“‘The Rings of Power’: A Curious Tale

By August Tales

Despite widespread criticism and fan dissent, “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has remarkably become a smash-hit series on Amazon. As reported earlier, Amazon has rewarded the show with a second-season renewal, and true to expectation, the new season, premiering on August 29, 2024, drew commendable accolades from fans and critics alike. Consequently, it has sparked attention on how the series will continue to roll out, especially in relation to recent significant reveals from the showrunners.

Another Look at the Rings of Power

Online fan discussions have been primarily focused on how the second season has somehow depicted Tolkien’s lore in a more accurate fashion. This discussion of lore accuracy has been a paramount issue from the inception of the series. As the series unfolds, with a refreshing spin on well-known stories and fresh narratives, the perspective it brings to certain facets of the lore is illuminating.

Indeed, the show’s recent interpretation of the Rings’ attributes seems more convincing than Tolkien’s original canon explanation.

Beyond the Lore: The Numerical Intrigue

The lore is clear: there are a total of 20 Rings of Power – nine for Humans, seven for Dwarves, three for Elves, and the ultimate One Ring to Rule Them All. Setting aside the ultimate ring, the tally stands at a seemingly arbitrary 19. However, there is a certain sense of dissonance considering Tolkien’s reputation for meticulous detailing in creating his world.

Dealing with the Random Count

The lack of proper explanation for the distribution of the rings among various races further amplified this ordeal. While the seven Dwarven rings perfectly align with the existent of seven kings, the riddle of the number of Human and Elven rings lingered. Clearly, the Human kings in Middle-earth exceeded nine, and even the higher race of Elves had received only three. This mystery persisted until Amazon’s series presented a credible answer.

Unravelling the Number Puzzle

During the ring forging sequence, the series goes further to reason out this numerical inconsistency. Apart from the seven Dwarven rings, which remained in tune with the lore, the three Elven rings and nine Human rings follow a distinct rule. The series suggests that the prime number ‘three’ stands for perfection, a symbol recurrent in several mythologies and religions – an element Tolkien incorporated profusely in his lore.

So, the three Elven rings represent the notion of ‘perfection.’ The number ‘nine’ for human rings, simply being a multiple of the ‘perfect’ number, thus understandably falls in line with the series’ explanation. In fact, this interpretation sounds convincingly Tolkein-esque, attesting to the craft of the series’ writers.

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