The drop may not be as bleak as it looks, as it’s probable that Salke is referring to the number of Prime Video accounts watching the show, and not the actual number of viewers. It would be virtually impossible for the streamer to measure exactly how many individual people are watching the show.
Nielsen Data Also Shows a Decline
Nielsen ratings do have that capability as it owns data on the number of people in a household. Deadline stated that Amazon tends to report “viewers” for successful shows and movies, but has not offered a clarification.
However, the Nielsen data also shows a decline in those watching Season 2 as opposed to Season 1 of The Rings of Power. The series drew over 1 billion minutes viewed the week of the Season 2 premiere, but that was down from Season 1’s numbers of about 1.25 billion minutes watched. The Season 1 debut in September 2022 garnered the largest premiere audience ever for Prime Video, a record that still holds.
The streamer is expecting more growth and momentum for Season 2 over time. The series has been struggling to retain its Season 1 audience. Samba TV data reports the Season 2 premiere drew half the audience that the first episode of Season 1 had in less time.
The Season 2 premiere had about 902,000 household viewers in its first four days, while the premier of the first season had a viewership of 1.8 million households in three days.
Episode 7 of this season, “Doomed to Die,” showed the Elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) mentally and physically trapped by Sauron, disguised as the gift-bearer Annatar, played by Charlie Vickers. Celebrimbor was able to craft the nine rings for Men, but their fate remains unknown, as The Rings of Power has taken various liberties with what some consider to be canon in the works of Tolkien, such as The Silmarillion.
Actor Ismael Cruz Córdova, who plays the elf Arondir, said previously that a third season of the show could be forthcoming. “As far as I know, they did kind of confirm that we’re going for a third. I haven’t seen any scripts, though. I would love to. But, I’m pretty sure we’re going for a third,” he said.
The Finale Streams Oct. 3
The eight-episode season of The Rings of Power concludes with its finale, which will stream on Prime Video Oct. 3.
