The Rings of Power Review: Morfydd Clark Shines In A Spectacular Tolkien Adaptation
The Rings of Power opens with a grandiose prologue, taking us on a whistle stop tour of the major events of the First Age for Galadriel and the Ñoldor Elves. Those who have read The Silmarillion will recognise much of this, but for those who haven’t it details the basics of the Elves’ history of strife and how that will come to play a part in the coming narrative. Then, we follow Galadriel to the Forodwaith as she hunts Sauron and his remaining servants in order to avenge her late brother. Galadriel’s motivations to avenge her brother are compelling, although Finrod’s name is never mentioned (I assume it’s a rights issue), which feels more than a little jarring.
The first episode’s opening 15 minutes or so worried me a little, as the fast paced, action-packed sequences feel like the antithesis of Tolkien’s writing. Sure, there are battles and wars, but Tolkien glosses over them to focus on crafting characters, stories, and legends. It’s never more egregious than when Galadriel performs a silly battle maneouvre, using a sword as a springboard to launch herself onto a snow troll as a troop of Elves fight their way north. It’s a brash start, but in the two episodes of The Rings of Power that I was invited to watch, things thankfully calm down and we’re given time to smell the Athelas.
Related: Tolkien Experts Saw A Sneak Peek Of The Rings Of Power - Here’s What They Think
It’s immediately clear that The Rings of Power is all about Galadriel. It may involve an ensemble cast of 22 in starring roles, but this is Galadriel’s story first and foremost, and Morfydd Clark is incredibly capable in the role throughout the first two episodes. Comparisons to Cate Blanchett’s portrayal are inevitable, but this is a different Galadriel.
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