David Bridges
Yesterday, Amazon Prime Video shared early numbers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Energy‘s second season, trumpeting that “40 million viewers” tuned in throughout its first 11 days. That statistic—shared by Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke in a memo obtained by Selection—sounds spectacular, but it surely doesn’t specify, as an example, what number of minutes these thousands and thousands of eyeballs really watched, an vital consideration in gentle of how season one misplaced viewers because it progressed. It’s additionally inferior to season one’s numbers. But it surely’s seemingly sufficient to persuade Amazon to stay with its unique sport plan for the Center-earth sequence.
In a Hollywood Reporter piece analyzing the trials and tribulations of Rings of Energy—in addition to the present cleaning soap opera drama swirling round HBO’s Home of the Dragon and Sport of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin—the commerce notes that “a 3rd season [of Rings of Power] has been within the works for months, although it has not been formally greenlighted.” What’s extra, “after seeing season two’s premiere rankings, sources inform THR the corporate stays dedicated to the present’s unique five-season plan,” regardless of, because the commerce writes, “third-party providers present a steep drop [in ratings] from the sequence’ debut season.”
io9 reached out to Prime Video to ask if there are updates on season three, in addition to whether or not or not the “five-season plan” report is correct; we’ll replace this put up if and after we hear again.
Set hundreds of years earlier than the Lord of the Rings tales persons are most accustomed to—via J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, after all, but additionally Peter Jackson’s extremely standard, Oscar-winning characteristic movies—Rings of Energy premiered in 2022 to nice pleasure from diehard followers, TV critics, and even informal viewers curious to get a take a look at what’s been referred to as the costliest present ever made (THR calls it “the $715 million sequence”). Throughout season one, nonetheless, dazzling manufacturing values weren’t at all times sufficient to raise a plot many discovered too slow-moving; the titular rings didn’t even enter the story till the final episode.
Whereas season two has picked up the tempo fairly a bit—there are even extra rings in play now, to not point out a brand new undercover identification for most important villain Sauron—a number of the similar complaints are nonetheless in play. Chatting with THR, co-showrunner J.D. Payne made it clear he’s conscious that Rings of Energy haters are on the market. “The Fellowship needed to look to one another, and people who help it, and keep in mind what it’s preventing for,” he advised the commerce. “And after we see that thousands and thousands of persons are watching this and responding so positively to it—that’s who we’re preventing for. And those that watch each episode and [negatively] write about it on social media and make YouTube movies, we’re blissful to have you ever guys, too. It wouldn’t be a journey via Center-earth with out some trolls alongside the way in which.”
The fifth episode of season two—which, like season one, runs a complete of eight episodes—arrives tomorrow, September 12, on Prime Video. Will you stick round for 5 seasons of Rings of Energy, if Prime Video actually does find yourself going the space?
Need extra io9 information? Try when to count on the most recent Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and every little thing you must find out about the way forward for Physician Who.
Brandon Fletcher
Ethan Carter
