loss of life of Celebrimbor. Vickers had a improbable time and stated that it was his favourite scene to movie in season 2 after I attended a non-public screening of the ultimate two episodes. Actors all the time have a extremely good time with these large and unforgettable moments. And for Sauron and Celebrimbor, it was two immovable objects attempting to beat the opposite down. And it doesn’t matter what Sauron did, Celebrimbor didn’t break. He pushed again at each flip and I believe it really saddened Sauron to lose this person who challenged him. That’s why the tear occurred. He was nonetheless going to kill Celebrimbor. I’m certain of that. However moreover Galadriel, nobody pushed again or questioned his energy. This elf did.
The long-awaited battle between Sauron and Galadriel was additionally a pleasant a part of “Shadow and Flame.” For one we obtained to see Vickers again in his Halbrand outfit. Personally, I believe this hair is leagues above what we’ve seen for this character with the blonde wig. Additionally it was so satisfying to look at Sauron completely lose it on Galadriel. There was uncooked anger, malice, frustration, and a complete vary of different feelings that Sauron has saved near his chest. He doesn’t perceive why Galadriel received’t bend to him however he’s executed taking part in video games along with her. If she received’t stand subsequent to him then she received’t stand in any respect. Fairly poisonous however that is Sauron and Galadriel we’re speaking about.
Total, season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy continues to increase on J.R.R. Tolkien’s work in significant ways in which herald a complete slew of recent followers. On the identical time, the present wants a bit bit extra steadiness that prioritizes key storylines so even followers who adore it, like myself, don’t really feel weighed down by this world and Center-earth as a complete.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy seasons 1 and a couple of can be found on Prime Video.