The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three

Five years after the fall of Eregion, Sauron (Charlie Vickers) and his armies have conquered most of the land, save for the elven strongholds of Rivendell and Lindon. He now plans to forge The One Ring, which would enable him to control the other rings and complete his domination. However, with the secrets of creating these powerful artefacts dying with Celebrimbor, Sauron sets his sights on capturing the other rings. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova) are then approached by an orc named Marnûkh (Adam Young), who claims he can help them thwart Sauron’s plans. Meanwhile, rebellion threatens to erupt in a divided Númenor; Durin (Owain Arthur) has his claim to the throne challenged, and Gandalf (Daniel Weyman) ventures far to the east to confront a Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds).

With spectacular production values, the third season of Rings of Power maintains the sense of scope and grandeur of Tolkien’s world as the battle between good and evil escalates. By trimming away unnecessary subplots, it is also leaner and more focused than before, with every plotline feeling vital.

Amazon have spared no expense in making this version of Middle-earth look as massive as possible. From the lavish Númenorean architecture to a squalid orc dungeon, each setting carries its own distinctive feel and atmosphere. Sweeping panoramic shots and map transitions showing the distance between locations only reinforce the sheer scale of this fantasy world. The cinematography is consistently breathtaking, with its beauty rivalled only by Bear McCreary’s sensational score. Small touches like incorporating the sort of jagged slow-motion editing prevalent throughout the early 2000s likewise help it feel more like Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

Each of the main storylines is epic enough to be its own separate series. Although the pacing can still drag slightly as the show jumps between the various locations and characters, every plotline is now given equal importance and carried by a flawless cast. One of the biggest new additions this season is Stranger Things’ Jamie Campbell Bower as Celeborn, Galadriel’s presumed-dead husband who’s first seen in a charming flashback.

Rings of Power continues to do what it does best. Without any extra baggage weighing it down, this latest season is on track to be the most thrilling instalment in this Lord of the Rings prequel to date.

Andrew Murray

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three is released on Prime Video on 11^th November 2026.

Watch the trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season three here: