While Prime Video’s The Rings of Power has become a smash-hit series, with the first season dominating the streamer’s viewing charts ahead of the release of Season 2, one of The Lord of the Rings‘ biggest stars refuses to watch it. As Frodo (Elijah Wood), Sam (Sean Astin), and the rest of the group travel to Lothlórien, they are greeted by the half-elf Elrond (Hugo Weaving). Elrond is responsible for forming the titular Fellowship of the Ring, entrusting Frodo with the One Ring’s destruction in the fires of Mount Doom.
The Rings of Power takes the series back in time to Middle Earth’s Second Age. While Weaving’s character played a pivotal role in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy, the actor says he has checked out from watching any new additions to the franchise.
During a conversation with Radio Times, Weaving revealed that he will likely never watch any of the new additions to the Lord of the Rings universe — which means he will not check out The Rings of Power, the upcoming animated movie, The War for Rohirrim, nor the upcoming live-action movie, The Hunt for Gollum.
The actor admitted that he has nothing against new filmmakers adding to the lore of Jackson’s on-screen world (and by extension J.R.R. Tolkien’s books), but he has spent too long acting in said world to engross himself in any new LotR stories. Despite his disinterest in watching The Rings of Power, Hugo Weaving wishes actor Robert Aramayo (who plays a younger version of Elrond), all the best. The actor explained:
“I haven’t seen it, and apologies to Robert. No, I spent too long in Middle-earth, and I don’t particularly want to go back there. I love New Zealand, I recently went back to New Zealand. But no, it’s funny – I think when you spend so much time on a particular piece, and in one way… it’s a big, big film, huge franchise, but for me, kind of, in a funny way, not a role that I think of with the same sort of stature in my head as it might do for fans. So, no, apologies to Robert, but I haven’t seen it. I’m sure he’s great.”
The Rings of Power Season 2 Receives Strong Reviews From Critics
Season 1 of Rings of Power was somewhat of a mixed bag, as the hit show divided critics and audiences. Despite a decent 83% critics score, Season 1 was flooded with negative reviews by fans, holding a measly 38% audience rating on the review aggregate site. Sadly, while some of the negative reviews are genuine criticisms from fans and audiences, the show was subject to review bombing from the bigoted portion of the fan base.
While audience reactions are still trickling in, critics have been releasing their reviews online and there’s a chance Season 2 could repeat history. The Rings of Power Season 2 currently sits at 80% on Rotten Tomatoes with 30 reviews. In an effort to learn from the mistakes of Season 1, Season 2 has been described as “more mysterious, mystier, and darker” by co-showrunner Patrick McKay.
The Rings of Power
Season 2 premiered on Prime Video on August 29, 2024. Check out the latest trailer below: