Jennifer Salke, chief of Amazon Studios, has announced that “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” has become one of the most-watched shows ever on Prime Video’s streaming platform. The second season of “The Rings of Power” debuts two years after the series first aired, delving into Sauron’s (Charlie Vickers) rise to power through the creation of the iconic Rings. Although the first season attracted a significant audience, a mere 37% of domestic and 45% of international viewers finished watching it.
However, as reported by Variety, Salke issued a memo to the staff, indicating that the second season has placed the series among the top five original shows on the streaming service. This achievement aligns it with other popular series like “Fallout,” “Reacher,” and “The Boys,” which secured their top-five status due to recent releases this year. Amazon also disclosed that 40 million viewers have watched the second season within the first 11 days, though the long-term viewership for the new episodes remains uncertain.
The Implications of Season 2’s Viewership for the Fantasy Series
Amazon’s Ambitious Five-Season Strategy
[embedblock type=”gallery”]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[/embedblock]
Even though the show is performing well for Prime Video, claiming 40 million viewers in 11 days is modest compared to the first season, which reportedly attracted 25 million viewers on its premiere day in 2022. Nevertheless, Luminate’s data does not fully support these high figures, indicating the three-episode debut over Labor Day weekend garnered 553.5 million minutes, equating to about 2.7 million views. Yet, these numbers still position the show near the top of Prime Video’s successful original content.
[embedblock type=”movie-cart”]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[/embedblock]
Despite its apparent success and the likelihood of a continuation, the series remains the most costly television production ever, with episodes reportedly exceeding $50 million each. This financial aspect heightens concerns about the show’s sustainability, especially given criticisms of its slow pacing and lack of engaging storylines. Nonetheless, with Amazon’s commitment to a five-season plan, as long as it maintains its status as a top-performing show, its continuation seems assured.
Our Perspective on The Rings of Power’s Triumph on Prime Video
Season 3 Seems Inevitable
Given the show’s strong performance for Prime Video, a third season of “The Rings of Power” seems inevitable. Although the series is only midway through its second season, the true extent of its viewership strength will be clearer in the coming weeks. However, as it stands among the streamer’s top five most-watched original series, its promising future suggests that its complete narrative will be realized.
New episodes of “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” Season 2 are available every Thursday on Prime Video.
Source: Variety
[embedblock type=”movie-cart”]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[/embedblock]
