It’s not common to see a streaming series, particularly an expensive one, get to finish its story on its own terms. Too often are high-concept TV shows canceled before they can reach their full potential, breaking the hearts of countless fans and discouraging any novice from investing in a story prematurely. That inevitability is now built into the very fabric of how we watch television — but Lord of the Rings fans will potentially be spared from that fate.
In almost every way, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power feels destined for doom. It’s the kind of show that seldom survives anymore, as it needs some time to reach its full potential. But, in a way, it’s also the final boss of the streaming era, as the most expensive show in history. But survive it has: despite a semi-shaky sophomore season, another is well on the way. And that might not be the end of Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel, either. Unlike so many of its peers, The Rings of Power won’t just be allowed to finish its story: it might be obligated to.
