“All Middle-earth balances on the brink of the abyss,” whispers the Dark Lord Sauron, ominously. And so it proves, in this second season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Fragile truces will break, new alliances will be brokered – and in the fires of the great furnace, 16 more rings will be forged. This is JRR Tolkien’s fantastical vision rendered on a big scale, for the small screen.
At Rivendell, the elves are in crisis. Last season, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is still reeling from the discovery that she was in cahoots – and almost in love – with Sauron (Charlie Vickers), who had disguised himself as a harmless mortal. Now, Sauron is off to forge his own ring – leaving Galadriel and estranged bestie Elrond (Robert Aramayo) to bicker about the use of the three sparkling elvish rings. Meanwhile, the strange wizard who may or may not be Gandalf (Daniel Weyman) is marching through the deadlands of Rhûn with his harfoot companions, Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) is once again angling for power in Numenor, and Isildur (Mr Bean’s Holiday’s Maxim Baldry) is forging his own path across Middle-earth. That’s not to mention all the other characters – with word-count destroyingly long names – who are off on their own adventures.
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 29, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Draper puts health first in his bid to break the top 10
Brit No 1 managing hip problem ahead of Australian Open
Arteta needs a 'can opener' to cure misfiring Gunners
Mikel Arteta is aware that Arsenal need more “explosiveness” in attack, and his staff are looking to rectify this in the January transfer window, although much of this would have been clear to see before Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United.
Hammers seek Potter magic after Lopetegui exit farce
Farewell, Julen Lopetegui. You leave West Ham as you arrived: unwanted by fans, and even by technical director Tim Steidten, it seems.
Spurs subdue Liverpool and dream of Wembley
It’s a bit premature to say this was a night when Tottenham Hotspur’s young team came of age, but this 1-0 victory over Liverpool was an impressive show of maturity when they most needed it. An 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall appropriately settled it, crowning the fine work of fellow teenager Archie Gray.
FTSE 250 and pound slump as UK gilt yields hit a high
London’s stock markets faltered yesterday, with the FTSE 250 slumping to a five-month low and the pound weakening as UK long-term borrowing costs continued to spike.
Bodies of father and son hostages recovered in Gaza
The bodies of two Israeli hostages have been recovered by troops in Gaza, Israel’s defence minister said yesterday.
French minister tells Trump Europe will protect borders
France’s foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot has fiercely defended the European Union in response to US president-elect Donald Trump’s claim that America should take ownership and control of Greenland”.
'I did my best to prevent it'
Mother of 14-year-old stabbing victim Kelyan Bokassa tells Barney Davis her heart skipped’ every time her son went out
Brexiteers left infuriated by PM's Foreign Office choice
The appointment of Theresa May’s former chief negotiator with the European Union as the most senior civil servant in the Foreign Office (FCDO) by Sir Keir Starmer is being seen as a statement of intent in his determination to reset relations with the EU.
Corbyn attacks Starmer on private sector's role in NHS
Jeremy Corbyn has accused Sir Keir Starmer of betraying” the health service by introducing a much greater role for the private sector, which he warns will hollow out the NHS.