James Barry

It has been a long time since there has been a TV show or even movie so well executed. A true successor to Peter Jackson's film adaptations of the Tolkien epics that came before, every scene is dripping with atmosphere, awash in beauty, and masterfully crafted. The actors and actresses - as varied and intricately realized as the regions they come from - feel at home in their roles and take their plights very seriously, a refreshing break from the flippancy of modern cinema. The script is believable and well-delivered and while the showrunners seem to be in no rush in their build up to something epic, the pace never feels plodding - something the movies they preface could not escape at times. Excellent foreshadowing strikes a deft balance between glimpses of something world-changing on the horizon and healthy heaps of mystery delivered through the characters marching obliviously toward their destiny. Make no mistake, the scope of this work is vast and multifaceted, a true work of high fantasy and befitting the legacy of Lord of the Rings. Do yourself a favour and watch this show.