Rings of Power Viewers Face Ongoing Issues That Make the Series “Unwatchable”

Rings of Power has faced ongoing criticism, but one major issue viewers report isn’t related to the storyline or its adaptation of the beloved Lord of the Rings lore.

Many were disappointed with Rings of Power Season 1 for various reasons, including the absence of rights to The Silmarillion, alterations to Tolkien’s original material, and concerns that the writing did not meet the high standards set by the Lord of the Rings films.

However, the reviews for Season 2 appear to be a bit more favorable, although some criticisms remain, varying in their validity.

There is understandable apprehension regarding the identity of the Dark Wizard (with fans hoping it isn’t Saruman), and viewers are growing impatient regarding the Stranger’s quest for his name (which is strongly suggested to be Gandalf) in Rhûn.

Aside from these narrative concerns, a recurring issue highlighted by audiences on Reddit is the show’s visual darkness. It’s not related to its tone but rather its overall visual presentation.

The Barrow-wights in Rings of Power Season 2 — Prime Video

As one Reddit user pointed out: “We have to close the blinds, turn off all the lights, and still struggle to see. We’ve been joking, ‘Oh great, another night fight! Guess we don’t have to watch this scene because we can’t see it anyway!’

“Seriously, whose TV are they tailoring this for? A significant portion of the show is virtually unwatchable due to poor lighting!”

This issue has become increasingly prevalent across various TV shows and streaming platforms; viewers of House of the Dragon experienced similar challenges, and Game of Thrones notoriously left fans struggling during episodes like ‘The Long Night.’

“I thought I was the only one. I have blackout curtains and still have to wait until nighttime to watch if I want to see everything; I can’t have any lights on in the house while doing so,” another viewer shared.

“I recall this issue arising with House of the Dragon too, where it was discussed that these modern shows are designed for OLED displays with HDR. If you lack that technology, it could explain why it feels excessively dark,” a third commenter speculated.

Earlier this year, Amazon subtly discontinued support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on its ad-supported plan. So, unless you opt for the higher-priced plan, you might experience diminished visual quality.