As the “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season Two airs its final episode this week on Prime Video, viewers will see the fate of their favorite characters and conclusions to several storylines. Galadriel (Morfyyd Clark) and High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) for example, are engaged in a high stakes battle with Adar and Sauron simultaneously.
Season two, which scored 40 million views in the first few days and hit No. 2 on the Nielson streaming charts with 2 billion views, has grown to capture fans from across the globe. Making a huge splash at July’s San Diego Comic-Con, attendees swarmed the panels and parties, dressing as their favorite characters.
Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel, expressed awe at the global reach of the show. “I mean, this moment, it’s just wild,” she said. “I hadn’t appreciated how big it would be, but now it’s incredible to get comments from people in Brazil, India, and Wales. It’s wonderful to feel those little moments of connection with people I may never meet. We’ve bonded over this character I play, and it’s an honor.”
The season expanded the storylines set in motion during the first season and offered viewers a deeper look at the power struggles and internal conflicts of the characters.
Benjamin Walker, who portrays High King Gil-galad, delved into the complexity of leading in uncertain times. “I like to look at historical figures,” Walker explained. “You think about America during World War II, the isolationism, the ‘walk softly and carry a big stick.’ And at what point do you use the stick? In season two, the stick comes out. You see that tension—leaders wanting to do what’s right, but not always succeeding.”
The show, with its enormous sets, high-stakes action scenes, and fantastical elements, has been a massive undertaking for the cast and crew. Morfydd Clark shared the exhilaration of working on such an ambitious production. “It’s absolutely thrilling to film these scenes,” she said. “The scale is just huge when you’re there. We have incredible stunt work, archers, horses, and even a team just for fire. It’s amazing.”
Walker chimed in, expressing his childhood excitement for the more intense scenes. “This is what I pretended to do in the woods as a boy,” he laughed. “Now, I get paid to do it. It’s a boyhood dream come true.”
The actors also touched on the challenge of portraying the immortal elves, beings whose long lifespans give them a unique perspective on the fragility of life in Middle-earth. Their stoicism, often interpreted as arrogance, is a defense mechanism developed after witnessing centuries of loss.
“Part of the challenge of trying to understand an elf,” Walker said, “is the amount of time they’ve survived. To have had everything you know and love die, how do you reinvest in love? How do you reinvest in Middle-earth, knowing how fallible it is? That in itself makes them redeemable, even if they can be stoic. They worry about these gentlest creatures, the hobbits, because they know how bad things can go.”
Clark added that playing Galadriel, who has lived for thousands of years, allows for a liberating performance. “It’s very fun playing a character who doesn’t have the same social beliefs as humans. You wouldn’t if you’d been alive for thousands of years,” she said. “It’s quite liberating.”
As the actors reflected on the first season’s success and their expectations for the future, they acknowledged the initial skepticism from some Tolkien fans. For many, the world of Middle-earth is sacred, and introducing new elements or interpretations can be met with trepidation.
Walker recognized the weight of this responsibility.
“I understand someone’s apprehension about you toying with something they love,” he said. “But it is also an honor to show them how much you also love it. I think we’re in a good place, and people are going to continue to be pleasantly surprised.”
Clark echoed this sentiment, noting how much more confident they feel now compared to the first season’s launch.
“Last time, we were just so wide-eyed and nervous,” she said. “Now, we know what we’ve got. We’ve seen people we met last year come back, and we’ve been welcomed into this community. That’s what’s so lovely about the Tolkien community—it’s a lasting bond.”
Season two has proven to be bigger and more ambitious, with more battles, deeper storylines, and further exploration of Tolkien’s expansive world. As the season finale airs, fans hope to find a satisfying conclusion to an epic second season. Season three can’t get here fast enough.
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