Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in Arabic Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.When launching a new fantasy epic, TV showrunners are faced with a challenge: how to build a world, with its multitudes of characters, species and realms, without sending viewers into an exposition-induced coma? The stories in The Lord of the Rings’ budget-busting spin-off The Rings of Power are drawn from appendices in JRR Tolkien’s novel, meaning a streamlined narrative was never on the cards — much of the opening series was spent trudging through mountains of plot and portentous dialogue. While the final three episodes cranked up the action as the Numenoreans and Elves went to war with the Orcs, it felt like too little, too late.Happily, the first four episodes of the second series hit the ground if not quite running then at a more satisfying jog. With Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) unmasked as the evil Sauron, we flashback to Adar (Sam Hazeldine), leader of the Orcs, appearing to kill him. But Sauron’s dark powers meant he was able to come back to life, mutating in a stomach-churning sequence from treacly puddle to limbless slug to eventual human. After that, we are back in the present, watching Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), commander of the Elven army, eating humble pie in front of the high king, Gil-galad, for unwittingly bringing Sauron into their midst. Meanwhile Sauron, disguised once again, is building towards a power grab, first getting Adar onside and then inveigling his way into the workshop of Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), master craftsman and creator of the life-giving rings.This season brings a better balance of talk and action and there is levity, if not actual laughs, provided by the proto-Hobbit Harfoots, Poppy and Nori, who leave their tribe to join the Stranger (Daniel Weyman) on his quest to discover his identity (no prizes for guessing who this exceedingly tall wizard is). It is also pleasing to see bigger names, among them Ciarán Hinds and Rory Kinnear, adding weight to a cast previously dominated by unknown actors. All that, plus a scattering of giants, bog monsters and malevolent trees, makes this series feel livelier and more sure-footed than its predecessor.Yet it also brings what you might call a Game of Thrones situation where, for reasons of war, displacement or unfinished business, increasing numbers of characters are flung far from home and can be found plodding in different directions, battling sorcery and strangers as they go. But there is time yet for these narrative strands to be pulled together. Perhaps Sauron, enemy to all, will be the unifying force this unwieldy show needs. ★★★☆☆On Prime Video from August 29
