The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon’s epic fantasy series, has taken liberties with J.R.R. Tolkien’s source material, deviating from the original story in significant ways. While the show’s creators aimed to expand on the Second Age of Middle-earth, their alterations have created inconsistencies and contradictions, muddling the original narrative.
One of the most striking changes is Finrod’s backstory, where his oath to eradicate Sauron is an invention, unlike in the books, where he fought a werewolf and was killed in Sauron’s dungeons. Gil-galad’s authority over the Silvan Elves is also inflated, as in the books, he was the High King of the Noldor, with no jurisdiction over the Silvan Elves.
The Palantíri, those mystical seeing-stones, have been reimagined to show visions of the future, contrary to Tolkien’s intention, where they could only be used to view past events. Elendil’s family history has been altered, with Pharazôn, the corrupt king of Númenor, unable to recall his noble ancestry.
The show’s timeline has been reshuffled, condensing thousands of years into a shorter span, making it difficult to keep track of events. The Númenorean cavalry, a notable aspect of the series, is an anachronism, as the Númenoreans were not known for their military prowess.
A Still From The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power (Via IMDB)
Galadriel’s husband, Celeborn, has disappeared, a plot point that has no basis in Tolkien’s work. The show’s Elven Rings, made from mithril, are also an innovation, as in the books, the material was not specified.
Adar, a character invented for the series, plays a significant role in Season 2, rivaling Sauron and introducing a gray area in the morality of the world. Gandalf’s arrival in Middle-earth has been altered, with his dramatic entrance via meteor instead of the Grey Havens, and Tom Bombadil, a mysterious being, serves as a mentor to Gandalf, testing and teaching him about the world.
While the show’s creative liberties are understandable, they have created a narrative that is increasingly disconnected from Tolkien’s original work. Fans of the author’s series may find it challenging to reconcile these changes with the beloved story.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is available to stream on Prime Video, offering an immersive experience into the world of Middle-earth. However, fans of the original series may want to approach the show with a critical eye, aware of the deviations from the source material.
