The Rings of Power Episode 5 Review: Prime Video Series Still Lingers On Great Preparations, Struggling To Take Off
Episode Title: Partings
Cast: Morfydd Clark, Robert Aramayo, Charles Edwards and Ismael Cruz Córdova
Director: Wayne Yip
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Now in The Ring of Power Episode 5 of eight episodes scheduled for this first season, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power seems to consolidate its uncertain and fluctuating position with each new episode. If, from a technical and stylistic point of view, real wonders have been accomplished, capable of making even the works designed for the big screen pale, on the narrative there remain several doubts both on the management of the various plots, and in that of the rhythm and of some characters (Do you think Tolkien would be that disappointed with The Rings of Power?).
The Second Era of Arda shines on small screens, bringing to light a very divided and fragmented context, so unstable that it is even reflected in the various storyline. In that sense, we saw an intriguing crescendo until the last episode, culminating in some high-impact sequences (here is our review of The Rings of Power 1X04). The departures observed this week, however, only slow the pace again by covering a lot of screen time to offer very little development. Given the narrative, there are still excellent hopes for the continuation, hoping for a decisive turn towards much more concrete rhythms and events. Let’s observe together what we saw in the fifth episode.
The Rings of Power Episode 5 Review: The Story
Returning to the course of events, the focus shifts once again to four main contexts. The first leads the viewer to follow the long migratory journey of the Pelopiedi towards quieter shores together with a new “friend”. As Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and her community face numerous dangers along the way, the presence of the individual fallen from the sky will prove extremely useful – and potentially just as dangerous for his extraordinary and as yet uncontrolled abilities. Among the first glimpses of mysterious entities and welcome quotes, Adar (Joseph Mawle) also seems to be preparing for something grand with his orcs. The Elf seems ready to wage war in all the Southlands and, as is well known to the human refugees in Ostirith, time is running out.
Meanwhile, albeit with completely different intentions and omens, even on the island of Numenor the preparations for the departure are intense: amid discontent and growing ambitions, hostilities and the difficult management of the great people will bring further developments for the Galadriel campaign (Morfydd Clark). As Numenoreans, men and dark creatures mobilize for an ever closer war, Durin IV (Owain Arthur) accepted the invitation of Elrond (Robert Aramayo) to travel to Lindon to meet Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) and Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker). Also on this occasion, there will be revelations, intense exchanges, intriguing hints to the past and mysteries for the future, with the Elves who hide much more than they show in an attempt to preserve their sacred light.
Therefore, keeping the attention on expectations, diatribes and preparations, we find ourselves once again having to deal with an episode of transition towards much greater or epic developments. While admiring some subplots, undeniably enhanced by the technical sector or by the interpretations of the cast, the attempts to keep the intensity of the rhythm high clash with insufficient narrative management. In particular, by saving only a funny sequence starring Galadriel, most of the stories of Numenor appear extremely diluted and filled with bite-free fillers.
The Rings of Power Episode 5 Review and analysis
This week’s episode, directed again with extreme care and great skill by Wayne Che Yip, intends to focus on the theme of travel and the importance of communion of purpose in facing difficult problems. In this regard, the efforts made by the crew to offer the observer the sensation of progress and constant movement that has always characterized Tolkien’s transpositions cannot be neglected. Especially as regards the editing reserved for the Pelopiedi, the sequences shown on screen fit perfectly into the vein launched by Peter Jackson with those large gashes that had made fans all over the world dream. Travel is a fundamental part of Tolkien’s works, and the director seems to have understood it perfectly, allowing the viewer to feel the setting and scale of the events.
In the more static sequences, however, this can only be hinted at and does not guarantee the same result: the events within Numenor represent the worst part of the episode, with only some intriguing or stimulating glimpses for the narrative. Except for a much more dynamic action sequence than those seen at the debut of the series, most of the content presented was based on the performances of the cast and dialogues full of references. Even Galadriel, who remains the show’s worst character, manages for a moment to bring the viewer into her world thanks to the intense work of Morfydd Clark. The inner conflicts are extremely important at this juncture and highlight the deep structure of the episode, rooted around exquisitely Tolkien themes.
Among the sequences shown, those of Lindon make the others pale for care, attention, interpretations and intensity: not leaving much space to appreciate the real intentions of Gil-Galad, it is again Durin and Elrond who steal the show, with the latter which has officially conquered the primacy of the most interesting, faithful and multifaceted characters of the series (at least so far). The Prince of the Dwarves and the Half-elf convey to the viewer the extreme depth of their character, like the experience in the shadow of great fathers and in the intent to combine the needs of their people and those of their spirit. In contrast, Ostirith’s sequences also alternate between highs and lows as the splendid Orcs led by Adar prepare to march.
The Elf army is undoubtedly one of the greatest strengths of the entire series: the Orcs of The Rings of Power are perhaps the best in terms of aesthetics, culture, and character, and seeing them in action brings more and more desire to observe them closely. At the same time, Arondir also returns to conquer the scene away from action sequences: the Elf much criticized by the public is proving to be one of the most concrete and solid characters of the show, at the same time revealing Bronwyn’s bad writing. Now more than ever, analyzing the narrative, one feels the weight of the temporal compression brought by the series being adapted. The idea of bringing events closer together does not represent a problem, but especially in this episode, The Rings of Power offers a splendid setting for a story made up of intense lights and very confusing shadows. Better specifying the cadence of the various subplots would certainly have allowed us to obtain a more coherent and less fragmented picture of the events that alternate on the screen.
Consequently, narrative management could also have benefited by obtaining greater rhythm. However, the growing feeling is that some plot lines are built to last and to capture fans over time at the expense of others, victimized by showrunners in the bad moments in the drafting phase. We just have to hope for a balance that allows the entire series, especially with only three episodes from the end of the season, to honor its technical sector with a narrative that is fully satisfactory from all points of view. By now in the second half of the season, we have begun to get to know the main characters better, to empathize and understand their personality. For this reason, the vision of this fifth episode gives a lot of emotions, as long as you are interested in the story that is proposed to us.
The one in The Rings of Power is a story that proceeds through emotions, in which the mere description of events is left in the background to focus on building an emotional bond with names and places. And this is how the episode hits with a song and a simple montage (one of the most beautiful sequences of the series seen so far), which lets you breathe all the flavor of Middle-earth; this is how a short legendary tale told by a character only needs a simple shot to make us roll our eyes; this is how the sound of the footsteps of a marching army makes us fear for the future of some of our heroes. By now the series, like the One Ring, has grabbed us and does not (anymore) need (for now) to show muscles and spent budget. This is good because everything looks incredibly natural and well managed, and the viewer cannot help but indulge in the pleasure of viewing.
The Rings of Power Episode 5 Review: The Last Words
The Rings of Power Episode 5 makes the plot proceed without particular jolts, but the cast by now well-established and some exciting sequences in their simplicity manage to grab the viewer, making him want to see the next episode immediately. Too bad you will have to wait a week. After admiring an intense and satisfying fourth episode, the fifth installment of The Rings of Power falls into some of the same mistakes revealed in the past few weeks. If the themes, the style and the performances are convincing in several respects, the same cannot be said for the management of the rhythm and the countless amount of slips in the writing phase. With just three episodes left of the season, Patrick McKay and JD Payne will necessarily have to correct the shot.
