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Elven Kings Under the Sky

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"Elven Kings Under the Sky"
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode
Cover art for the episode's soundtrack album
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 1
Directed byCharlotte Brändström
Written byGennifer Hutchison
Featured music"Golden Leaves"
by Benjamin Walker
Cinematography byAlex Disenhof
Editing byDan Crinnion
Original release dateAugust 29, 2024 (2024-08-29)
Running time69 minutes
Cast
Episode chronology
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"Where the Stars are Strange"
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2
List of episodes

"Elven Kings Under the Sky" is the first episode of the second season of the American fantasy television series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien's history of Middle-earth, primarily material from the appendices of the novel The Lord of the Rings, it is set thousands of years before the novel in the Second Age. The episode explores the reactions of the Elves to the first Rings of Power. It was written by Gennifer Hutchison and directed by Charlotte Brändström.

J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay were set to develop the series in July 2018, and a second season was ordered in November 2019. Filming began in the United Kingdom in October 2022, with Brändström returning from the first season. Production on the season wrapped in June 2023.

"Elven Kings Under the Sky" premiered on the streaming service Amazon Prime Video on August 29, 2024.

Plot

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At the dawn of the Second Age, the sorcerer Sauron declares himself to be the new Dark Lord following the defeat of his master, Morgoth. Sauron shares his plan to enslave the peoples of Middle-earth using an army of Orcs. Adar, the leader of the Orcs, and others of his kind seemingly kill Sauron. However, Sauron's spirit endures and forms a new body over thousands of years. Taking the name "Halbrand", Sauron joins a group of humans who become shipwrecked. This leads to him meeting Galadriel.

After Galadriel learns that Halbrand is Sauron and rejects his proposal to join him, she encourages the creation of three Rings of Power while Sauron travels to Mordor, a new land for Orcs ruled by Adar. Galadriel reveals Halbrand's identity to High King Gil-galad and his herald, Elrond, convincing Gil-galad that they must use the rings to restore the fading power of the Elves in preparation for a war against Sauron. Elrond objects, fearing that Sauron is manipulating them, and escapes with the rings.

In Mordor, Sauron again poses as Halbrand and is brought to Adar. After being tortured by Adar's followers, he reveals that Sauron has returned and offers to go to Eregion—the Elven realm where the rings were forged—while Adar raises his army. Waldreg, a human follower of Adar, is killed by a Warg that Sauron enthralls.

Elrond takes the rings to Círdan, the oldest and wisest Elf in Middle-earth, who agrees to throw them into a great chasm in the ocean. However, Círdan accidentally sees the rings when a wave bumps his boat and he believes they are true perfection, choosing to put one on. At the Elf-capital Lindon, Gil-galad tells the Elves that they must abandon Middle-earth to its fate, but he is interrupted by Círdan's arrival. Galadriel and Gil-galad put on the other two rings and the faded power of the Elves is restored.

The Stranger—a Wizard who is slowly regaining his memories—and the Harfoot Nori Brandyfoot get lost on their way to the land of Rhûn in the east of Middle-earth. They are followed by Nori's friend Poppy Proudfellow, who brings Harfoot maps of the area that help them find their way. They are also followed by mysterious riders. Though Gil-galad sends a messenger to warn Celebrimbor—the Elven-smith who forged the three rings—of Halbrand's true identity, Sauron arrives at the gates of Eregion first.

Production

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Development

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Amazon acquired the global television rights for J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings in November 2017. The company's streaming service, Amazon Prime Video, ordered a series based on the novel and its appendices to be produced by Amazon Studios in association with New Line Cinema.[1] It was later titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.[2] Amazon hired J. D. Payne and Patrick McKay to develop the series and serve as showrunners in July 2018,[3][4] and Gennifer Hutchison joined as a writer by the following July.[4] The series was originally expected to be a continuation of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, but Amazon later clarified that their deal with the Tolkien Estate required them to keep the series distinct from Jackson's films.[5] Despite this, the showrunners intended for it to be visually consistent with the films.[6] A second season was ordered in November 2019,[7] and Amazon announced in August 2021 that it was moving production of the series from New Zealand, where Jackson's films were made, to the United Kingdom starting with the second season.[8] The season's all-female directing team was revealed in December 2022: Charlotte Brändström, returning from the first season; Sanaa Hamri; and Louise Hooper.[9]

