Elven Kings Under the Sky

It's clear by now that if you're a Tolkien purist and demand this to be exact or close as can be to the books and lore then steer clear as the show will just annoy you.

For fans who are open to interpretation/change, who only watched the movies or those who are new to the world it's clearly a very entertaining and visually spectacular looking show.

I thought the actor playing Sauron is expecially good, worming his way into people's minds and deceiving all to achieve his ends. The visuals, as per season one, are stunning too. A lot of the criticism is based on the inaccuracies to tolkein's work so I think best to steer clear if you're likely to be annoyed by that. If you can look past it and are excited to see the main story and locations of the 2nd age brought to life then you'll enjoy it!

Amazing start of season 2.

All the plots are interesting now, even the harfoot's one. Very excited to know what exactly happens with the rings of power and how Sauron manipulates everyone in his way to bring his plan forward.

Acting is OK, obviously not Leo DiCaprio level, but completely acceptable for a TV show.

Visuals are amazing as usual, music is also very good, always making you remember what you are watching.

I also read every book, and as usual you cant ever compare movies to books as it "always" falls short. I believe in that case LOTR was a standout as the movies are in my opinion even better than the books.

I urge the haters to stop watching this show, as it is actually depressing having to look at your pointless critics now. If Season 1 was so bad, why did you watch until the end and why are you watching now season 2? Dont you have anything better to waste your time on?

Critics like the elves are terrible when they are clearly way prettier and knowledgeable than the other races as they should be. Critics like their ears are to big. Completely laughable.

If you are so puritan that you can not enjoy this TV show, please do not watch it and stick to the books. Do us all a favor including yourself and waste your time on something better.

This is a show that will probably never gain the admiration of the entire fanbase, but no matter what anybody tries to say, it is a show that displays the full soul of Tolkien's work. Is it word-for-word from the page of his works, no; but the great thing about this universe is that it can expand and become something else all the time. The first season largely worked for me and is still one of the most spectacular visual things I've seen on television. And the second season continues in a similar fashion: incredible production value and a premise that lays some great groundwork.

The scope of this show is very broad, and this season is going very far in bringing forward a story that will encapsulate everyone and everything in Middle-earth as a part of this growing conflict. At the heart of it all is Sauron, who revealed himself in the previous season's finale and is very much the central character of this first episode. The opening minutes feature an origin of how he became the Halbrand version that we know him as and it's very intriguing. A unique take on why he went into hiding and why he is so hellbent on revenge against the ones who betrayed him. But like with everything, it's a big game that he plays and will have everybody doing his bidding in no time. The Elves are uniting under a new symbol of the three rings, which can be a very dangerous road forward, but becomes one of the show's most beautiful scenes which showcases the absolutely stunning visuals of this show. There's not a lot like it on television at the moment when it comes to the visuals. There are a lot of teases throughout the episode and the Stranger plot still seems to be plotting forward a lot, which can easily become tiresome if it doesn't get a bit of context very soon. It's still fascinating to watch, but it can easily become boring if not treated right. And the teaser for the rest of the season was epic and makes me want to continue watching it all immediately.

"Elven Kings Under the Sky" brings the story forward with a big focus on Sauron, setting him up as the central character of the season. The episode features a lot of setup and it can be tiresome at certain points, but the beauty of the visuals and the dedication from the crew keeps it flowing.

Loved the first episode of season 2. I have never read the books which makes the story here completely fascinating for me.

I really like the cast. Will miss Joseph as Adar but I'm confident I will get used to the recast.

The making is very beautiful. The atmosphere is on point. You feel the tension and menacing. It's very engaging.

I started this episode wondering what was the connection between Adar and Sauron and we get this covered first part of the episode. I enjoyed to see how the spirit of Sauron survived and embodied Halbrand.

Cannot fault the serie so far and i hope it continues :)

Episode 1 in season 2 of "Rings of Power" opens the season with an impressive start that combines a fascinating plot and new depth to the familiar characters. Although the episode is long, you can feel that it is starting to build a foundation that promises surprises later. The characters are excellent, and the game manages to excite and connect, especially in new meetings between old characters. The large financial investment is evident, and upgrades the viewing experience with impressive backdrops and special effects that return viewers to the rich world of Middle-earth. The pace of the episode is fast but balanced, allowing viewers to be swept back into the story and excited for the sequel with great anticipation.