History stands as a testament that reboots, spin-offs, or adaptations fail the moment makers decide to give their own twist to the mythos. From The Witcher to Eragon, there have been several series and movies that ended up being ridiculed and sneered by fans and critics. And Amazon’s Rings of Power too can be found among such projects.
Based on the famous J. R. R. Tolkien books, the series provided its own spin on the tale by being set thousands of years before the events in the books. Needless to say, the series was not as well received. And even Lord of the Rings star, the late Bernard Hill had some deeply insulting words to say about the series.
LOTR star Bernard Hill on The Rings of Power
While The Rings of Power was initially well-received and fans even liked the take. Yet as it progressed, the numbers started dwindling and the Amazon series currently has mediocre reviews across the internet.
Fans and critics alike criticized the show for not being faithful to the original books and spinning their mythos. Taking in the subtle mentions and references from the books about the supposed events that happened thousands of years before, the show took fans way back in history.
And so, unable to hold back, even Bernard Hill had some harsh words to say. Hill, who starred as King Theoden in The Lord of the Rings movies and recently passed away, had stated to Metro.
“It’s a money-making venture and I’m not interested in watching that or being in it. Good luck to them and all that stuff but it’s not like the real thing.”
While the late actor went on to praise The Hobbit movies, Hill was totally unabashed when it came to criticizing the Amazon series. And fans might agree with him.
The Rings of Power Season 2 To Release Soon
After a mediocre run, it is astonishing to know that The Rings of Power will be returning to the screens soon with its second season. Having started filming in the UK, it has already wrapped up shooting. While several actors like Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, and Charlie Vickers are expected to return, there is a whole slate of new cast members such as Nia Towle and Yasen Zates Atour.
Apart from being criticized on several fronts, fans have also found issues with the diverse casting since Tolkien’s books featured and focused on white people. With old cast members returning and new ones added, such criticism might continue.
Expected to be darker and grittier, the second season will answer more about Galadriel and might feature the powerful rings the show is all about. Having a bigger story and scope than the first season, the stakes will definitely be high in season 2 (see Games Radar).
Although the second season does not have a release date, it is expected it will air at the end of 2024 or early 2025.
The Rings of Power can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
