Season 2 of The Rings of Power (Amazon Prime Video) already feels more liberated, more free to uncover its identity than cower to the pressure of what it ought to be. Where Season 1 often seemed in a lack of real hurry and overstayed on several subplots, Season 2 begins on a solemn note and hits the ground running, capturing the origins of the one villain to rule them all: Sauron. The Rings of Power may not yet lay claim to being the one series to rule them all, but it’s encouraging to see, at least on the evidence of the first few episodes of Season 2, that it’s not burdened by that expectation. Director Charlotte Brandstrom (who has worked on five episodes in the series so far, including the first three of Season 2) notes that it’s typical for the first season of a TV series to feel ‘slow’. “Season 1 set things up and now, we are free to dig into the characters. Now, we can truly explore the conflicts and focus on creating drama,” she says. I point out how heartwarming it is to see her enter really psychologically dark spaces with the origins story of Sauron, rewriting the notion that the strength of women filmmakers lies in creating feel-good content. “If you think this is darkness, wait till the end of the season,” she teases.
The enduring impact of Tolkien’s lore brings to mind the powerful friendship of Frodo and Sam—which, of course, has spawned many similar friendships in fiction, including Harry and Ron. In The Rings of Power, there’s a somewhat similar friendship between two female harfoots: Nori and Poppy. Actors Markella Kavenagh (Nori) and Megan Richards (Poppy), express much enthusiasm for this onscreen kinship. “I love how Nori has the gumption to go for whatever she sets her mind on. It has been great to see the evolution of her character as well in this second season,” says Megan. Markella repays the compliment by pointing out that it’s really Poppy’s ability to trust that results in Nori being herself. Showrunner JD Payne, who’s nodding along like a father-figure, steps in to explain the writing motivations of both characters. “They form a unity. Together, they are a whole,” he says. “I see them as representing the head (Poppy) and the heart (Nori). Poppy is a pragmatist while Nori is an idealist. The idealist says, “What if?” and doesn’t care about the consequences, while the pragmatist says, “Yes yes, but what about this?””
Not all relationships the series burst with such trust and goodwill though. A case in point is the relationship between Numenorian queen Miriel and her cousin/advisor, Pharazon. On the outside, it appears that they are on the same side, but the series keeps asking, “Are they?” “And that’s what makes it such a human relationship, isn’t it?” asks Trystan Gravelle, who plays Pharazon. Nodding yes is Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who plays Miriel. “It’s a fantasy epic and yet, such relationships are quite relatable for all of us. They are cousins, yes, but they have a professional relationship as well. In the first season, Pharazon is a trusted advisor, but this season perhaps indicates a potential power-grab. People may not relate to that, but everyone can relate to the idea of two people who grew up together beginning to peel away.” And this is the beauty of Tolkien’s writing, she says. “For Tolkien, the storytelling is primarily about human relationships. In this second season, we begin to see the complexity of their relationship really coming through.”
Much like there are all kinds of relationships in the series, there are also many varieties of beings in middle earth—and that creates its own tension. The Numenorian men, for instance, have a much shorter lifespan compared to the elves. “Many of the king’s men are disenchanted for various reasons, including this one,” says Trystan. “With a much shorter life, they just want to celebrate who they are and enjoy the moment.” The elves, on the other hand, are not slaves of time, and are free to focus on idealistic goals. And then, there are, of course, the ‘villains’: the orcs. The Rings of Power becomes its own when it humanises these orcs in a way that the films couldn’t. Director Charlotte thinks it’s a consequence of time. “The films weren’t allowed the liberty of exploring this angle. We, however, are allowed 50 hours of filming in which to present various motivations in all their depth. This is where a TV series can show its worth.”
And that’s why for showrunner JD Payne, the idea is never to intentionally differ or replicate the charms of The Lord of the Rings films. “Even with the Poppy-Nori friendship, we aren’t really thinking about the Frodo-Sam story. Our loyalty is towards Tolkien and trying our best to make these characters feel familiar while standing on their own,” he says. The harfoots, like hobbits, are often underestimated in middle earth. “I think it’s because they are underestimated so that they are able to surprise everyone,” says Payne. “For instance, The Stranger lands in their backyard and finds love and support. Imagine if he had landed elsewhere. The course of middle earth might well have taken a different, hopeless turn.” Markella (Nori) steps in with a parallel that she sees between her character and that of The Stranger. “Both characters haven’t been understood at home. Both want to explore and they haven’t been allowed to do so by circumstances. It’s a constant theme in their friendship.”
Much like The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power too is a story that spans diverse locations. You have the dark undergrounds of Khazad-Dum, the lush, gorgeous Numenor, the dangerous plains that the harfoots have to trudge past, the vast oceans that Halbrand and Galadriel find themselves having to negotiate, the paradisical elven land, Lindon… Director Charlotte Brandstrom steps in with a wry comment. “You forget that there are also long fields full of mud,” she says, laughing. “So, I don’t quite think it’s all about the beauty.” After a small pause to consider the locations where she filmed, she says, “I do think I got a bit carried away with filming Lindon and showing off its beauty. But I have’t got the chance to shoot episodes set in Numenor. I wish I did because it’s so beautiful there,” she says, almost like she were talking about a real place. If these places were real, showrunner JD Payne would like nothing more than to pay a visit to Lindon. It’s not about the immortality, he says. “The elves are just so wise.” For Markella, a visit to Khazad-Dum is her idea of a vacation. “You know it will be dark and claustrophobic?” teases JD Payne. She laughs. “Yes, I know! I just love the dwarves so much!”
Amid all the fantasising, director Charlotte Brandstrom is a picture of focus as she shares her goals for Season 2. “I think it’s a strong season, and pressure or not, we always want to improve.” There’s definitely pressure though, especially after the underwhelming response to Season 1. “As filmmakers, we pay attention to critics and try to understand what didn’t work. The pace of the show in Season 1 is an aspect that came for some criticism, but then, that’s the nature of the first season usually. But with that job done, we are now ready to step up in Season 2 and really get into it.”