The Rings of Power season 2 is an even stronger expansion of Tolkien’s mythos

The Rings of Power season 2 delves deeper into J.R.R. Tolkien's mythos, carrying forward the visual and narrative grandeur set by its first season, courtesy of Amazon's considerable budget. With the reveal of Sauron's true identity as Halbrand, the series explores multiple subplots and characters, showing a strong grasp by showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay in merging their own ideas with Tolkien's established lore.

Season 2 adds complexity to Sauron's character with a mix of past and present showcases, emphasizing his human-like ambitions and his primordial, dark nature. Key characters like Galadriel and Celebrimbor are given more nuanced storylines, while the Stranger's journey with proto-Hobbits Nori and Poppy intensifies, marked by intriguing interactions and newfound urgency.

Though the show struggles with human subplots such as queen Míriel and Pharazôn's drama in Númenor, it shines in its depiction of elven and magical storylines. The series' high budget is evident in its numerous action set pieces and impressive CGI, making each episode feel cinematic. With just eight episodes, the season expertly adds texture to Tolkien’s mythos, albeit occasionally trying to juggle too many storylines.