The Rings of Power season 3 review: Has the Lord of the Rings prequel hit its stride?

Seasons one and two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power have been divisive, to say the least. Criticisms have ranged from bad writing and pacing to the series inaccurately adapting JRR Tolkien's lore. The prequel has caused some fiery discussions within the fandom, and that's not going to end with the arrival of season three.

We jump five years into the future with Middle-earth in the midst of a devastating war with Sauron, and the Dark Lord is working to forge the One Ring. This run acts as something of a reset and, although it seems unlikely, showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay claim that new viewers could begin watching the show at this point. Why anyone would do such a thing is a mystery and frankly, if you’ve not enjoyed the show so far, you’re not going to enjoy it now. However, for those who have stayed with the Prime Video series up to now, there is a lot to enjoy about season three. Mostly, that it gets to the point.

Certain unpopular characters have been cut entirely from the sprawling narrative (sorry, Harfoots). This leaves more space for the more interesting storylines. We're reintroduced to a layered and haunted Sauron (played beautifully by Charlie Vickers) as he struggles to replicate the work of the great Celebrimbor. He's hell-bent on either corrupting or killing anyone who steps into his path.

Meanwhile, Morfydd Clark is as compelling as ever as Galadriel, and has now got something new to contend with. Enter long-lost "lover boy" Celeborn, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. The Stranger Things star is worlds away from his last high-profile character – the villainous Vecna – and the pair deliver fairytale chemistry in flashbacks that show how they first met. Is it a little indulgent and cheesy? Sure. But their scenes together are a visual feast, so they're easy to forgive.

After the reveal that literally everyone saw coming last season, there's some sorely needed character development when Gandalf (Daniel Weyman) finally dons his hat and puts his staff to good use. While it's difficult to imagine anyone other than Sir Ian McKellen doing the wizard justice, Weyman makes a convincing enough younger iteration.

One of the most pleasant surprises of the season is the political plotting of Khazad Dum, complete with the brilliant addition of Durin's brother Thrain (Eddie Marsan). Sadly, other new additions don't prove as successful. There's been a lot of intrigue around Manukh (Adam Young), the new "orc with an arc", who effectively replaces fan-favourite Adar (Joseph Mawle in season one and Sam Hazeldine in season two).

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Despite some Tolkien die-hards arguing that orcs shouldn’t be humanised or layered characters, it still proves to be an interesting added element for the show - although Manukh begs the question of why Adar was killed off last season only to be replaced by a character that we care less about.

For all its flaws, The Rings of Power is getting better season by season. Its third instalment delivers a tighter and more interesting narrative, with key moments from Tolkien's writing being balanced with original storylines that add layers to the lore. One storyline in particular has been added into the show and is likely to divide fans, but at least it delivers pure drama - and after some rather dry storylines in the past two seasons, it's welcome in my book.

This show will always have its critics. But for those of us who have clung on up to now, it finally feels as though the series is hitting its stride.

The Rings of Power season 3 launched on 11 November on Prime Video.

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Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.