Middle-earth fans, take note: In a somewhat unexpected move, Amazon has made the entire first season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV show available to watch for free.
The catch? It’s only available on Samsung TV Plus, the ad-supported streaming service that works only on Samsung devices – TVs and Galaxy smartphones.
This limited-time offer, running until August 28, allows viewers to watch the high-budget fantasy series without a Prime Video subscription, just in time to catch up ahead of the upcoming second season of the show (with a few caveats – see below).
The Rings of Power is set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings.
The series depicts the forging of the Rings of Power and the rise of Sauron, featuring a large ensemble cast portraying elves, dwarves, humans, and other beings from Tolkien’s mythology.
It’s one of the most expensive television productions to date, with a reported budget of around £465 million for the first season.
Critics have praised the show’s visual effects and production design, while some have debated its adherence to Tolkien’s lore. Season 1 currently has an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score, but an audience score of only 38%.
Now, UK viewers can judge for themselves without paying anything – at least for the first season, and as long as they have a Samsung device.
The timing of this free release is not a coincidence, of course, coming just before the second season’s premiere on August 29, 2024.
Season 2 of The Rings of Power is set to feature significant events from Tolkien’s Second Age, including the Siege of Eregion.
The new season will explore Sauron’s plans and the creation of the Rings of Power more deeply, promising to explore more of Middle-earth’s diverse cultures and landscapes.
The initial three episodes will launch on August 29, followed by weekly releases until October 3.
While we have seen single episodes of high-profile shows get released for free as a promotion in the past (House of the Dragon comes to mind), releasing a full season is somewhat unusual – and it’s not even on Amazon’s own ad-support service, Freevee.
Of course, the second season will require a Prime Video subscription (though you can also get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime).
What Is Samsung TV Plus?
Samsung TV Plus is Samsung’s free ad-supported streaming video service.
Free, ad-supported streaming services (“FAST”) such as Pluto TV and Tubi are becoming quite popular these days – and Samsung’s TV Plus is another such service.
TV Plus offers over 100 live TV channels, thousands of movies, and exclusive shows on demand to millions of Samsung Smart TVs and Galaxy smartphones.
The service is accessible on all Samsung devices, including Smart TVs (2016 and newer), and can be downloaded on Galaxy smartphones and tablets with Android 8.0 or higher.
The service requires no login, subscription, additional device, or credit card.
Accessing Samsung TV Plus is pretty straightforward: For Samsung Smart TVs, simply turn on your TV, navigate to the Samsung TV Plus app using your remote, and start watching.
You can toggle between the ‘Live’ and ‘Discover’ functions to watch live channels or on-demand episodes.
For Samsung Galaxy mobile devices, the Samsung TV Plus app is available for download from the Galaxy Store or Google Play app store.
The Small Print
While the free Ring Of Power offer provides an opportunity to watch the series without cost, viewers should be aware of a few caveats:
- The free access is temporary, ending on August 28 – so you better start bingeing.
- Access is limited to Samsung devices.
- As a free service, Samsung TV Plus includes adverts (but so does Prime Video these days – unless you pay extra).
- If you get hooked, don’t count on the second season ever becoming free as well (though that’s always a possibility)
Salek Brodsky, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Samsung TV Plus, said: “Nearly 300 million Samsung TV and Galaxy owners will have the opportunity to discover or catch-up on this hit series, while continuing to enjoy free access to one of the world’s largest offerings of live TV channels and popular titles on-demand.”