Where the Stars are Strange

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 premiere focuses on Galadriel, Sauron, Elrond, and the three rings created by Celebrimbor in the first season. The episode begins with Prince Durin and Disa roughing it with the common folk after their tiff with King Durin. Disa senses an earthquake, and the earth shakes and a bridge is destroyed. Mordor's resurgence is causing issues throughout Middle-earth, and it is unclear whether this is due to dwarves mining too deep.

In the second episode, "Where the Stars are Strange," Galadriel has terrible visions, seeing Celebrimbor killed by the vines of a tree. Gil-galad and his advisors discuss plans to invade Mordor, and Galadriel shares her plan to attack Mordor using the rings to influence people and their will. However, Gil-galad refuses to let her leave for Eregion to warn Celebrimbor of the danger Sauron poses. Sauron, disguised as Halbrand, is denied entry to Eregion by Celebrimbor but stays until he changes his mind. He waits for word from Lindon, which should arrive any day. Days pass without any word from Celebrimbor. Galadriel travels to Eregion to see if Sauron has returned, but she asks for Elrond's help. Elrond shuts her down, telling her that Sauron has already influenced her, Gil-galad, and others. She pleads with Elrond to help her, but he refuses. Elrond seeks the counsel of Cirdan, who shows him the power of the rings and warns them to remain in the hands of the Elves and be used for good. Cirdan asks Elrond to guide his friends, including Galadriel and Gil-galad, before the darkness spreads across Middle-earth and blinds everyone. In Eregion, Celebrimbor crafts a Mithril-shaped item and asks Halbrand to leave or be removed. Halbrand manipulates Celebrimbor by claiming to have spoken with Galadriel but has his hooks on Celebrimbor. He offers him food and drink in exchange for finding out if the rings worked and revealing that the rings saved the Elves. Celebrimbor celebrates the occasion and continues to manipulate Halbrand. Halbrand reveals that he is Annatar, a messenger from the Valar and gift-giver, and that the rings of power are the only way to limit the darkness spreading through Middle-earth. Annatar promises to work with Celebrimbor to make him "the Lord of the Rings." Celebrimbor turns down the opportunity and they work together. The minions of a Dark Wizard, played by Ciarán Hinds, follow them, and they learn that the Stranger and Nori are headed for Rhûn. They use an invisibility blanket similar to the one used by Frodo and Sam after causing a rockslide at The Black Gate of Mordor in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. As they continue across the desert landscape, the Stranger collapses and they find a well near them. A bell chimes while they try to bring back the unconscious Stranger, who wakes and finds a staff similar to the one from his dream..

Nothing seems planned. It's like they wake up each filming day and have to write the script right then and there.

What should be explained isn't. And what doesn't need an explanation gets one. And it miraculously makes it worse than it already was (which I thought wasn't possible).

Whatever little "suspense" there is, is based on things we know will not happen. Characters we know cannot die. Or rings "disappearing" that we know will turn up, and given to exactly the character which they try to depict as undeserving. A character being turned away when we know he'll have to be brought in.

The dialogue is as atrocious as it was in the first season, like how children would speak while larping as medieval nobles.

The costumes. "Gaudy gold and shiny means status". That's it. A trailer park idea of sophistication. Zero identity or vision.

And because everyone seems to constantly run into others by accident, or get intercepted by teleporting people, the world seems very small. The opposite of Tolkien.

Where the Stars are Strange is as beautiful and cinematic as all other visual depictions of Middle Earth and its characters. However, if you struggle with season long arcs that slow burn with build up to momentous events, you will probably find your patience wearing thin.

Personally I like all scenes but find some plot threads more interesting than others at this stage in the season. I think everything involving the elf and dwarf characters are the strongest for me.

I particularly like the interaction between Disa and the Durins, as these involve (by far) the most charismatic performers in the show. The more screen time Owain Arthur and. Sophia Nomvete have the better.

Morfydd Clark continue embody Galadriel perfectly and her scenes with Robert Aramayo and Benjamin Walker work very well.

I think the weakest moments, although still reasonably good, involve Gandalf and the half-foots. Never thought I'd say that in a Tolkien related story!

For me its a 7.5/10, but I round upwards.

There are a few frustrating things about the show, such as sometimes corny costumes, the occasional goofy but of dialogue, however there is nothing about this show that warrants the hate it receives.

90% of the people criticizing the show have not read The Silmarillion,the precursor to the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

The series does a fairly good job showing and authentic historical account of Middle Earth.

The acting in the show is superb, the cinematography is enchanting, and the writing is solid. The relationships between the characters carries the show. The show is heartfelt and yet ominous, as Sauron schemes to usurp Middle Earth.

Seems to me like the writers and directors finally gave in and released the potential that LotR holds. Intriguing and nowhere near the slow buildup of season 1. While this is not necessarily a guarantee for excellence we find ourselves asking: "Why only now, why not before?".

What comes to mind watching this whirlwind of sequences is the hope that it will all come together nicely from episode 4 onwards.

Now while episode 1 was explosive and compelling, episode 2 slightly lacks depth, also the number of powerful moments decreases. Still we get much more out of our Prime memberships than with the first season. Let's hope for the best for what's coming our way!