The Rings of Power Season 3 Opens With Four Episodes

Prime Video released the first four episodes of The Rings of Power’s third season on November 11, beginning a season set five years after the events of Season 2 and opening with the war against Sauron already underway. The remaining four episodes are scheduled to arrive in two installments, on November 18 and November 25.

The season makes a structural shift from the earlier installments, which showrunner Patrick McKay described as unfolding in a more linear fashion. In an interview, McKay said the creative team wanted to unsettle viewers by placing them in a point in the story they might not expect. The season begins with a battle rather than building toward one, he said, and asks viewers to catch up as the conflict and character relationships have changed.

The five-year gap is reflected in developments across Middle-earth. Rivendell has been built, Sauron has established Barad-dûr and assembled an army, and the war is in progress. The first four episodes also introduce new characters and show major changes in familiar ones, including Theo’s transformation after receiving one of the nine rings for Men.

McKay said Theo spent the intervening years as a forced laborer under...