Watch 'The Rings of Power' Season 2: When and Where to Stream Online

Two years after its critically acclaimed first season, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power returns.

The second season premieres on Aug. 29 on Prime Video, featuring Morfydd Clark as young Galadriel, Charlie Vickers as Sauron, Daniel Weyman as the Stranger, Benjamin Walker as Elven High King Gil-Galad, Robert Aramayo as young Elrond, Charles Edwards as Elven prince Celebrimbor, Owain Arthur as Dwarven prince Durin IV, and Maxim Baldry as Isildur.

Premiere Date: Aug. 29
No. of Episodes: 8
Stream Online: Prime Video

Adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series, The Rings of Power was created by Patrick McKay and John Payne. The series is set in the Second Age, thousands of years before the events in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings , bringing new and familiar characters to the small screen.

Since Amazon only acquired the screen rights to The Hobbit , The Lord of the Rings , and the novels’ appendices, The Rings of Power delves into the events of the Second and Third Ages. This includes the forging of the Rings of Power and the Last Alliances of Elves and Men, with Jackson’s trilogy taking place in the Third Age.

To watch the new season, tune in to Prime Video, where the first three episodes will be available starting midnight PT on Aug. 29. The eight-part series will release new episodes weekly, culminating in a finale available for streaming on Oct. 3.

Access to Prime Video requires an Amazon Prime membership ($139 annually or $14.99 monthly) or a standalone Prime Video subscription ($8.99 monthly). New subscribers can take advantage of a 30-day free trial period to watch the LOTR prequel series for free.

Amazon Prime members also enjoy benefits such as free one- and two-day shipping, same-day delivery, free two-hour delivery on Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods Market groceries, exclusive deals and sale events like Prime Day, Try Before You Buy and personal shopping services, plus unlimited photo storage on Amazon Drive. Prime store cardholders receive 5 percent cashback on purchases.

Prime and Prime Video subscribers also have exclusive access to Thursday Night Football and other Amazon Studios original series, such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , Lucy and Desi , Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls , and The Boys .

Besides the new series, you might want to catch up on Middle-earth’s lore. Watching all The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies in chronological order is the best way. These include:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): Apple TV, Max, Prime Video

You might also enjoy the earlier animated films such as The Hobbit (1977), The Lord of the Rings (1978), and The Return of the King (1980).

All of the LOTR live-action films are streamable for free with subscriptions to Prime Video, Amazon Prime, and Max. These titles can also be purchased or rented on Prime Video, Apple TV, and other VOD platforms.

Max subscriptions are $9.99 per month with ads or $16.99 to $20.99 monthly without ads. Annual packages range from $99.99 to $209.99 per year, offering a 17 percent savings.

Season two of The Rings of Power resumes after Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) is revealed to be Sauron. According to the series logline, “Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will.

The series follows its “most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”

For those who prefer page-turning over binge-watching, there are plenty of cool editions of the Lord of the Rings novels, companion books, and other merchandise. Some top picks include: