‘The Rings of Power’ Hits New Heights in Season 3, Reviews Say
WHO:
Screen Rant - *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power* is a Prime Video series.
Empire - The series was created by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay.
Empire - The season features Charlie Vickers as Sauron; Morfydd Clark as Galadriel; Robert Aramayo as Elrond; Benjamin Walker as High King Gil-Galad; Ciaran Hinds as the Dark Wizard; Daniel Weyman as Gandalf; and Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn.
Empire - Other cast members named in the review include Max Baldry as Isildur, Ema Horvath as Eärien, Trystan Gravelle as King Ar-Pharazôn, Owain Arthur as Durin, Sophia Nomvete as Disa, Eddie Marsan as Thrain, Ismael Cruz Córdova as Arondir, Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo, and Adam Young as Orc general Marnûkh.
Empire - The review credits prosthetic make-up designer Barrie Gower and illustrator John Howe.
Collider - *The Rings of Power* centers its third season on Sauron’s rise to power in Middle-earth.
WHAT:
Roger Ebert - The review says Season 3 “is made with love” but “no longer feels confident about what it’s trying to say.”
Empire - The review says Theo’s involvement with the dark side feels “hurried, contrived and awkwardly unconvincing,” Arondir’s storyline “runs out of road,” and Charlie Vickers is less comfortable playing Sauron in Barad-dûr than playing him deceptively in the wider world.
Screen Rant - Season 3 returned to Prime Video and debuted with a record-breaking Rotten Tomatoes score; the article does not give the score.
Empire - The review describes the season as “big” and “dense” and says the show “continues to impress.” The reviewer watched 7 of 8 episodes.
Empire - The season depicts a bloody stalemate between Sauron and the Elves, competing efforts to recruit allies, and power struggles in Númenor, Khazad-dûm, and among the Dark Wizard’s forces.
Empire - Sauron seeks to create his “Master Ring,” recruits men as proto-Ringwraiths called Nazgnagôl, and seeks support from Rhûn’s armies. The Elves seek Númenor’s backing; the Dwarves hide the seven rings Sauron forged for them.
Empire - The review praises the season’s environments, visual effects, sets, prosthetic makeup, and Orc designs. It identifies a ring-forging scene as a highlight.
Empire - The reviewer says some characters receive limited screen time, some are absent from the episodes viewed, and others are killed. The viewed episodes contain no Harfoots.
Collider - The review calls Season 3 stunning and says it “finally feels worthy of Tolkien.”
Collider - The article’s headline says the series “finally reaches its peak” with Season 3.
WHERE:
Empire - The story ranges across Middle-earth, including Númenor, Lindon, Rivendell, Rhûn, Khazad-dûm, and Barad-dûr.
WHEN:
Empire - The story is set five years after Season 2.
WHY:
Empire - Sauron seeks allies to strengthen his forces and advance his goal of creating the Master Ring; the Elves need allies to oppose him.
HOW:
Empire - The review says Orcs receive more screen time in Season 3.
Empire - Episodes use animated map sequences to move between Middle-earth locations; the season combines digital effects with physical sets.
(UPDATED November 11, 2026 02:59 UTC)
The Rings of Power’s third season follows Sauron’s rise and bloody stalemate with the Elves. Sauron seeks allies and a Master Ring, while Elves recruit support across Middle-earth. Reviews praise the visuals, but question the season’s confidence and some storylines’ execution.
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(UPDATED November 10, 2026 22:05 UTC)
The Rings of Power returns to Prime Video with a record-breaking Rotten Tomatoes score. Season three follows Sauron’s rise as he recruits allies and forges his Master Ring, while the Elves seek support to oppose him. Power struggles unfold across Númenor, Khazad-dûm, and other parts of Middle-earth.