‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Season 3 Rotten Tomatoes Score Officially Revealed

Prime Video’s effort to bring Middle-earth to the small screen debuts its third season on Nov. 11, 2026, and early reviews paint a promising picture. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power had an uneven rollout across its first two seasons, but the upcoming Season 3 may be where the show finally finds its stride.

The Rotten Tomatoes score for The Rings of Power Season 3 officially arrived ahead of the season’s debut, and it paints a promising picture for the upcoming story. The season has a 72% Tomatometer score, based on 21 critic reviews as of Nov. 10, 2026. Those reviews largely praise the season as “overall, leaner, meaner, and much more gratifying than any of its predecessors.” They consider it a “dark, thrilling” installment in the greater series, but reviews are not without criticism. Even positive reviews note the show’s tendency toward “dense, dragging subplots.”

That’s been a major critique of the show so far, but reviews indicate that Season 3 of Rings of Power might finally pick up the pace on the story. The first two seasons were frequently mired in over-indulgent storytelling, despite a strong cast and story with a built-in fanbase. Despite broad criticism from viewers, however, the first two seasons are notably popular among critics. Season 1 boasts a strong 84% Tomatometer score, while Season 2 upped the ante ever so slightly with an 85% score. Both seasons failed to impress audiences overmuch, unfortunately. Four years after its release, Season 1 still sits at a 38% score among audiences, and Season 2 is only a bit better with its 58% score.

Season 3 hasn’t officially released yet, so we’re still awaiting an audience score, but reviews indicate that the series has taken steps to address fan concerns. Middle-earth has a long and wrought history, which the series seeks to examine beyond the Lord of the Rings books and Peter Jackson’s early 2000s trilogy. It’s certainly succeeded in further exploring the history of Tolkien’s brilliant world, but it hasn’t always succeeded in impressing audiences with its approach.

Hopes are high that Season 3 finally delivers the emotional and inspiring story that made so many of us fans of The Lord of the Rings. The initial Rotten Tomatoes score is lower than its predecessors, but reviews are still pouring in. By the time audiences actually see what it has to offer, we might just see Season 3 emerge as the most popular so far.