The next chapter in this epic fantasy series is set to stream this month ‣ Diverse Daily

This year, audiences have seen some of the greatest fantasy stories in recent memory hit their screens. They’ve seen Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey break box office records in theaters as it adapted Homer’s classic Greek epic. Now, J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Middle-earth saga will return to streaming this month with Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Set centuries before the Lord of the Rings trilogy, this series depicts Sauron’s first war with Middle-earth in the Second Age, during which he tries to conquer the land by forging the Rings of Power. The series has been divisive amongst audiences for its writing and pacing choices. However, it has still been lauded for its breathtaking visuals, design work, and musical score. Also, by making Sauron flesh and blood, the series turned him into a much more terrifying and compelling villain as he lies and kills his way to “save” Middle-earth.

The Rings of Power first premiered in 2022 on Prime Video, with the second season coming out in 2024. After another two-year wait, the third season will debut on streaming this November, and it promises to be the show’s biggest, darkest chapter yet.

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What’s new in The Rings of Power season 3?

This season will continue Sauron’s war with Middle-earth

Fans of the show will recall that in season 2, Sauron tricked Celebrimbor into forging the remaining Rings of Power for the Dwarves and Men. The season also ended with the Balrog destroying Khazad-dûm and Durin IV’s army of Dwarves teaming up with the Elves to fight Sauron. At the same time, the show revealed that the “Stranger” traveling with the Harfoots Nori and Poppy is actually the legendary Wizard Gandalf.

The show won’t pick up immediately where season 2 left off. For its third season, The Rings of Power will jump ahead five years, when Sauron and his armies have already conquered much of Middle-earth. Since the source material showed this conflict taking place over several years, this time jump isn’t a surprise. However, the trailers for season 3 show the Dark Lord finally forging the infamous One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, which he will use to enhance his power.

With a new season comes new characters, and many figures from Tolkien’s stories will make their television debut in season 3. Stranger Things actor Jamie Campbell Bower will star as Celeborn, Galadriel’s husband. Durin IV’s brother, Thráin, played by Eddie Marsan, will appear. Andrew Richardson will portray Elendil’s younger son, Anárion.

The season will also introduce characters made exclusively for the series. Zubin Varla, for instance, stars as Khamûl, a warlord destined to become one of the dreaded Nazgûl. In addition, Adam Young will play the Orc Marnûkh, who will add to the show’s ongoing exploration of the Orc society and the humanity in their characters.

Where and when can I stream The Rings of Power?

Prepare yourself

The first four episodes of The Rings of Power season 3 will be available on November 11. Episodes 5 and 6 will premiere on November 18, while episodes 7 and 8 will come out on November 25. While previous seasons bundled their first few episodes together, audiences will now see the series release two to four new episodes a week this November.

Those who subscribe to Amazon Prime Video can stream The Rings of Power at no additional cost. A standalone Prime Video membership costs $8.99 per month with ads, while an ad-free Prime Video Ultra subscription costs an additional $4.99 per month. Those new to Prime Video can start off with a 30-day free trial. You can start streaming by going to the Prime Video website in your browser. You can also sign up through the app on your smart TV, a PlayStation, an Xbox, or a streaming device like Amazon Fire TV or Apple TV.

I have long been a fan of The Lord of the Rings franchise, and having read Tolkien’s classic trilogy and watched Peter Jackson’s film adaptations, I’m excited to see Prime Video continue to bring more of the franchise’s stories to live-action with The Rings of Power. This prequel series gives a deeper look into how Sauron ravaged Middle-earth long before the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. However, the show is more than just an origin story for characters like Sauron, Galadriel, or Gandalf. It is a deep exploration of how power can bring out the darkness in good people and turn them against each other. This was seen in the original trilogy with the One Ring, and The Rings of Power promises to show more of this destruction as Sauron continues to wage war in season 3. Whatever gripes you may have with this series, there are plenty of reasons why the new season is worth watching this November.

Release Date: September 1, 2022
Network: Amazon Prime Video
Showrunner: John D. Payne, Patrick McKay, Louise Hooper, Charlotte Brändström, Wayne Yip