It's said to be the most expensive television show ever made and now initial reviews have begun to trickle in for Amazon's Lord of the Rings prequel series The Rings of Power.
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Critics were invited to an early screening of the first two episodes of the one-billion-dollar series in New York City on Tuesday night - while Australian fans were left furious that local preview tickets instantly sold out.
Carly Lane-Perry, Senior Editor at Collider, gave the first two episodes a flowing review, saying she "can't wait for more" after the preview screening.
"The Rings of Power is definitely a promising return to Middle-earth based on the first episodes. Stunning visuals, compelling characters, and a magnetic lead in Morfydd Clark's Galadriel," she wrote on Twitter.
New York Post reporter said she was initially "sceptical" about the series but was "very pleasantly surprised".
"It is actually good! Very good! Visuals & tone are just right. In my opinion, a great addition to the Tolkien world," she wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, CinemaBlend editor Sean O'Connell said the first two episodes were "pretty great".
"Interesting new characters. Unusual locations. The looming threat of Sauron and some spectacular visual imagery. I devoured the episodes, and am excited to watch more," he wrote.
Australian Premiere Tickets Disappear
Free preview screenings for the first two episodes of The Rings of Power will be held at select Event and Village cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide at 7pm on August 31.
Australian Tolkein fans stayed up until 2am on Wednesday in order to nab tickets online but were dismayed when they instantly sold out.
"Tickets for Sydney and Bondi were both already sold out at 1:59am," one fan wrote on Twitter.
"As soon as the page loaded they were gone," another fan shared.
Meanwhile, a Reddit user claimed Event Cinemas emailed tickets to a chosen few Cinebuzz members.
Australian Community Media has contacted Event Cinemas for comment.
Since preview tickets are listed as "sold out", the rest of us will have to wait until The Rings of Power begins streaming on Amazon Prime Video on September 2.
Shivé Prema
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
