Les showrunners des Rings of Power have promised that they will get rid of a very bad habit for season 3 and that’s good.
Since its launch, the series The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video elicited mixed reactions, notably due to serious script clumsiness (the kiss between Elrond and Galadriel continues to be debated), fan service considered excessive and prolonged games of hide-and-seek and pretense around the identity of certain main characters.
So, we were largely taken for a ride in season 1 of Rings of Power about Sauron’s true identity, and we had to wait until the very end of season 2 to finally get the name of the Stranger (even if it was an open secret). And since, when there is no more, there is still some, it is now around the identity of the Dark Wizard that there hovers a scent of mystery which we would have done without.
However, it looks like some things might change with season 3. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay recently announced that they would abandon certain heavy narrative gimmicks to give more space to the characters. And we want to believe it (a little).
The change is now for the rings of power
In an interview given to ColliderJD Payne and Patrick McKay announced a significant development for the rest of the series: the abandonment of identity subterfuges for future important characters. A decision which aims to offer a more direct and transparent narration, by presenting the new protagonists without detours or superfluous mystery.
Asked about their habit of sowing clues everywhere to give the audience the opportunity to theorize about the identity of this or that character, and especially if they intended to move away from this (nasty) habit for season 3 of Rings of PowerPayne and McKay’s response was blunt.
JD Payne: “The answer is yes. We have some new characters coming in, who… you’ll know who they are almost as soon as you meet them.«
Patrick McKay: “I think it’s good when stories make you ask questions, but no, I don’t think we wanted that to become a bad habit of the show.«
The showrunners therefore seem to have taken into account the feedback from fans and critics, who criticized the series unnecessary complexity in revealing identities, to the detriment of character depth and plot. By putting an end to these “hide and seek”, The Rings of Power could finally gain in clarity and narrative efficiency, to give more substance to the (too) many narrative arcs of the series.
Let us add that this decision could also help the series show a little more authenticity and respect towards the spirit of Tolkien’s work, by presenting the characters as they are, without artifice or prolonged mysteries. That said, we still expect to be treated to new treasure hunts as to who Sauron will distribute his Rings of Power to in season 3… For now, season 3 of Rings of Power on Amazon Prime has no release date.
