The Rings of Power season 1 on M6: our review of the first episode

The Middle-earth of The Rings of Power can also be explored on television: M6 is airing the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The first four episodes are spread across two evenings: Shadow of the Past and Adrift, followed by Adar and The Great Wave.

The story takes place in the Second Age, long before the quest for the Ring told in The Lord of the Rings. Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, pursues signs of evil while several peoples live in a fragile peace. Developed by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe, the series follows several groups of characters, from Elves to the Men of Númenor.

This first season of eight episodes premiered on Prime Video in France on September 2, 2022. Juan Antonio Bayona directed the two episodes that open the story. Our review below is based on the first episode, watched at the time of its launch.

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Our review of the first episode, published when the series launched in 2022:

Like The Lord of the Rings before it, The Rings of Power opens with a lengthy voice-over introduction that establishes the fairly complex context in which the story unfolds. And despite the substantial amount of information, the first episode takes its time, making sure not to lose the viewer. It does a good job of setting up all the storylines that will run through the eight episodes of the first season and introducing the characters. Like Game of Thrones, it’s an ensemble story that follows many characters across many different locations. This allows viewers to travel throughout Middle-earth and enjoy the series’ sumptuous settings, whether real or computer-generated. 

However, not everyone can be Peter Jackson, and we’ll have to wait and see whether the upcoming episodes can match his direction, because the first one leaves us wanting more. Now that the foundations have been laid, it’s time to start episode 2!

Review by Nathanaël

For more recommendations, check out our selection of films, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s picks in What to Watch on Streaming Today.

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