‘LOTR: The Rings of Power Season 2’ Interview: This season is about politics and growth

Women take charge The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. That was true of the first season, an epic fantasy series extrapolated from the appendices of JRR Tolkien, and it was well into the second. Galadriel (Morphide Clarke), betrayed but not bowed down, leads the troops in her crusade against the dark forces plaguing Middle-earth. It’s basically a guy, a pathological trickster named Sauron (Charlie Vickers).

Then we have two harefoots, Norrie and Poppy, the narrative and spiritual ancestors of Frodo and Sam, journeying into the blasted lands of Rhûn with their mysterious companion described by YouTuber Man of Recaps as ‘hobo Gandalf’. Finally, in Númenor, the Atlantis-like kingdom of men, Queen Regent Miriel is raising the rumblings of rebellion.

A few days before the second season premiere (four episodes are currently on Prime Video, with weekly drops every Thursday), Hindu Spoke to various cast and crew of the series.

“Anyone familiar with the mythology of Númenor will know that it will have a tragic ending, although we are not there yet. yet“, says star Cynthia Addai-Robinson, who portrays Miriel. In the first season, Miriel’s decision — spurred by the fall of the white leaf — to ally with the elves creates resentment within herself. It is her cousin, the scheming Farazon, who is one of the powerful. Brave leaves to bid, riding the anti-power wave that grips Numenor.

“In Season 2 we see the polarization in Numenorean society,” Cynthia said. “Both Mariel and Farazon have their own worldviews and ideas about where to take their people. You can connect these kinds of political conflicts throughout history to current events.”

Visually, too, Numenor looks different this go around. Its rich, beautiful glow has, shall we say, faded. “Because it’s more exciting and psychological and dramatic, we went darker,” explains Swedish-French director Charlotte Brandström, who directed four episodes in the new season. “I wanted more dust and mud so it would look as real as possible. It goes with the cast because JRR Tolkien’s characters are always very gritty and grounded, even though they exist in a fantasy world.”

Cynthia reflects what playing a blind queen — Miriel loses her sight at the Battle of Southland in the first season — for her track, both technically and metaphorically. This is one of the staples of epic storytelling: the Mahabharata, for example, features the blind king Dhritarashtra, whose devoted wife Gandhara joins him blindfolded. In Greek tragedy, Oedipus plucks out his own eye after meeting his terrible fate.

“Blindness turns Miriel inward,” says Cynthia. “He has to find out who he can trust and rely on. In that sense, the character Elendil, played by Leod Owen, becomes his eyes on the show. But she also helps him see through his knowledge of his people and their politics. It’s a beautiful interplay.”

Norrie travels to Rhûn in a still from ‘LOTR: Rings of Power Season 2’. Photo credit: Special Arrangements

Although an entire civilization threatens to collapse in Númenor, none of the runes initially appear, the show’s premise is a dry one. Fury Road– Like a desert. Featured in the first episode of the new season, ‘Elven Kings Under the Sky’, this dangerous new terrain was filmed in Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. Gone are the beaches, the buildings, the people who flock to Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s annual carnival. In all we see, ring of powerThere are miles and miles of rock.

Megan Richards as Poppy, Markella Cavenagh as Norrie Photo credit: Special Arrangements

“Tenerife’s desert landscape is so vast that it goes on and on,” shares Australian actor Markella Cavenagh, who plays Norrie/Eleanor. “I had quite a few ‘vista’ moments while shooting, just looking out and thinking I’d really like to traverse the whole stretch on foot.”

Megan Richards, her English co-star who plays Poppy, pinches. “It was an incredible experience that really shaped us.”

Nori’s hero’s journey takes a new turn in Season 2. She’s not as “naive and willingly trusting” as she used to be, Markella notes. Adulthood awaits, even for a hobbit. “We’ve been shooting this show for five years, so we’ve grown as people as well, and that’s something we bring to our roles,” added Markella, who is 24 in real life.

“You’ll see a lot of growth this season,” says Megan. “We explore new ways in Poppy’s life that she didn’t know existed.”

It’s not all Numenorean court politics and desert-bound soul-searching. Charlotte teases an epic battle that awaits fans in episode 7. “200 elves on white horses charge to save Erigion. And they’re facing a big, big Orc army.”

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 is streaming episodically on Prime Video