What awaits fans in exhilarating ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2 

MANILA, Philippines – Buckle up, LOTR fans! The journey back to Middle Earth draws nearer as the second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set to premiere on Thursday, August 29. 

Helmed by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, the prequel series establishes the pivotal events and characters of the Second Age of J. R. R. Tolkien’s bestselling The Lord of the Rings novels, the era before Frodo and Bilbo Baggins’ stories, which are set in the Third Age.

The franchise has since been adapted into two film trilogies, a television show, and even an upcoming anime series. 

The Prime Video original series is notorious for its massive budget and scale, as well as record-breaking viewership for the platform, with this new season promising to up the ante after all of season 1’s twists and turns.

To promote the new season, Amazon also recently brought members of the media to Singapore for a red carpet premiere, where Rappler was able to talk to the cast and crew about the show.

Here are a few things you can look forward to for this season of The Rings of Power.

The rise of Sauron

Jumping off from the big season 1 reveal, viewers can anticipate this season’s quite experimental opener – a chilling glimpse into Sauron’s origin story.

Director Charlotte Brändström deems it a “very special opening,” one that stays true to not only what Payne and McKay have written, but was also a direct result of several discussions, research, and inspirations. 

“I think it was very daring and there was not much dialogue either. It was very visual, which is fun,” Brändström told Rappler. “It’s great and I think it works. It’s really exciting. I think it’s obviously going to be a big, very important season as well.”

The first few minutes of episode 1 also lay the groundwork for Sauron’s relationship with Lord Father to the Orcs and his former follower Adar. 

Beyond the opener, Season 2 is all about the big bad as audiences witness the extent of manipulation and deceit Sauron has in store for his victims.

Introducing new characters

Among those who will be brought to life in this corner of The Lord of the Rings world is fan-favorite Tom Bombadil, which may ring a couple of bells for diehard fans of the saga. Played by Rory Kinnear, the enigmatic figure is expected to make his screen debut opposite Daniel Weyman’s The Stranger, an original character for the show.

Season 2 also boasts a mix of stellar talent and neophyte actors to fill in the shoes of its new characters – a mix of series-original and canonical – including Narvi, Estrid, Merimac, Gundabale, Camnir, Rían, and Mirdania.

As far as mythical beings go, fans of the films will also reunite with the reliable Great Eagles as well as the carnivorous spider Shelob in this season of The Rings of Power. On the flip side, the zombie-esque Barrow-wrights and Tolkien’s talking trees, best known as the Ents, will also be adapted to the screen for the very first time. 

World-building continues

In season 2, the bounds of what Middle Earth looks and feels like only expand further. 

Production has since set its sights from New Zealand, to brand new outdoor sets in the United Kingdom, where the story originated, as well as Spain’s Tenerife island. 

While viewers can expect to see more of the mystical Eregion, the fortress of Khazad-dûm, and the badlands of Mordor, new sweeping locations also await those drawn to the series’ stunning scenery in particular.

From the deserted expanse of Rhûn, to the famed port city dubbed The Grey Havens, these locations are only a few, new sites that feel as alive and as brimming with character as the heroes and foes we’ve come to know.

All roads lead to Eregion

From the tragic fall of the Southlands in the first season, The Rings of Power shows zero signs of toning it down. In true LOTR fashion, this season’s last two episodes are packed with action, as well as quite a bit of brutality, courtesy of an epic battle between elven kind and an army of vile orcs. 

Apart from the physicality of the siege, the showrunners have also prioritized crucial character beats and story elements amidst the bloodshed this season. 

“There’s a time for all things,” Payne said regarding the balancing act of both character arcs and action.

“You know, there’s gonna be swords clashing, armies coming together, and the fate of Middle Earth at stake. But the fate of Middle Earth is also at stake in the conversation between one heart to another.” – Rappler.com