: Bear McCreary’s musical score was a highlight, often described as "anthemic" and "spellbinding".

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022) is a massive, multi-season prequel set thousands of years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings during the Second Age . With a reported billion-dollar commitment from Amazon , the show has become a polarizing focal point in modern fantasy, praised for its sheer scale while facing significant criticism for its narrative choices.

: Unlike many CGI-heavy modern fantasies, the sets feel "huge and lived-in" with intricate costumes and detailed physical props that contribute to an "all-ages, wonderstruck" tone.