As Sauron continues fixating on precious jewelry, all of Middle-earth ramps up toward a world-changing, era-defining showdown between good and evil.

Season 2 of the most expensive TV series ever made is here, and it still feels like something of a loss leader. Prime Video's "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" has yet to develop characters we care about or put them in settings and situations -- regardless of however handsome or awesome they may be -- that make their fates more than rudimentarily moving.

Sitting down to write this review of ‘ The Rings of Power ‘ Season 2, I could think of a few memorable moments. A swarm of butterflies coalesces into a humanoid figure. A choir of singers communes with the earth in gorgeous harmony. A horde of spiders closes in on a helpless prisoner, their lair so fetid you can practically smell it.