The series is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years before Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.[10] Because Amazon did not acquire the rights to Tolkien's other works where the First and Second Ages are primarily explored, the writers had to identify references to the Second Age in The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and its appendices, and create a story that bridged those passages.[6] After introducing the series' setting and major heroic characters in the first season, the showrunners said the second would focus on the villains and go deeper into the "lore and the stories people have been waiting to hear".[6][11] The season's first episode, titled "Elven Kings Under the Sky", was written by Hutchison and directed by Brändström.[12]

Casting

[edit]
Further information: List of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power characters

The series' cast includes Robert Aramayo as Elrond,[13] Morfydd Clark as Galadriel,[14] Charles Edwards as Celebrimbor,[15] Markella Kavenagh as Elanor "Nori" Brandyfoot,[16] Megan Richards as Poppy Proudfellow,[17] Charlie Vickers as Sauron,[18] Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad,[19] and Daniel Weyman as the Stranger.[16] Also starring in the episode are Ciarán Hinds as the Dark Wizard, Jack Lowden as Forodwaith Sauron, Ben Daniels as Círdan, Sam Hazeldine as Adar, Nicholas Woodeson as Diarmid, Geoff Morrell as Waldreg, Amelia Kenworthy as Mirdania, Virginie Laverdure as Abigail, Jane Montgomery Griffiths as Astrid, Berynn Schwerdt as Eamon, Robert Strange as Glüg, Zates Atour as Brânk, Jamie Bisping as Calenwë, Emily-Jane McNeill as Ídhiel, and Arkie Reece as Kilta. Adam Basil and John Macdonald play unnamed Orcs in the episode.[20]

Filming

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Filming for the season began on October 3, 2022,[21] under the working title LBP.[22] Episodes were shot simultaneously based on the availability of locations and sets.[23] Alex Disenhof returned from the first season to work with Brändström as director of photography.[24] The production wrapped in early June 2023.[24]

Visual effects

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Visual effects for the episode were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), Rodeo FX, Outpost VFX, DNEG, The Yard VFX, Midas VFX, Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies, Untold Studios, Atomic Arts, and Cantina Creative.[20][25] The different vendors were overseen by visual effects supervisor Jason Smith.[25]

Music

[edit]
Main article: Music of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

A soundtrack album featuring composer Bear McCreary's score for the episode was released digitally on the streaming service Amazon Music on August 29, 2024.[26] McCreary said the series' episodic albums contained "virtually every second of score" from their respective episodes.[27] It will be added to other music streaming services after the full second season is released.[28]

All music is composed by Bear McCreary:

Season Two, Episode One: Elven Kings Under the Sky – Amazon Original Series Soundtrack
No.TitleLength
1."Dawn of the Second Age"12:55
2."The Last Hope for All Middle-earth"3:24
3."Bow or Bleed"3:18
4."Trees of Stone"3:21
5."Círdan"7:35
6."Warning in the Words"2:34
7."To Serve the Lord of Mordor"2:01
8."Three Rings for the Elven Kings" (featuring Benjamin Walker)6:44
9."The Rings of Power – Season One Overture" (Bonus Track)3:40
Total length:45:32

Release

[edit]

"Elven Kings Under the Sky" premiered on Prime Video in the United States on August 29, 2024.[29] It was released at the same time around the world,[30] in more than 240 countries and territories.[31]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 90% of 10 critics gave the episode a positive review, with an average score of 7.8/10.[32]

