Critics Praise The Rings of Power Season 3 After Early Screenings
Reviewers who saw the first two episodes singled out Charlie Vickers as Sauron ahead of the Prime Video debut on Nov. 11, 2026.
Critics who screened the first two episodes of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 3 have praised the season ahead of its debut on Prime Video, according to movieweb.com. Several reviewers described the new run as among the best television of the year.
Charlie Vickers, who plays Sauron, was singled out as a highlight by those who saw the opening episodes. The praise came from critics including Chris Killian of ComicBook, Rotem Rusak of Nerdist, Rachel Leishman and Fay Watson of GamesRadar+.
Season 3 moves the story forward with a five-year time jump into the War of the Elves and Sauron. The first two seasons, which premiered on September 1, 2022, covered the Second Age, the forging of the rings and Sauron's return.
Release schedule
Prime Video will launch Season 3 on Nov. 11, 2026 with four episodes. Episodes 5 and 6 follow on Nov. 18, and a two-part finale arrives on Nov. 25.
Quick answers
When does The Rings of Power Season 3 premiere?
Season 3 debuts on Prime Video on Nov. 11, 2026, with four episodes released that day.
Who plays Sauron in The Rings of Power?
Charlie Vickers plays Sauron and was singled out as a highlight by critics who saw the first two episodes of Season 3.
How is The Rings of Power Season 3 being released?
Four episodes arrive on Nov. 11, 2026, episodes 5 and 6 on Nov. 18, and a two-part finale on Nov. 25.