4 Years Later, Prime Video's 16-Episode High Fantasy Series Keeps Getting Better Ahead Of 2026 Return

Published Oct 8, 2026, 8:06 PM EDT

Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2021. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2022, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.

Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics."

Prime Video's hit fantasy series is not slowing down in its ambitious plan, and the high fantasy show just keeps getting better ahead of its upcoming 2026 return with new episodes, which will happen soon. Prime Video's best TV shows come from different genres. For instance, action thrillers like Alan Ritchson's Reacher and Chris Pratt's The Terminal List have started shared universes.

That said, if you look at Prime Video's list of fantasy series, there are many worthwhile picks, and just like those two TV-MA action series, the streaming service also has a fantasy shared universe to offer. That would be Critical Role's high fantasy land of Exandria. So far, it includes two animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein.

If you prefer watching live-action fantasy series rather than these animated masterpieces, the streaming service also has subscribers covered. Prime Video live-action fantasy series like The Wheel of Time explore immersive worlds with compelling characters and exciting magic, among other classic elements of the genre. Prime Video is also the home of one of the biggest fantasy franchises of all time.

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While The Lord of the Rings first became famous in terms of adaptations through Peter Jackson's movies, on the small screen, the high fantasy franchise continues through Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The Prime Video fantasy series is the most expensive TV show ever. That led to some harsher judgment in a somewhat uneven first season, but it just keeps improving ahead of season 3.

How The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Keeps Getting Better 4 Years Later

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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuted on Prime Video on September 1, 2022, with a two-episode premiere, followed by weekly releases for the rest of season 1's eight episodes. The show had to deal with a lot of setup in its first batch of episodes, both in terms of characters with mysteries at the forefront of their stories, and setting up onscreen how Middle-earth worked and looked during the Second Age. The end result was a slower first season that managed to finally find its footing towards the end, with quite the final reveal.

It was clear that the potential for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to be one of the best fantasy series on TV was there, given its strong cast, interesting characters, visually stunning landscapes, top-notch production design, and more. Then came Rings of Power season 2 with a three-episode premiere on August 29, 2024. The show vastly improved in its sophomore year, with its pacing having picked up and Sauron's rise boosting the urgency in the story.

Rings of Power also took cues from season 1's best episode, "Udûn," which presented a formidable battle, and upped the action in season 2. The Siege of Eregion led to thrilling events in season 2. Characters like Galadriel, Gandalf, and more also kept being improved and feeling more well-rounded. Finally, in raw data, critics and viewers alike agreed that season 2 marked a notable improvement for the fantasy series. On Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 stands at a high 84% critics' score, but a low 38% audience score. Season 2 got to 85% and 58%, respectively.

What To Expect From Prime Video's The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Season 3

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 will be the first season where Daniel Weyman plays Gandalf all the way through after the Stranger got his iconic name revealed in the season 2 finale. This alone is exciting, and the fact that season 3 will delve deeper into Sauron's quest for powers makes it an even bigger chapter for the Prime Video fantasy series. The story will jump to five years after the fall of Eregion.

Sauron is actively working on the One Ring as his dark influence takes over Middle-earth. Galadriel will finally be reunited with her husband, Celeborn, played by Stranger Things' Vecna actor Jamie Campbell Bower. Galadriel and Arondir will also be helped by an orc, Marnûkh. Simon Pegg will join Rings of Power as the voice of the Balrog. As such, there are many elements in play to make The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 the Prime Video high fantasy series' best yet when the show returns on November 11 with a massive four-episode premiere.