When it comes to epic fantasy, few franchises loom larger in popular imagination than The Lord of the Rings. First as a legendary trilogy of novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, and then as a groundbreaking film series, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of the sprawling story is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. However, with the recent announcement of Amazon’s forthcoming Lord of the Rings TV series, fans are wondering whether they need a refresher course on Middle-earth lore. But what if you never finished the original series? Are you really prepared for the potential in-depth prequel? Here, we explore the reasons you may have missed out on completing your viewing of The Lord of the Rings, and why it’s time to rectify that mistake.
Amazon Studios recently boasted about the premiere of the much-awaited “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” TV series, which reportedly had 25 million viewers worldwide on the day it aired. But when the first season ended, a large number of viewers had already given up on the show.
An analysis by the Hollywood Reporter revealed that only 37% of “Rings of Power” viewers in the US stuck around through the Prime Video series’ eighth episode. Meanwhile, 55% of international viewers abandoned it along the way. “A 50% completion rate would be a solid but not spectacular result, according to insiders,” stated the report.
This is quite surprising considering Amazon paid half a billion dollars for the show and had already ordered a second season before the premiere of the first episode. The decline in viewership is massive and can be quite concerning for a show of this scale.
While the series was an undeniable visual treat, the pacing of the story left viewers waiting, and character introductions seemed delayed, causing frustration for some. The titular rings weren’t even shown until the season finale.
What does this imply for Amazon’s “Rings of Power” future? Will viewers give it another chance? Will it gain more popularity in the future? Only time will tell.
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We hope this article has given you a better understanding of why it’s okay to not finish watching The Lord of the Rings TV show. While it’s certainly a fantastic franchise, not everyone has the time, energy, or interest to sit through hours and hours of content. Whether it’s because you prefer the books, or simply have other entertainment priorities, there is nothing wrong with not finishing the series. As long as you enjoyed the time you did spend watching it, that’s all that really matters. So go ahead and let any feelings of guilt or FOMO fade away, and feel confident in your decision to move on to different things. Life is too short to force yourself to watch something you no longer enjoy.
