Prime Video’s *The Rings of Power* has seen a troubling 60% decline in viewership since its first season, according to a recent report. With Netflix dominating the most-watched rankings, Amazon’s ambitious plans for the series face uncertainty. Criticism of the show’s writing and deviations from Tolkien’s source material have contributed to its struggles. Despite initial promises of a multi-season arc, the future of the series now hinges on critical reception and audience engagement as competition in the streaming landscape intensifies.
The Current State of *The Rings of Power*
Prime Video has made a significant investment in its series *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*, banking on its immense budget to capture a wide audience. Despite the release of the second season last summer, the streaming giant remains optimistic about the series’ future. However, an independent report has revealed disappointing figures, indicating that viewership has not met expectations.
Declining Viewership Figures
A recent report by Luminate Data has shed light on the streaming landscape for 2024, revealing a striking 60% drop in viewership for *The Rings of Power*. The report ranks the most-watched series of the year, and Prime Video finds itself struggling to compete. In the top 10 most-viewed productions, Netflix dominates with 7 entries, while Paramount+ secures 2 spots, leaving only *Fallout* from Prime Video at the 8th position. This ranking is based on billions of minutes viewed, underscoring the challenges Prime Video faces.
Interestingly, Disney has also failed to place any of its productions in the top 10, with *Percy Jackson and the Olympians* being the most-watched Disney series, garnering around 3 billion minutes. The conspicuous absence of *The Rings of Power*, which comes with an extravagant budget of approximately $60 million per episode, raises eyebrows. Amazon previously claimed that 40 million viewers tuned in within 11 days of the second season’s release, making the recent decrease in audience numbers particularly striking.
The report highlights that audiences for the second season plummeted by 60% compared to the first season. This downturn can be attributed to several factors, primarily the decisions made by Amazon. Showrunners Patrick McKay and JD Payne, who are relatively new to such large-scale productions, have faced challenges in managing the series’ massive budget. Moreover, deviations from the original source material, particularly regarding the story’s chronology, have led to a confusing narrative.
Additionally, the writing quality has faced scrutiny, with criticisms pointing to plot inconsistencies, clichéd fantasy elements, and lackluster dialogue. The effort to create a more accessible series aimed at attracting casual viewers has arguably alienated devoted fans of Tolkien’s world.
What Lies Ahead for the Series?
Given these concerning statistics, Amazon might reconsider its original strategy for *The Rings of Power*. Initially, the company had ambitious plans, announcing a five-season arc with a total budget of one billion dollars. While the writing for the third season reportedly began last February, the fate of the series remains uncertain.
Critical reception, alongside viewership numbers, will play a crucial role in determining the series’ longevity. Although the specialized press has shown some leniency toward the Prime Video series, general viewers have been less forgiving. Despite a slightly improved reception for the second season compared to the first, the challenge remains significant.
As video game adaptations gain popularity, with titles like *The Last of Us*, *Fallout*, and *Arcane* making waves, the spotlight now shifts to another beloved franchise. Netflix is set to tackle the adaptation of this cult classic, and the excitement surrounding the first teaser promises to engage fans eagerly.