Not even Sauron could create as much terror as what must be felt in the Amazon offices right now. The second season of The Rings of Power has proven to be less successful than its predecessor. According to a Luminate report, the audience for season 2 dropped by 60% compared to the first during the first 12 weeks of streaming. Despite the first season being established at the time as the most-watched show on Prime Video, it is notable that only 37% of viewers in the United States completed the series.
The Rings of Slumber
Despite these terrible numbers, Amazon Prime Video has plans to continue the story. Although the third season has not been officially confirmed yet, the co-creators have expressed their enthusiasm for its development and have indicated that there is a solid story on the way. Patrick McKay, co-showrunner of the series, mentioned that they are working to shape the next installment as quickly as possible, which suggests that there is more than one left before it ends.
The narrative of season 2 focused on Sauron and his influence over the Elven smith Celebrimbor, known for forging the nine rings of power. As the story progressed towards the birth of a monumental conflict, Sauron, in his form as Annatar, manipulated Celebrimbor, who faced considerable challenges in his quest to create these objects of great power. The season culminated in an epic confrontation during the Siege of Eregion, reflecting the complex web of alliances and betrayals that characterizes the universe of J.R.R. Tolkien.
The drop in viewership for The Rings of Power is not an isolated phenomenon, as other high-profile productions, such as Echo and Agatha All Along from the once all-powerful MCU, have also performed disappointingly. This raises questions about audience expectations in a television landscape where more and more series compete for the public’s attention.