Rings of Power Season 3: Tolkien's Core Themes, Not Just Details

The Rings of Power Season 3: A More Faithful Adaptation Through Tolkien's Core Theme

Rings of Power Season 3: Fixing Faithfulness, Not Just the Details

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is a mega-hit, with over 150 million viewers, according to Amazon MGM Studios boss Jennifer Salke (via Variety). But it faces a LOT of criticism: It's not faithful enough to J.R.R. Tolkien's work. Yet that critique is too simplistic! Many think it's just about matching details – but that's wrong! That's impossible because the very source material itself has so many things that cannot simply be translated into this newer format. We need to think more deeply.

Season 3 is coming; it is completely inevitable given how popular the series truly is, yet its faithfulness remains questioned and debated significantly; requiring deeper discussions about the challenges and solutions to this apparent difficulty. Those criticisms tend to focus on things that really should've never been done (like Elendil surviving Eregion's siege!). Those critiques miss something way more important and only serve to miss a more profoundly deep point within the story.

Also Read: Celebrimbor & Sauron's Deception in The Rings of Power Season 2: Is It a Plot Hole?

Faithful Themes, Not Just Faithful Details: Adapting Tolkien's Timeless Ideas

Robert Aramayo as Elrond looking determined after picking up a ring in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 finale Image

The Rings of Power can’t replicate every detail. Why? It is impossible given the vastly different formats. The sheer gap is a huge deal! The show adapts Tolkien’s incredibly detailed works; these were made long ago – it is a challenge on several levels for all involved and especially when making use of an extremely formal writing style– one that does not feature easily translatable language or plots!

Tolkien’s legendarium, started in 1914, is getting older – and just as impressive and meaningful given its enduring fame. The very format poses difficulties: Adapting work based on the styles of Beowulf and the Poetic Edda into something modern; which already changes what kind of storytelling we’re going to attempt. The sheer distance between the narrative conventions changes just how faithful this newer adaptation might try to become. The novels like The Lord of the Rings are quite readable compared to The Silmarillion, which reads more like a textbook! This also uses ancient, extremely sophisticated narrative styles; further creating obstacles on various levels!

You really need to think carefully if the story you attempt to create will ever really capture these qualities in its essence. That is exactly what Tolkien himself said— focusing on the essence of the original; to maintain "the core of the original”. That’s that perfect path. Yet getting that ‘core’ is deeply challenging.

Also Read: Galadriel & Adar Team Up in The Rings of Power Season 2? Here's What It Could Mean

Respecting Natural Life: Tolkien’s Core Message and Why it Matters

Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) holding a knife to Adar's (Sam Hazeldine) throat in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 5 Image

In his own words from one of his personal letters, the essence is stated very clearly. He said that "the real theme" is "Death and Immortality”. His stories explore numerous things– but this ‘core’ message is completely fundamental to Tolkien’s entire body of work: The importance of natural life—and the danger of reaching for unnatural extension, for powers beyond what naturally occurs. Those seeking immortality (like Morgoth, Sauron, Gollum, Ar-Pharazôn, and Celebrimbor) suffered serious, incredibly bad fates.

There are many possible parallels drawn across Tolkien’s stories; reflecting deeper thematic elements that run parallel through the religious worldview. Eru Ilúvatar could reflect God— while Morgoth is that devil-figure—that is trying to assume Godhood itself! The core conflict between the natural order and desires beyond that natural world remains fundamentally religious in nature. Sauron’s unnatural ring pursuit of Godhood highlights exactly why it is important that mortality should remain a thing to remember!

The Lord of the Rings is not merely an allegory, despite some critics suggesting those kinds of analogies to the story, but mortality is really highlighted! Characters like Tom Bombadil don't crave unnatural power; and thus his immunity from the One Ring’s influence shows his appreciation for the inherent gift; that gift which Men have ignored, resulting in unfortunate conflicts throughout history; emphasizing just why characters must come to accept these as their inherent nature. Many key heroes even preferred mortal existence!

Also Read: The Rings of Power: The Stranger's Purpose, Tom Bombadil, and Sauron

Rings of Power Season 3: Sharpening the Focus on Mortality!

Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) forging the nine rings for mortal men in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 7 Image

The key point from Tolkien’s themes was conveyed brilliantly by Rings of Power when it truly succeeds! And this often centers around how the struggles are dealt with by specific characters in their situations! This makes the narrative even better. Parts that seemed less faithful lacked this focus! For instance, Galadriel's vengeance plot in season one. Revenge can appeal to audiences and has an easy thematic construction that modern audiences generally might find interesting; but that storyline deviates quite far from the main storyline which Tolkien created for those involved.

There’s always tension; that challenge every storyteller has: Balance the audience’s expectations while delivering the storyline they actually wished for. The Rings of Power’s original characters display how awesome character-driven drama truly is. Adar’s arc was spectacular; Celebrimbor's, less so! Even if relatively accurate, Adar’s conclusion has way more emotional punch. To be successful, focus on those character struggles.

Also Read: Why the Hobbits Beat Sauron in The Lord of the Rings

Elendil, Adar, and the Importance of Character Development

Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen) in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 5 Image

The most important thing to do in Rings of Power, was showing Elendil; his belief, battling Pharazôn’s unnatural power cravings. That character highlights just why Elendil's internal struggles truly matter. His faith and his resulting conflict and that ongoing, powerful emotional struggle between these competing demands within his person showcases just how this central aspect, his central relationship and inner-belief system; became even more essential throughout that specific episode. And that shows great character arc capabilities!

Adar, the original character that was invented especially for this TV show, is one of the many surprising strengths found in Rings of Power. He shows character growth; conflict, and redemption, and he completely embodies Tolkien’s themes. His rejecting that Ring, his rejection of unnatural power mirrors what those heroes from The Lord of the Rings did, giving him the heroic stature which Tolkien’s best characters always display, yet in a far more relatable context that really resonates with most people!

Conclusion: Embracing Tolkien's Vision For a Deeper, More Meaningful Story

Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power Season 2 Poster Showing Charlie Vickers as Sauron Image

Rings of Power can be even more powerful if focusing on those deeply thematic struggles between life’s gifts and those dangerous ambitions for far greater things. The challenge for any adaptation remains, as every show is inherently forced to deal with that inevitable compromise that always exists; balancing faithfulness to its original work; while being made in such a way that appeals to its targeted viewers. The ability to expand using the new creative elements and using that for powerful thematic exploration shows exactly why Rings of Power might already have great elements, and those elements can easily be refined further with even more focused choices that make a meaningful narrative. And these elements remain profoundly essential to telling a Tolkien story effectively.