The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 3 drives the story forward a little bit, however it is much slower than the previous ones.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 3 Review
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 3 is a bit slower than previous episodes, however there are pockets of action. Having been a fan of the dwarves in the first two episode of the series, it was bummer to not see them pop up at all in this one. Still, it is understandable that Galadriel and Arondir each needed their moments on screen to dive the plot forward.
In this episode Galadriel continues on her journey to find Sauron in order to not only prove that he is back, but to stop him from destroying the world. The majority of this episode focuses heavily on her, which is honestly where the story dips a bit. She was intriguing enough in the first two episodes but her story involves many long winded conversations that tend to slow the pacing of this one.
As for Arondir, he is not in the best of places in this episode. While we do not want to give spoilers away for those who have not yet seen it, his story is just getting started. It is nice to see him in a different light, but at the same time showing just how brave he is.
Where this show has exceled from the start is the visuals, and that is once again not lacking in episode 3. The creatures, like the orcs, are extremely detailed right down to the smallest of things, as are the costumes and set pieces. The beauty of it all is unmatched, and that continues in this episode as well.
The biggest downfall of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 3 is that the story has slowed down the pacing, and the comedy that comes along with the dwarves is lacking. Even the harfoots are not really involved. So with this critic’s two favorite storylines being either completely absent, or given very little screen time, this is the least entertaining of the episodes so far.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has done a decent job so far of allowing newcomers to learn about the lore, while giving fans what they want from the story, so hopefully it switches gears and picks back up in episode 4. If the ending of episode 3 is any indication of where we are going from here, things are back on track.
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: House Of The Dragon Review: It’s Good To Be Back
About The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history.
This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.
From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 3 is now streaming on Prime Video.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.