Keith Phipps at Vulture gave the episode three stars out of five and called it a "pretty compelling season premiere". He praised the visuals and the cast, felt the episode was successful in outlining the overall story for the rest of the season, and said the action moments indicated a "more kinetic season than the first". He thought some viewers would be frustrated by the episode falling into the same rhythms as the first season and also criticized the fact that the episode did not work as a standalone installment.[33] Arezou Amin of Collider gave the episode 7 out of 10 and called it "a densely packed episode with no shortage of big moments". She questioned the decision to release the season's first three episodes at once, feeling there was so much in the first episode that it would have benefitted from giving the audience a week to think about it before releasing the next episode. Amin said Galadriel and Elrond's storyline was the strongest and most emotional of the episode, and also praised the backstory given to Sauron as well as the reunion of Nori and Poppy. She criticized the amount of exposition in some scenes.[34]

Writing for Gizmodo, James Whitbrook said the episode did a "noble job" catching up the audience on key plotlines from the first season, and highlighted Vickers work as Sauron in the episode. He felt the audience's knowledge this season that Vickers is portraying Sauron worked well for scenes where he interacts with other characters in disguise. On the other hand, Whitbrook criticized the extended drama of Elrond running with the rings and attempting to destroy them considering the audience is aware that the three rings will not be destroyed.[35] Matt Schimkowitz at The A.V. Club said the series returned "more steadfast in its ways" with a lot of heart and more nuance than the first season. He particularly praised the focus on Sauron, but was less positive about Hazeldine taking over as Adar; he felt the first season's Joseph Mawle brought more gravitas to the role. Schimkowitz also felt the arrival of Poppy too closely mirrored the arrivals of Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took in Jackson's films, saying "Rings of Power's over-reliance on Jackson's cinematic language can get tiresome".[36]

Leon Miller of Polygon felt the episode was "more of the same" from the first season, with some changes from Tolkien's lore that worked in context and others that did not. He appreciated the "attention-grabbing" opening sequence, feeling it was a response to the slow start of the first season, and highlighted Adar's role as a supporting villain. Miller felt the central storyline of the coming war between the Elves and Sauron was not as "narratively interesting or thematically rich" as the showrunners thought it was, but he found the episode to be "inexplicably watchable" and thought the same would hold true for all but the "most die-hard Tolkien truthers".[37]

Companion media

[edit]

