Warning! Spoilers for Rings of Power season 2, episode 5 ahead!
Hopes were high that Amazon’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerwould be an adequateGame of Thronesreplacement series, and season 2 has finally paid this off. Of course, HBO’s hit fantasy series set the bar pretty high with top-notch drama, betrayal, and devastating surprise twists. There had never been anything like it, and it’s been tough for any fantasy series to duplicate the intriguing elements that madeGame of Thronesa massive success. Now,Rings of Powerseason 2 has finally begun to break into a similar territory.
Rings of Powerseason 1 was dedicated mostly to setting the stage for Prime Video’s version of theSecond Age of Middle-earth. It was a bit of a slow start, but this installment walked so that season 2 could run. Annatar’s true deception of Celebrimbor and theforging of the titular Rings of Powerhas been a consistent focal point, and the looming threat of Adar and his Orcs has pushed the suspense ever forward. Then there is the increasingly complicatedpolitical climate in Númenor inRings of Powerseason 2, which feels like a story taken straight fromGame of Thrones.
The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Númenor Story Feels A Lot Like Game Of Thrones
Politics, Violence, and Murder
Previousepisodes ofRings of Powerseason 2saw Queen Miriel lose the favor of her people in Númenor while Pharazôn’s influence slowly grew. This came to a head in episode 5, where Pharazôn officially took the crown and began to make changes. All those loyal to Miriel have been stripped of their titles, especially Elendil, who has always been a barely concealed member of the Faithful. Of course, this transition hasn’t gone peacefully, and Elendil’s followers, especially Valandil, were eager to support his captain and queen.
It was a very Game of Thrones-geared moment, finally paying off hopes that Rings of Power would be a fantasy series of a similar caliber.
The tension in Númenor steadily grew, climaxing when Valandil fought back against Pharazôn’s son, Kemen. Elendil had to convince the young sailor, who had been Isildur’s best friend, to lower his blade and not harm Kemen, and it seemed for a split moment that the tension would settle back down again. However, thebig surprise of Kemen stabbing Valandil in the back (literally)indicated that any bets based on honor were thrown out the window. It was a veryGame of Thrones-geared moment, finally paying off hopes thatRings of Powerwould be a fantasy series of a similar caliber.
The Rings Of Power Is Truly Becoming Amazon’s Game Of Thrones Replacement
Rings Of Power Has Turned Things Up A Notch
While Amazon never came out and said its goal was to create the newGame of Thrones, this was on many minds following the announcement ofRings of Power. Prior to HBO’s hit series, fantasy franchises dominated the world of movies, butGame of Thronesdemonstrated the benefits of expanding these fictional worlds across dozens of TV episodes. It was a massive shift in the world of entertainment, and the show’s conclusion meant audiences were ready for whatever would be next.Rings of Powerwas certainly an idea with promise.
Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsfinds its roots decades beforeGeorge R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fireseries. So, if HBO could do it withGame of Thrones, Amazon could certainly do it withRings of Power. However, it’s not just a complex fantasy world that made the former work—the series had a unique approach that revolved around large-scale surprises, politics, moral ambiguity, and more. This issomething thatRings of Poweris officially bringing to the table. There may be significant differences, but season 2, episode 5, has brought a similar vibe.
Kemen’s despicable act in murdering Valandil brings to mindGame of Thronescharacters like Joffrey, providing audiences with a clear figure to hate.
GRRM’s Game Of Thrones Was Heavily Influenced By Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings Lore
Lord Of The Rings Is A Staple Of The Fantasy Franchise
While any new fantasy TV show would naturally want to emulateGame of Thronesand, therefore, duplicate the series' success, this isn’t anything new. In fact,Game of Throneswas emulatingLord of the Ringsfrom the very beginning. Of course, this goes for basically any book, movie, or TV show that could be considered part of the high fantasy genre. Tolkien has been called the grandfather of fantasy since his books brought this sort of literature into the mainstream. This is why Martin’s work shares so much in common with Tolkien.
10 Things GRRM’s A Song Of Ice & Fire Books Took From Lord Of The Rings
George R.R. Martin is a prolific fantasy author in his own right, but he draws a significant amount from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books.
Plot and characters aside (though there is much overlap here as well), Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fireseries took Tolkien’s approach to worldbuilding, with a complex and deeply explored history detailing even the least important figures in Westeros' past. This allows for series likeHouse of the Dragonto stretch its creative wings and fly since it’s based on works more like textbooks than novels. The same is true forRings of Power, based on Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsappendices and posthumously published works. Since these two pieces of fiction share so much in common,Rings of Powerhas a chance of matching similar TV success.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
