As a seasoned cinephile who’s witnessed the rise and fall of many a silver screen titan, I must admit, the ongoing saga of The Rings of Power is a peculiar one. The chatter surrounding its performance on Amazon Prime seems to be more reminiscent of a heated debate at a Tolkien Society meeting than an honest assessment of the series’ quality.
As the second season of “The Rings of Power” premieres, discussions about Prime Video’s adaptation of the source material, fan expectations, and criticisms from detractors are once again in full swing. While some have chosen to dislike the show without even watching it, these debates can be exhausting for those who simply want to appreciate the series. However, one might wonder, does the chatter about audience reactions to “The Rings of Power” truly matter to Amazon? In other words, how is the performance of the show in reality?
Uncertainty Around Rings of Power’s Performance
Discussing the supposed success of “The Rings of Power” Season 1 on the platform is somewhat speculative due to streaming services having the ability to manipulate the narrative around their original content. For instance, we’ve been informed that “The Acolyte” is a hit. Amazon determines what data it discloses. Regarding “Rings of Power,” they claimed 25 million viewers tuned in for the premiere and the season finale attracted 1.137 billion minutes watched. Notice how the information is presented? One Reddit user calculated that the minute statistics translate to approximately 13.9 million people, which is fewer than the initial number.
It’s normal for a series to experience a dip in viewership after the initial premiere, but as reported by Forbes, only about one-third of viewers made it past the second episode, which has been labeled a massive flop. Despite this, the cast, crew, and Amazon continue to express optimism regarding the show. The budget for Season 2 is projected to be higher than the $465 million spent on Season 1, according to Yahoo Finance. With mixed reviews and a competitive streaming landscape, it’s challenging to predict the impact of negative discourse. However, there’s a possibility that Amazon doesn’t necessarily care about the show’s success in reality.
Even if Rings of Power Is Failing, It Is Still a Win for Amazon
In his piece for Seeking Alpha, Luca Socci discusses potential financial implications for Amazon concerning ‘The Rings of Power’ series. Since Amazon maintains strict privacy regarding its data and operations, the article carries an element of speculation. Yet, it suggests that Amazon could gauge the success of the show by tracking increases in new Prime subscriptions and J.R.R Tolkien book sales. These points were highlighted during a Deadline interview with Amazon’s Global TV Head, Vernon Sanders. While there may be an attempt to present this project positively despite potential failures, it also seems plausible that these metrics provide a more accurate representation of ‘success,’ considering they take into account audience engagement rather than just critical or fan reactions.
As a movie enthusiast, I eagerly followed the Q3 2022 earnings call with Brian Olsavsky, Amazon’s CFO. During this call, he revealed that our beloved show had garnered more Prime Video subscriptions than any other original production to date, regardless of viewer opinions or completion rates. Although the financial implications of ‘The Rings of Power’ may not yet outweigh its cost, it offers significant value beyond owning the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.
Whether you appreciate “The Rings of Power” or not, it’s worth checking out as it could prove to be a sound investment, given Amazon’s successful business model that has propelled them to their current industry-leading position. Stream The Rings of Power on Prime Video now.
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2024-09-01 01:05