The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power - Season 2

"A love letter to the quirky, campy corners of Tolkien."

"It really needs more action."

"Epic but overcooked; thrilling at times but a slog at others."

"A mirthless rollercoaster ride."

"This series abounds in radically underexplained mutinies."

"Season 2 trades depth for spectacle."

"By prioritising grandiose lore over intimacy and heart, (it) puts its story behind glass."

"This season brings a better balance of talk and action and there is levity, if not actual laughs."

"Remains epically underwhelming."

"A boring slog in a lifeless Season 2."

"The second season finds a stronger foothold in character and sprints into a battle for the ages."

"A banquet for the eyes and ears."

"Forging a (mostly) better path."

"A 10-episode run could have afforded some of the more undercooked plots time and space to breathe."

"Hasn't reinvented itself in its second season, opting instead to turn up the intensity."

"The rarest of affairs: one we can give ourselves over to entirely, reassured that it hasn’t let us down yet."