Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy get to more things than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the movies, tv shows, comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Rings of Power S2E4 “Eldest” – Rings of Power continues its thematic focus on the different races of Middle Earth by looking at some of its oldest (and smallest) beings namely wizards, Ents, halflings, and at long last, fan favorite Tom Bombadil. The wig work isn’t great, and Rory Kinnear initially sounds like a posh London police officer trying to be a bloke at a pub, but he nails Bombadil’s main character trait, which is his effortless immortality. He talks about the birth of the stars like most people talk about what they had for dinner and could be a great mentor to the Stranger unlike his failure with the still super generic Dark Wizard. Connected to this plotline, Nori and Poppy run into another halfling tribe called Stoors, who live underground. Initially, their leader Gund (Tanya Moodie) is wary of them, but they discover that they share similar customs. Directors Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri use silent sequences and montages to show the idyllic life they live compared to the epicness of above ground. Speaking of epicness, there’s no Sauron in this episode, but lots of petty bickering between Elrond and Galadriel, who are written a little one note in this episode. Thankfully there’s the live action debut of the Barrow-wights and a badass, flaming arrow slow-mo action sequence to distract us. And what about the Ents? They appear nearly out of nowhere as Isildur, Arondir, and a guilt-ridden Estrid look for Theo. Jim Broadbent and Olivia Williams voice the regal Snaggleroot and angry Winterbloom and reintroduce some of Lord of the Rings’ environmental themes to the TV show. All in all, “Eldest” is a fanservice potpourri which reminds audiences that Middle Earth is a place full of ancient beings as well as petty disputes and drama. Overall Verdict: 7.1

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy get to more things than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the movies, tv shows, comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.

Logan

Rings of Power S2E2 “Where the Stars are Strange” – Veteran TV writer Jason Cahill (Sopranos, Fringe) weaves together an episode of corruption and decay after Rings of Power’s premiere had a glimpse of hope with the healing power of the Elf Rings. However, that all is stripped away when Galadriel has a red-tinged vision of Celebrimbor being corrupted by Sauron. The actual, climactic scene of Sauron corrupting Celebrimbor is a masterclass from actors Charlie Vickers and Charles Edwards. Slight changes in his accent transform Vickers from a down on his luck Man to an envoy of the Valar. (The invisible gods of Middle Earth.) Sauron with an assist from Celebrimbor’s assistant Mirdania (A scene-stealing Amelia Kenworthy.) plays on the Elf smith’s weaknesses and desire for creation and accomplishment. It’s like watching Lucifer assemble an army to take on Heaven in Paradise Lost and makes for compelling television. Sauron and Celebrimbor’s first target for rings of power are the Dwarves who are struggling with some MacGuffin-y issue. However, the scenes with them shine thanks to a humorous and charismatic performance from Sophia Nomvete as Disa, one of the bright spots of Season 1. It’ll never get old watching her tell Prince Durin and King Durin to get over themselves. The other main plotline in episode 2 is The Stranger, Nori, and Poppy entering the land of Rhun. A random appearance from Ciaran Hinds as Diet Caffeine Free Saruman aside, this plot trods story ground from the first season arc with these characters with The Stranger being enigmatic, losing control, and being surrounded by weird magic freaks. (They have Green Goblin masks now.) One struggling plotline aside, I enjoyed this episode, and directors Charlotte Brandstrom and Louise Hooper make the no-expenses-spared visuals shine. Overall: 8.0

Rings of Power S2E3 “The Eagle and the Sceptre” – After the first two episodes had big plots dealing with Elves and Dwarves, Helen Shang‘s script for “The Eagle and the Sceptre” focuses on Men, both Numenoreans and the Southlanders left in the wake of last season’s battle against Mordor. The political maneuvering in Numenor is really intriguing with Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) playing both the populist and elitist in attempt to prevent the now-blinded Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) from succeeding to her father’s throne. An added wrinkle is Elendil’s daughter Earien (Ema Horvath) supporting him when it’s revealed that Miriel had a palantir in her tower. (Peter Thiel named his company after it so it’s definitely bad.) Along with this, Shang and directors Louise Hooper and Charlotte Brandstorm focus on Isildur (Maxim Baldry) trying to find a way off Middle Earth, his horse, and various other side quests featuring the badass elf Arondir from last season, the annoying Theo, and a new, not what she seems female character, Estrid. The Southland sequences were the weakest in the previous season, but I love the political parallels between Numenor and colonial powers like the US and UK interfering in a war and leaving the folks affected by it to scrape by. This, but with mountain trolls and giant spiders. And, finally, in what has made Rings of Power Season 2 much more compelling than it’s predecessor, we see more of the corruption of Celebrimbor with Sauron just walking around and watching him alienate his fellow Elves as he begins to forge the seven Dwarven rings. It’s the whole the Devil doesn’t damn you to Hell, but you damn yourself saying played out with some wonderful glances and smirks delivered by Charlie Vickers, who is enjoying the Annatar role. Overall: 7.7