Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This famous quote, attributed to Lord Acton, could just as easily serve as the thesis statement for the sophomore season of Amazon’s streaming hit, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Further exploring the Second Age of Middle-earth, the allure and peril of unchecked power and untempered ambition become inevitable thematic focal points this season, as the series inches us closer to Tolkien’s legendary trilogy.

One of the most compelling aspects of the most recent season is its focus on the power of suggestion and manipulation. Sauron is a master of deceit, poised to play perhaps the most important role in shaping the fate of Middle-earth. His ability to influence the hearts and minds of even the wisest and most powerful among the Elves, such as Galadriel, was showcased in the first season. 

If one can look past the compressed timeline and slight alterations to Tolkien’s established mythology for the sake of adaptation, the cultural apologist can find in this most recent season of The Rings of Power a valuable tool for engaging in meaningful conversations about faith.

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with JOURNAL author Cole Burgett about his online article entitled, "The Subtle Art of Corruption in the Sophomore Season of The Rings of Power". Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.] https://www.equip.org/articles/the-subtle-art-of-corruption-in-the-sophomore-season-of-the-rings-of-power/