An episode of the aftershow Inside The Rings of Power for "Elven Kings Under the Sky" was released on August 29, 2024. It features actress Felicia Day, the host of The Official The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Podcast, interviewing cast members Walker and Vickers about the making of the episode, with some behind-the-scenes footage.[38][39]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 13, 2017). "Amazon Sets 'The Lord of the Rings' TV Series In Mega Deal With Multi-Season Commitment". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  2. ^ Otterson, Joe (January 19, 2022). "'Lord of the Rings' Amazon Series Reveals Full Title in New Video". Variety. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Goldberg, Lesley; Kit, Borys (July 28, 2018). "'Lord of the Rings': Amazon Taps 'Star Trek 4' Duo to Develop TV Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  4. ^ a b White, Peter (July 27, 2019). "Amazon Sets Creative Team For 'Lord Of The Rings' TV Series Including 'GoT' & 'Breaking Bad' Producers – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Hibberd, James (August 5, 2022). "Peter Jackson Says Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' TV Series Ghosted Him". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Robinson, Joanna (February 14, 2022). "10 Burning Questions About Amazon's 'The Rings of Power'". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 18, 2019). "'The Lord Of the Rings' Series Gets Early Season 2 Renewal By Amazon, Sets Season 1 Hiatus". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 12, 2021). "'The Lord Of The Rings' To Move Production To UK From New Zealand For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 14, 2022). "'The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power' Sets All-Female Directing Team, Reveals Episode Count For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Oller, Jacob (March 7, 2019). "Amazon Confirms Lord of the Rings Show is Second Age Prequel to Films". Syfy Wire. Archived from the original on March 7, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  11. ^ Watson, Fay; published, Jack Shepherd (June 17, 2024). "Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power showrunners say season 2 is "all about the villains" and everyone might not make it out alive". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (August 31, 2024). "Rings of Power Reveals a Key Part of Sauron's Origin and Makes Adar Scarier". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Leigh, Janet A. (December 23, 2022). "Rings of Power season 2 potential release date - Lord of the Rings". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  14. ^ Amin, Arezou (October 14, 2022). "Here's Everything Morfydd Clark Told Us About 'The Rings of Power' Season 2". Collider. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  15. ^ Weintraub, Steve (October 18, 2022). "Charles Edwards Talks 'The Rings of Power' Finale, Filming the Creation of the [Spoiler], and Celebrimbor's Storyline". Collider. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  16. ^ a b Francisco, Eric (October 14, 2022). "'Rings of Power' Season 2 will introduce a major Lord of the Rings location, cast reveals". Inverse. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  17. ^ Breznican, Anthony (May 29, 2024). "Tom Bombadil Finally Steps Forth in 'The Rings of Power'—An Exclusive First Look". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  18. ^ Echebiri, Makuochi (October 15, 2022). "'The Rings of Power': Sauron Actor Teases Season 2 Character Arc". Collider. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  19. ^ Hermanns, Grant (November 28, 2022). "Benjamin Walker Interview: DIAGEO Whisky & The Rings of Power". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Hutchison, Gennifer (August 29, 2024). "Elven Kings Under the Sky". The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Season 2. Episode 1. Amazon Prime Video. End credits begin at 1:08:55.
  21. ^ Hibberd, James (October 3, 2022). "'The Rings of Power' Season 2 Starts Production in the U.K." The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  22. ^ Prime Video (May 14, 2024). The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power – A Look Inside Season 2 | Prime Video (video). Event occurs at 1:25. Retrieved June 1, 2024 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Goldfinch, Alexander (February 14, 2023). "Charlotte Brändström: "Väldigt spännande att få jobba med Christoph Waltz"". MovieZine (in Swedish). Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  24. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (June 21, 2023). "'LOTR: The Rings Of Power' Director Charlotte Brändström & Production Designer Ramsey Avery On Lighting's Role In Helping Viewer To Navigate Middle-Earth And A "Darker And More Dramatic" Season 2 – The Process". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Frei, Vincent (August 26, 2024). "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season 2". The Art of VFX. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  26. ^ "'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2, Episodes 1-3 Soundtrack Albums Details". Film Music Reporter. August 28, 2024. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  27. ^ McCreary, Bear [@bearmccreary] (September 2, 2022). "For the episodic albums, you get a playlist much closer to the narrative arc of each episode. Virtually every second of score is here. Some cues have been combined into suites to create continuous musical tracks (keeping Harfoot cues together, Elven cues together, and so on)" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ McCreary, Bear [@bearmccreary] (August 30, 2024). "Just dropped 3 new soundtrack albums for #TheLordOfTheRings, one for each new episode. Bonus Tracks: 2 Comic Con overtures, London premiere fanfare, and the title reveal trailer! Exclusively on @amazonmusic until the finale, after which they stream everywhere!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ Toby, Mekeisha Madden (May 14, 2024). "'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season Two trailer and release date revealed". About Amazon. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  30. ^ "'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings Of Power'; Prime Video Reveals Rollout Schedule". Deadline Hollywood. August 16, 2022. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  31. ^ Bradley, Bill (September 2, 2022). "How The Rings of Power Showrunners Handled a Massive Global Debut". Adweek. Archived from the original on September 4, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "Elven Kings Under the Sky". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  33. ^ Phipps, Keith (August 29, 2024). "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Premiere Recap: Sauron Unmasked". Vulture. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  34. ^ Amin, Arezou (August 29, 2024). "'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' Season 2 Episode 1 Recap: The Fellowship of Lindon". Collider. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  35. ^ Whitbrook, James (August 29, 2024). "Rings of Power Season 2 Premiere Recap: Doom Is Coming". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  36. ^ Schimkowitz, Matt (August 29, 2024). "The Rings Of Power returns with an expansive, violent, and big-hearted premiere". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  37. ^ Miller, Leon (August 29, 2024). "Rings of Power season 2 still can't quite get Tolkien's world right". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  38. ^ Day, Felicia (August 29, 2024). Inside The Rings of Power S2, E1 | The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power | Prime Video. Amazon Prime Video (video). Retrieved August 30, 2024 – via YouTube.
  39. ^ Behbakht, Andy (October 7, 2022). "Superfan Felicia Day To Host Official Rings of Power Podcast [Exclusive]". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
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