Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brought Season 2 to a close this week with multiple reveals, several brutal fight scenes, and a fleeting but majestic appearance of the most impressive Tolkien creature ever put on screen. However, while this season has received more positive reviews than its predecessor, there are still many fans who are just not happy with the multi-million dollar spectacle.

In a Reddit thread specifically aimed at “critiquing” the final episode of the season, several major gripes were aired, which continue many of the same trends that the series has followed since its debut in 2022. This included criticism of the show’s writing, visuals, and, naturally, canon changes. Season 2 may not have garnered the outright hate that Season 1 was subjected to, but several prominent bugbears have become the focal point of reactions to the season finale.

One of the biggest complaints that has carried over to Season 1 is the characterization of Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, who some fans can still not accept as the series lead. One user by the handle of Odd-Fun noted, “ The worst thing for me is the dumbing down of Galadriel. She was one of the oldest and wisest of the elves. With immense power. Yet in this show she is actually like dumb af.” Several users were left unimpressed by the “comedy gold” of Galadriel’s culminating sword fight with Sauron, which according to some included too much talking, and was “just awkward.”

Also taking a bashing was the reveal that the Stranger is indeed Gandalf (well it could only really be one of two wizards at the end of the day.) While it turned out not to be the most surprising reveal, several fans called his naming as “cringe,” “boring,” and “cliché,” as he proclaimed himself to be Gandalf after being referenced to several times as “Grand-Elf.” One user, by the handle of lutavsc, called out this particular part of the show, saying, “The whole Gandalf arch was garbage .”

In addition to this, the battle scenes of Episode 7 were not enough for some viewers, who called out some scenes that they felt should have featured more prominently. This included user IamTomJones (you’re probably not), who said, “Why didn’t we see cool action scenes of the dwarves overrunning the orks at Eregion ?” And it is that kind of anti-climactic sentiment that seems to be a strong thread running through many comments aimed at the season finale.

Prime Video’s Tolkien Series Can Continue Its Rise to Power in Season 3

Despite the continued barrage of online debates about timelines, “cringe” writing, and disappointing reveals, it is not all bad news for The Rings of Power. Season 2 marked a massive improvement in audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, as the initial wave of review bombing gave way to a more balanced appraisal of the show across its latest eight-episode run. The result has left Season 2 on a much more appealing, if far from ideal, 58% Popcornmeter score rather than the 38% achieved by Season 1.

With the main pieces now in play, and this iteration of Tolkien’s Middle Earth now established, Season 3 can fully focus its attention on trying to deliver its story in a way that continues to drive the action towards its inevitable conclusion. Several big events have only been hinted at so far – let’s not forget that the Balrog is going to earn its keep before the show is over – and the series finale is going to be one of the big set pieces that will likely prove where Amazon has spent its money. Although there are several TV series that are constantly in doubt over whether they will make it to the end of their planned story, The Rings of Power is one that doesn’t seem to have that worry to deal with.