Summary
The Rings of Powerhas faced a lot of heat since it was first announced, but one of the greatest aspects of J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Ringswon’t allow me to hate the series. As one of the most iconic pieces of fantasy, it’s no surprise that fans are intensely protective ofThe Lord of the Rings. I am often among those rolling their eyes when a great story is slaughtered for the screen. However, Tolkien’s unique method of storytelling makesLord of the Ringsa perfect source for adaptations, which is why I find many criticisms ofRings of Powerunfair.
The controversy around Prime Video’sRings of Powerhas been unending. A great deal of this comes from loyalty toPeter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, which has become the pinnacle of book-to-screen adaptations despite facing its own wave of criticism back in the early 2000s. However, there are also the Tolkien purists, who are frustrated with the many changesRings of Powerhas made to the Second Age. Breaking canon is often a serious crime, and this is clear fromRings of Power’s reception. The problem is thatTolkien never had a single canon forThe Lord of the Rings.
The Rings Of Power Cast & Character Descriptions
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has known characters and brand new ones, all with familiar faces. Here’s where you know them from.
Tolkien Wrote His Lord Of The Rings Books Like Real-World Histories
Tolkien Approached His Work Like They Were Found Manuscripts Rather Than His Own Invention
Tolkien was a philologist, which basically means he was a historian and linguist with a profound interest in the passing down of written and oral storytelling. He was an expert in European history and folklore, and this played a significant role inThe Lord of the Rings. Rather than simply writing a story about a creature called a hobbit who found a magical ring, Tolkien approached his work as ifsomeone else had written them centuries before and that he had simply discovered and translated them. This “found manuscript” literary device allowed Tolkien a great deal of flexibility in his legendarium.
The central story of The Lord of the Rings was meant to be contained within the Red Book of Westmarch, an in-world volume written collectively by Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, and Sam’s descendants.
The central story ofThe Lord of the Ringswas meant to be contained within the Red Book of Westmarch, an in-world volume written collectively by Bilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, and Sam’s descendants. Tolkien was meant to have discovered the Red Book and constructed an English translation of its contents intoThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings.The Appendices ofReturn of the Kingand posthumously published works likeThe Silmarillionwere meant to be records of other such ancient texts written from the perspective of the Elves of Middle-earth, left behind to preserve their history.
Tolkien’s Approach Means There Isn’t Only 1 Version Of Canon
Tolkien Wrote Multiple Versions Of The Same Stories Just Like Real Histories Come With Different Perspectives
Tolkien’s “found manuscript” approach to his works meant a great deal of flexibility with his legendarium. For example, afterThe Hobbithad already been published, he conceived the idea forThe Lord of the Ringsbut recognized thatthe original version of Bilbo’s story(in which Gollum willingly bet the One Ring and easily handed it over) contradicted the idea that Gollum’s ring was Sauron’s great weapon. So, he retconned the original story, republished a version in which Bilbo basically stole the One Ring, and included a note stating that Bilbo had simply lied about how he attained it.
Other examples can be found all throughout Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium.The SilmarillionandThe Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earthare full of different versions of the same story.Tolkien’s various documented letters reveal that the author specifically left some questions unanswered(looking at you, Tom Bombadil, and Ungoliant) since real-world history doesn’t come with all the answers either. It’s a delightful way to tell a story and is how Tolkien managed to build one of the most complex literary worlds in history. What’s more, it makes Middle-earth’s stories perfect for screen adaptations.
I Don’t Mind The Rings Of Power Making Changes To The Second Age
Rings Of Power’s Changes To Canon Are No Different Than The Changes Made In Historical Fiction
When Tolkien’s canon is considered a single cohesive story, I understand why audiences would be frustrated with screen adaptations making changes. I myself cringe when great books are demolished by screenwriters, all for the sake of making money. However, I prefer to look atThe Lord of the Ringsand other Middle-earth stories the way that Tolkien did—as tales and legends recorded by scholars during a time long past.They are flexible, living, breathing things that can be interpreted differently depending on who has taken up the storyto pass it on to the next generation.
Like any other legend, this keeps The Lord of the Rings alive. If it doesn’t evolve, the story will eventually go extinct.
Storytelling is a universal human experience, and we’ve been doing it for thousands of years. Stories about Thor and other Norse gods got their start from people whose names we will never know, but these tales are still adapted into movies and TV shows of every possible genre today. Since Tolkien approached Middle-earth with this same energy,I don’t mind seeing series likeThe Rings of Powermake changesand reshape the legendarium so that it can be passed on to even more audiences. Like any other legend, this keepsThe Lord of the Ringsalive. If it doesn’t evolve, the story will eventually go extinct.
Can Rings Of Power & Other LOTR Adaptations Go Too Far?
Any Adaptation Must Preserve The Spirit Of Tolkien’s Works
Of course, I’m not saying that Prime Video can do anything it pleases with Tolkien’s works and that I won’t bat an eyelash. There were several moments inThe Rings of Powerseason 1 when I questioned what the writers were thinking when they made certain changes (i.e., theElves needing Mithril to say in Middle-earth). My main requirement is that an adaptation ofThe Lord of the Ringskeeps with the spirit of Tolkien’s works.A movie or TV show set in Middle-earth must align with the themes of good and evil, creation and beauty, and the slippery slope to corruption. In my opinion,The Rings of Powerhas so far done this.
However, it can’t be denied that Tolkien himself might not have shared my opinion. While the legendary author had a passion for storytelling and its impact on history, he was very open about his disgust with movies and television. He might not have minded interpretations of his invented histories, butTolkien’s letters indicate that he found any screen adaptation of his work to be a cheap exaggeration of his intended story. Still, this cannot erase my love for Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies, and for that reason, I must continue to giveThe Rings of Powera chance.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
