Eldest

Episode 3 of Season 2 of *The Rings of Power* continues to suffer from the same issues that have plagued the series so far: an overly slow pace and a sense that the show is being stretched out unnecessarily. While there are a few interesting moments, they aren't enough to salvage the episode from feeling dragged out and underwhelming. The storyline lacks the momentum needed to truly engage viewers, and it seems like the show is more focused on drawing out the plot rather than delivering compelling content. Ultimately, it's disappointing overall.

I hope the next episodes will be better and stop stretching the content.

They have definitely evolved the show from season one. The pacing the dialogue the action, everything is just better. But they haven't applied this to all the characters, I am finding the human characters just so awkward, clunky and boring to follow. The shows direction and realism isn't always amazing, there are definitely flaws, but they really don't matter too much when you are following Galadriel, Sauron or The Stranger as their characters, acting and story are all awesome and elevates the whole show to it's Tolkien esque brilliance! But, Isildur and friends just does not have that magic, and you can feel it. The show slows right down whenever they're on screen for too long. I don't know what it is exactly but something's just not working with those characters and the flow comes to a halt. But I have been loving everything else and the new characters we meet in this episode are fantastic!

I'm enjoying this season quite a bit despite all the negative reviews.

But one thing bothers me above all else. Too many of the scenes taking place in a dark area are just too dark for me to see anything.

It's really difficult to make out what's happening in too many of the scenes for the whole series.

All you see are darker blobs and hear noises, but you can't make out anything else. No plot, no nothing. It's like watching a show blind.

Some scenes are actually lit properly, despite being at night, but others are just flat and overall disappointing.

I wish they didn't do this. But they're not the only show with this issue. Between the lack of visualization and when the music is so loud but the actors' voices are so quiet, you're constantly turning the volume up and down. It sucks that it's so prevalent in most TV shows nowadays.

The second season so far is much better than season one. When I heard the goat farmer sing in this episode, I was ecstatic as I instantly knew who he was. But was sorely disappointed ten minutes later. The guy playing Tom Bombadil lacks the quirkiness, the charm, and the physical acting (by which I mean, the kind of acting we see from Charlie Chaplin, Jackie Chan or Johny Depp) required for the character and he looks too young for my taste. Other than this, the episode is pretty good. I am glad that this could be the last time we see Theo, I hated his and his mom's story arc since season one.

This episode is the first one in this whole series, where I strongly felt the hints of the mystery, the suspense, the magic, sense of adventure... that I had felt while reading the LOTR books and while watching Peter Jackson's adaptations. Hope it keeps getting better hereafter.

As a huge Tolkien fan who's read all his books, I absolutely loved every minute of this episode. The second season is a massive improvement, and Galadriel's character feels much deeper and more complex. I give this episode a 10/10 because the lore is portrayed far better than in the Hobbit trilogy, and it feels like the closest adaptation to the dark and gritty tone of The Silmarillion. The episode's atmosphere was thrilling, and some scenes were so epic and breathtaking that words can't even begin to capture them. Overall, it's a great homage to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, tying all the lore together beautifully. I really hope the next episodes maintain this level of quality.