I enjoyed the show. The scenery was just wonderful and meticulously presented. Sauron was soo well played. Also loved the Grand-elf/Gandalf reveal at the end. Overall awesome project. I definitely see why that show's budget was that incredibly high. I can't wait for the next season(s) . The show is definitely on a good path...
And What a finale for a brilliant season full of fantastic acting, music, camera work, and special effects. I frequently get annoyed at how long some shows take between seasons these days, but the wait is warranted with The Rings of Power as every shot is beautifully crafted. It also seems to be easy for lore enthusiasts to get frustrated with how much they’re condensing the timeline, but it’s simply the logical thing to do! So I simply like to use the lore to predict what might happen next rather than get too bogged down by the details.
Future seasons of Rings of Power will no doubt take the story into darker territory and bigger battles, likely culminating in The War of the Last Alliance. My hope, however, is that amid the bombs and bombast, showrunners Patrick McKay and J. D. Payne don’t bypass Bombadilian glimpses of joy. For these interludes remind us what life shaped by “secret fire” looks like, why the good is good, and why it makes darkness look boring by comparison.