Prime Video Fantasy Series With Perfect RT Score Shows The Rings Of Power How It’s Done

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Amazon invested heavily in its fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which premiered in 2022. While the show is visually impressive and generally well-received by critics, it has sparked debate due to significant departures from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original writings.

As The Rings of Power approaches its third season, opinions remain divided on whether the Prime Video series has lived up to Amazon’s expectations as a follow-up to Game of Thrones. However, it’s also worth noting that Prime Video already has another fantasy adaptation that many consider to be even better.

The Rings Of Power’s Problem As A Fantasy Adaptation

I’ve been really enjoying how The Rings of Power takes parts of Tolkien’s world that weren’t fully explored and builds on them in a way that feels true to the original stories. For example, the Harfoots and Stoors – Tolkien only hinted at these early ancestors of the hobbits. The show really brings them to life as interesting cultures. They definitely feel like relatives of the hobbits we know and love, but they’re unique and have their own distinct identity, which I appreciate.

Because the early history of hobbits and the creation of the Shire weren’t detailed by Tolkien, The Rings of Power has the freedom to create its own stories and legends without contradicting his original work. The Harfoots are a great example of how the show successfully expands upon the history of Middle-earth.

Amazon’s series set in Middle-earth takes significant liberties with the source material, creating changes and inconsistencies that were bound to spark debate. The romantic storyline involving Galadriel, Sauron, and Elrond feels overly dramatic and like a typical soap opera. The show also rushes through the timeline, diminishing the grand scale of Tolkien’s story. Even Tom Bombadil, a famously enigmatic character, is simplified and portrayed as a predictable mentor figure.

The Legend Of Vox Machina Avoids The Rings Of Power’s Adaptation Problem

Like many adaptations, The Legend of Vox Machina does change parts of the original story. However, these changes are generally positive additions – like introducing the Harfoots – and don’t drastically alter established lore in a way that would upset fans, unlike some revisions to characters like Tom Bombadil.

Based on the first campaign of the popular web series Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina retells the same core story, but with some key changes. One example is the character Percy’s death. In the original series, Percy died and quickly returned. The animated series, however, treats his death with much more weight and emotion, making the loss feel more significant and increasing the overall tension of the show.

Percy’s fate is a good example of how The Legend of Vox Machina usually adapts the original Critical Role story. The show makes small changes to build on existing plotlines and characters, rather than drastically altering them – unlike the way The Rings of Power fundamentally changed Galadriel’s character by giving her a romantic interest in Sauron.

How Else The Legend Of Vox Machina Beats The Rings Of Power

While The Legend of Vox Machina looks great, The Rings of Power has even more impressive visuals. However, the original Critical Role show has a deeper and more meaningful story.

What makes The Legend of Vox Machina so compelling is the strong bond viewers feel with the characters. Originally, the story began as a role-playing game focused on character development, and that connection continues in the animated series, quickly making audiences care about each member of Vox Machina.

One key reason The Lord of the Rings continues to resonate with readers even today is its ability to forge strong emotional connections. Both The Lord of the Rings, with its Fellowship, and The Hobbit, with Thorin’s Company, excel at making readers care deeply about the characters and their journey.

Unlike other epic stories, The Rings of Power doesn’t have a clear hero you can easily support. Galadriel, who functions as the closest thing the show has to a lead, is difficult to connect with because she’s so fixated on Sauron and sees things in a very limited way. Interestingly, Sauron is portrayed as somewhat understandable, while good characters like Elrond and Nori feel disconnected, either because of their beliefs or because they’re physically separated from the main group.

While The Legend of Vox Machina portrays its heroes with complex flaws, it always keeps the audience rooting for them. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power hasn’t yet created that same emotional bond, and until it does, it won’t surpass Vox Machina in quality.

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2025-12-26 00:01