The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Evil has had many names.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, we follow an ensemble cast of characters as they confront the re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
| Type | TV series |
|---|---|
| First aired | 1 September 2022 |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Genre | Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| Created by | Patrick McKay and John D. Payne |
| Starring | Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo and Owain Arthur |
| Seasons | 3 seasons, 24 episodes |
| Episode length | about 72 min |
| Time to watch it all | about 29 hours |
| Rated | TV-14 |
| Scores | TMDB users 7.2/10 |
Where to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is streaming on Prime Video ($8.99 a month) in the US. At ten hours a week, all of the series takes about 1 month of Prime Video, or $8.99 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 12 October 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
The Rings of Power is a 2022 epic fantasy series that skips the familiar shadow of the one ring and instead digs into the messy, political origins of the Second Age. Created by Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, it spans 3 seasons and 24 episodes, totaling roughly 29 hours of viewing. The tone is less about singular heroism and more about the slow, bureaucratic collapse of alliances between Elves, Men, and Dwarves. It treats Middle-earth as a place where history is written by the people who survive the politics, not just the battles. You are watching for the lore, but you are staying for the slow burn of civilizations rising and falling.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes rated the first season 84% positive across 487 reviews, averaging 8 out of 10. The consensus called it enchanting, though not quite the One Show to Rule Them All. Metacritic gave it 71 out of 100, a generally favorable mark. Critics praised the visuals and designs, but found the pacing slow. The second season improved slightly, hitting 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 67 on Metacritic. It feels more confident in its storytelling. The production value remains high, and McCreary’s score shines. Yet the structure still sprawls with too many new characters and creatures. It is a lavish puzzle that sometimes forgets you are allowed to solve it.
How it did with audiences
Amazon reported that the first two episodes drew 25 million global viewers in their debut 24 hours, marking the service's biggest premiere ever. By December 2022, that number swelled to over 100 million, cementing the series as Prime Video's most watched property. The company never disclosed exactly how much of an episode counted as a "viewer," leaving the metric open to interpretation. Kim Masters at The Hollywood Reporter later noted that only 37 percent of US viewers finished the season.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Sources
- The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q59149852 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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