The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 begins today, bringing a new tide of darkness to Middle-earth

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has returned for its second season, and darkness threatens to engulf all of Middle-earth as not one, but two major villains rise.

While the likes of Galadriel, Elrond, Durin, and the Harfoots made Season 1 a stage for heroes to rise, Season 2 sees its antagonists attempt to take control. On one side, Adar is attempting to exert his control over the newly-named Mordor. And on the other, the Dark Lord Sauron - now fully returned after the events of the first season - is attempting to manipulate the entirety of Middle-earth according to his designs. And once they're backed into a corner, a villain who can take on many different forms is even more dangerous than they may first appear…

The rings themselves were only a small part of Season 1, but this second season promises to make their influence clear. New rings will be forged, and new characters will fall under their influence - the Elves may have their rings, but what of those made for the Men and Dwarfs of Middle-earth? And as some of the most influential characters in this world begin to get their hands on these powerful items, what effect will those around them feel?

Fortunately, even amid that rising darkness, plenty of friendly faces will make their return. Even as the world is thrown into increasing levels of chaos, the themes of friends, family, and kinship remain as important to The Rings of Power as they did to Tolkein's original Lord of the Rings trilogy. Luckily, you don't have to be a Tolkein scholar to fall in love with the show - The Rings of Power remains an ideal on-ramp into this iconic franchise, promising something for everybody, whether you're a fan of high fantasy, psychological thriller, action, or drama, and the arrival of Season 2 is the perfect time to join this journey.

The Rings of Power Season 2 begins today, August 29, with the first three episodes available exclusively on Amazon Prime. Five new episodes will be released weekly after that, until The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power reaches its epic Season 2 finale on October 3.