Summary
Season 2 of Amazon Prime’sThe Rings of Poweris set to restore a key scene controversially absent from Peter Jackson’s belovedLord of the Ringsmovie trilogy. The divisive series has already teased the appearance of aTom Bombadil that’s faithful to the originalin J.R.R. Tolkien’sThe Lord of the Rings.Now it’s been revealed in a recent exclusive withEmpirethat another element that was missing from Peter Jackson’s film adaptations will finally be appearing on-screen.
The Rings of Powerhas been met with mixed reviewsand a great deal of confusion regarding certain plot and design choices, from the quality of the costumes to the very human look of Elves like Elrond orCírdan the Shipwright. However, while some aspects of the show have been criticized, the series also presents an opportunity to explore hitherto unseen aspects of Tolkienian lore. Season 1, for instance, brought Númenor to life for the first time. Similarly,The Rings of Powerseason 2is pledging to feature some iconic franchise creatures that even the popular movies ignored.
The Rings Of Power Season 2 Will Break Your Heart If This Nazgûl Theory Comes True
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 will dive deeper into the creation of the Rings of Power, and could introduce the Nazgûl.
The Rings Of Power Season 2 Will Include Fellowship’s Cut Barrow-Wights
They Prove To Be An Interesting Addition, But How Will They Fit?
InThe Rings of Powerseason 2,the Barrow-wights will emerge as a potential foe to threaten the main characters.First images have shown Galadriel facing off against one of these frightening undead, bringing a horror element to the series that could provide an interesting contrast to the typical fantasy fare that’s been seen so far. With the addition of Tom Bombadil,Sauron’s Elf form, and other elements of the books that we’ve never seen, the series promises a lot of potential fan service in episodes to come.
The question remains as to how the Barrow-wights will fit into the overall narrative ofThe Rings of Power.In this time period before the events ofThe Lord of the Rings,the undead menace of the Ringwraiths haven’t been created yet. Though similar to the Ringwraiths, the Barrow-wights are described as creatures of darkness, capable of shapeshifting. Still, despite them filling a similar niche tothe Nazgûl from the mainLord of the Ringsstory, their presence presents a very different problem in the show’s over-arching narrative.
Lord Of The Rings' Barrow-Wights Explained
And Why Their Presence Doesn’t Make Any Sense
Inthe Lord of the Rings,the Barrow-wights appear when Frodo and the other hobbits make their way through the Barrow-downs, an ancient burial ground belonging to Men of the First Age. The wights capture the hobbits and intended to kill them in some kind of strange ritual before being chased off by Tom Bombadil. These dark spirits weren’t the ghosts of the Men interred there, but were sent there by theWitch-King of Angmarlong before that, in the hopes of keeping the Dúnedain away.
While the true origins of the Barrow-wights remains unknown, their appearance in the Barrow-downs first begins in the Third Age well after Sauron’s defeat.
As beings at the beck and call of the Witch-King, however, their presence doesn’t make sense. While the true origins of the Barrow-wights remains unknown, their appearance in the Barrow-downs first begins in the Third Age,well after Sauron’s defeat. With the seriestaking place in the Second Age during Sauron’s rise, the series would need to delve into the previously unexplored topic of the Barrow-wights' origins. Without that,The Rings of Powerrisks adding another continuity issueto an already very long list.
Why Peter Jackson’s Fellowship Of The Ring Cut The Barrow Wights
It All Comes Back To Tom
InThe Lord of the Rings,multiple elements of the Tolkien’s novels had to be cut for time or consistency. Ultimately, the characters' foray into the Barrow-downs is a fairly minor part of the book that has little impact on the story as a whole. Still,there’s a larger reason for them to have been left outin the translation from book to screen.Tom Bombadil had been left out ofFellowship of the Ring’sfilm, and the character plays a key role in saving the hobbits from the wights and chasing them away from their lairs. Without him, Jackson would have had to alter the scene to make it work when it was easier to just cut it entirely.
While we still don’t know much about the Barrow-wights' appearance inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, it’s clear that the showrunners have their work cut out for them. Though many fans have been vocal about their dislike of the show’s choices,The Rings of Powerwon’t be addressing fan’s concerns. Ultimately, though, this may be the best course of action. Many shows have been sunk by bending over backwards to address the feedback of their most vocal detractors, andsometimes the best approach with any work is to forge ahead and hold to the show’s creative vision. Time will tell if that works this time.
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.
