The first reactions to Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power are here, and they’re overwhelmingly positive. Members of the press have been given the chance to watch the first two episodes of Amazon Prime Video’s journey to Middle-earth – and are praising the cinematic spectacle, the scope of the series, and its early character work.
Collider’s Steven Weintraub said, "Prepare to be blown away by the scale and scope of #TheRingsofPower. I don’t know how they managed to pull this off, but they made a ‘Lord of the Rings’ show that feels like ‘Lord of the Rings.’"
TV Guide’s Kat Moon wrote on Twitter, "It’s grand, bold, and ambitious, and I absolutely loved it. The shots of Middle-earth were stunning and I wish everyone could see it on the big screen."
Journalist Rodrigo Salem also heaped praise on The Rings of Power: "It's pure Tolkien and yet feels very connected to Peter Jackson's movies. The FX are brilliant, the acting is superb and the PROLOGUE itself will destroy any awful feeling you had."
The Rings of Power "is a CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE!" said another. "The visionary team behind it has produced an epic that dives into its roots and delivers a story like no other. Its production is beyond comparison, masterfully orchestrating a mythology that fans have been waiting for."
New York Post’s Lauren Sarner, like many, had been skeptical but ended up being "very pleasantly surprised."
Sarner continued: "It is actually good! Very good! Visuals & tone are just right. IMO, a great addition to the Tolkien world." Another added, "The massive budget just bleeds off the screen, and it *feels* like something that would fit alongside Jackson’s films. But even with such a huge world, it’s never overwhelming and keeps its focus.”
Writer Neil Gaiman – he of Sandman fame – was also in attendance. "Really, really fun. I remember buying the Silmarillion as a schoolboy when it was published and it very much not being the prequel I was hoping for. This is the sort of thing I wanted to experience back then," he wrote. "I'll watch the whole series when it drops, with enthusiasm."
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is dropping its first two episodes on September 1 in the US and in the early hour of September 2 in the UK on Prime Video. While you wait, check out the best shows on Amazon Prime Video.
