Okay, Lord of the Rings, you have my attention

I’m not the biggest fan of The Lord of the Rings, but I still tuned in for the TV series. Here’s a look inside the first two episodes of The Rings of Power.

I will happily admit that the idea of a Lord of the Rings series did not appeal to me. It’s not that I was a huge fan of the movies and books and didn’t think it was necessary. In fact, it was the complete opposite. I’m just not the biggest fan of the franchise.

The books were forced onto me as a kid and I couldn’t get into them. After that, I just took a huge step away from the franchise and never really gave it a chance. But I decided to go into The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with a open heart, especially after watching the epic trailer. I’m glad I did. This series has my attention.

First impressions of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

I’ll admit that I didn’t really enjoy the opening moments. For me, Galadriel just seems too much like the vision of women we’re constantly trying to push right now—the woman who is a fighter and is strong-willed, even to a fault. We don’t all have to be warriors to make a mark.

However, I have to remember that Galadriel is an elf. She also has what she deems as a destiny. I just can’t really get into her storyline at all right now. I’m far more interested in all the other characters and storylines going on.

But that’s something that I really love about the series. I know there are plenty of people out there who love Galadriel and want to learn more about her. The series has a storyline for all of us, much like all the high fantasy shows out there. It’s what I appreciated about The Wheel of Time, too.

What I do enjoy about the elves is that they’re younger beings. They don’t quite have this grasp of their immortality, which makes them seem more human than the elves I remember in the movies. We are thousands of years before the movies and the books, so it does make sense. It took me a while to understand why Elrond was shocked to hear it was 20 years since he’d seen Prince Durin, but now I get it.

The interaction between all the characters is excellent. I love Elrond and Durin’s moments, and I’m there for Arondir and Bronwyn. I also really want to know what’s going on with the poisoning of the land.

Who is the stranger in The Lord of the Rings?

Nori’s story is the one that stands out for me the most. I want to know more, and that’s because I think there’s a mystery in here that even the hardcore fans don’t have the answers to just yet. It’s all about The Stranger.

I know there are theories from the hardcore fans out there. I’m not going into that right now. I’ll do my digging later. For me, the interactions are what stand out.

Nori is inquisitive, and sometimes to a fault. She wants to know more about this stranger, and I love how she isn’t ostracizing him because she doesn’t know who or what he is. She is willing to help him, even if it could be the death of her. There’s this beautiful, child-like view of the world, and it’s perfect for newer fans of the franchise. After all, there will be children out there who have this as their introduction to the franchise.

To be honest, the harfoots—a type of hobbit—are brilliant overall. I love these nomadic creatures, and I need to see more of them throughout the series. I just can’t see how their storylines will connect to any of the others just yet, except maybe if they land in the area that’s been poisoned. They could travel there, after all.

The musical score of the series

While a lot of people are going to talk about the graphics—and yes, they are certainly impressive—my focus is on the musical score. Bear McCreary is always brilliant. You’ll hear me rave about his music for Outlander and God of War. Every time he composes something, it’s perfect for the setting and nothing like his previous work. I can listen to his music on Spotify, know its his, and know exactly which soundtrack it’s come from.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has some of the best music I’ve heard on TV in a while. There are different sounds used for each of the creatures, and they do connect enough with the music that I remember from the movies. At the same time, they stand out on their own.

We have these whimsical sounds that work for the harfoots. When it comes to the dwarves, there’s this sense of hard work and camaraderie. Then it comes to Galadriel’s scenes, and that music makes it clear that she is on a mission for revenge and justice.

So, Lord of the Rings, you have my full attention right now. Let’s see what you can bring to the table throughout the rest of the season.

What did you think of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debut? What was your favorite part? Share in the comments below.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power airs Fridays on Prime Video.