Can my child watch The Rings of Power?

Violence and Scary Scenes 

The series includes battle scenes featuring sword fights, archery, and hand-to-hand combat, often against frightening creatures like orcs, Wargs, and trolls. Injuries are shown, sometimes with blood, but they aren't graphic.

For example, orcs often bleed black blood from their mouths or wounds when injured. Here are a few detailed examples:

• In a flashback, an orc attempts to attack Sauron, but Sauron repeatedly stabs him in the head. Black blood seeps from the orc's eye socket and head wounds. Later, Adar turns on Sauron after learning of his plan to use the orcs against their will, stabbing him in the back with a black, pointed crown. Sauron is then attacked by a large group of orcs and stabbed repeatedly until he seemingly dies, with black blood splattered across his face. A burst of light emerges from his mouth before his body disappears, and they are all transported to a snowy castle.
• Sauron is reduced to a pool of blood, gradually morphing into a creature made of black worms, without any human features. The creature kills a rat by crushing its bones and then consumes it, along with some insects, before slithering out of a cave. It eventually attacks a woman off-screen, absorbing her to transform into a human form, although no injury is shown.
• In another scene, Isildur is trapped in a large web inside a cave in the Dark Forest. After waking up, he tries to free himself using a sword from what appears to be a dead orc, but the orc is alive and attacks him. Spiders of various sizes emerge from pustules on the walls, and Isildur must fight off a large spider, eventually killing it and escaping with his horse.
• In episode four a group of Elves battles in a dark, sinister forest against skeletal, ghost-like creatures emerging from caves. These creatures attempt to drag the Elves away with chains, but the Elves manage to escape by using the weapons buried with them. While both seasons have featured magic, this one seems to embrace supernatural elements even more than The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. It's likely that the character "The Stranger" will continue to develop his magical powers, encountering others with similar abilities as well as darker forces.

How Does This Level of Violence Sit with Your Child?

We often ask people of all ages, "What was the first film, series, or video game that really scared you as a child?" It's rare to find someone who can't remember what first frightened them. This question often helps people from all walks of life find common ground, whether they’re elderly or very young. We all relate to that visceral feeling of fear.

It's crucial to recognise that everyone has their limits regarding what they find comfortable or distressing. Even adults have their boundaries—for instance, I personally avoid supernatural horror.

The first factor to consider is age. While there are exceptions, it's unlikely that younger children would enjoy or be suited for this type of series. Many children are frightened by scary images and grotesque monsters, like orcs. The series has a sense of dread and emphasizes the vulnerability of humans, which could be challenging for younger children to separate from reality. Although an orc crashing through your bedroom window is unlikely, it’s an image that could easily linger in a child's mind. This series isn't intended for very young viewers, given the violence described above.

The second factor is your child's preferences. Do they enjoy films and shows like Marvel, Goosebumps, or Star Wars? If so, it might be worth discussing the specific type of violence in The Rings of Power to see if it aligns with their comfort level. On the other hand, if your child primarily enjoys Disney films and light-hearted love stories, this might not be the right series for them just yet. It's always best to talk with them about any film or series before pressing play. Spoilers don't matter when genuine fear or discomfort is at stake, and their feelings are valid.

The Lord of the Rings is a cult classic, and as New Zealanders, there’s almost a sense of duty to be familiar with it (even though season two of The Rings of Power wasn’t filmed here). But before you introduce your child to this epic, make sure they’re ready to handle the content. The goal is for them to enjoy it, not to be traumatized by the sight of an orc's oozing mouth.

The important thing here is to make the call that’s right for your whānau—because you know best how to balance epic adventures with a good night’s sleep.

Further reading:

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau? - Blog
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 - Content breakdown
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 - Content breakdown
• Watching Thelma the Unicorn with a five year old - Blog
• What’s the difference between a PG and an M-rated movie? And can your kids watch the new Wonka film? - Blog