The Rings Of Power’ Releases And How To Watch For Free

The big day is almost here. The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power comes out this week on Amazon Prime Video.

The new show, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices to The Silmarillion, is the most expensive show ever made, and fans of fantasy and The Lord Of The Rings have plenty to look forward to when the first two episodes drop later this week.

The story takes place around 5,000 years before Frodo and Sam set off on their quest, though the Second Age has been condensed into a timeline more suitable for television rather than try to tell a sweeping epic that spans several thousands of years between the forging of the Rings and the defeat of Sauron by Isildur. (Nearly 2,000 years pass between the beginning of Celebrimbor’s forging of the Rings of Power and Sauron’s defeat).

There’s something exciting about not knowing how all of this will shake out, however. Even though some fans believe that any change from the books (or appendices) is tantamount to a deep betrayal of the author and his work, the fact is adaptations require changes—and sometimes those changes are actually really good. In this case, the showrunners have taken dry appendices and historical notes and turned them into a story with relatable characters and adventure.

In any case, I’m excited for the show, especially since I’ve seen the first two episodes and came away hungry for more (and eager to re-watch them in 4K instead of my screener versions which don’t do the show justice).

So when can you sink your teeth into this juicy fantasy epic? And where can you watch it?

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Timings

The first two episodes come out this Thursday, September 1st and air earlier than subsequent episodes. Six more episodes will air each week after that—and Amazon has already committed to making at least four more seasons after this one, so we have a lot of Lord of the Rings content to look forward to.

The only place you can stream The Rings Of Power is on Amazon Prime Video, which will stream the show across the globe in all markets. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial if you’re not a Prime member.

Week One Timings:

• 6 p.m. PDT // Thursday, September 1
• 9 p.m. EDT // Thursday, September 1
• 2 a.m. UK // Friday, September 2
• 3 a.m. CEST // Friday, September 2
• 6:30 a.m. IST // Friday, September 2
• 10 a.m. JST // Friday, September 2
• 11 a.m. AU // Friday, September 2
• 1 p.m. NZ // Friday, September 2

Week Two Timings Through to Season Finale:

• 9 p.m. PDT // Thursdays
• 12 a.m. EDT // Fridays
• 1 a.m. Brazil // Fridays
• 5 a.m. UK // Fridays
• 6 a.m. CEST // Fridays
• 9:30 a.m. IST // Fridays
• 1 p.m. JST // Fridays
• 2 p.m. AU // Fridays
• 4 p.m. NZ // Fridays

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