A "Whip" of the Past: How "Rings of Power" Could Embrace a Controversial "Lord of the Rings" Song
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has captivated audiences with its expansive world-building, captivating visuals, and a powerful score courtesy of composer Bear McCreary. Season two has already seen McCreary dive into the series’ rich musical potential, weaving evocative orchestral pieces alongside unique song work. One particularly intriguing nod to the franchise’s past? McCreary’s desire to incorporate a controversial song from the 1980 Rankin Bass adaptation of The Return of the King into Rings of Power.
The song in question? "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way," a haunting ditty that plays during Sam and Frodo’s daring infiltration of Mordor. In the animated film, the song captures the Orcs’ forced servitude to Sauron, their plight depicted as one of unwanted combat and oppression. Sam and Frodo, mistakenly identified as deserters, are swept up in this marching army, highlighting the Orcs’ lack of individual agency and the brutal consequences of defiance.
McCreary himself has expressed a desire to work this song into Rings of Power. In a recent Instagram live chat, he stated, "I’m looking. I’m looking for the moment. It hasn’t happened yet, but I would love to make that happen." This desire to reintroduce "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" speaks volumes about McCreary’s dedication to capturing the complex thematic undertones of The Lord of the Rings.
The potential for this song to appear in Rings of Power is exciting for several reasons. Firstly, it harkens back to the show’s thematic exploration of Orcish agency. Rings of Power, unlike its predecessors, has begun deconstructing the traditional portrayal of Orcs as mindless, inherently evil creatures. Instead, the show offers glimpses of Orcish society, humanizing them as a people with their own motivations, ambitions, and even family structures.
The show’s central figure in this exploration is Adar, the first corrupted by Morgoth and now the leader of the Orcish people. Adar seeks to establish a homeland for his "children," a quest that is driven by both a sense of responsibility and a deep resentment towards Sauron’s dominion over his people. This complex character portrayal, combined with the glimpses of Orc family life in season two, challenges the established preconceptions of the Orcish race in Tolkien’s mythology.
"Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" resonates deeply with this thematic shift. The song itself speaks to the inherent frustration and despair felt by the Orcs under Sauron’s rule, highlighting their forced servitude and lack of autonomy. These themes would resonate powerfully within the context of Rings of Power, particularly as Adar’s quest for Orcish liberation unfolds.
The song’s potential integration into Rings of Power also carries a certain amount of controversy. While the Rankin Bass adaptation has its own devoted fanbase, "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" has also been criticized for its perceived oversimplification of the Orcs’ plight. Some feel the song trivializes the complexities of Orcish society and their internal conflicts, ultimately reducing them to a single note of forced servitude.
However, McCreary is known for his deft handling of complex themes. His score for Rings of Power has consistently demonstrated a nuanced approach to the soundtrack, weaving together orchestral grandeur and intimate folk melodies to create a powerful tapestry of sound. He could potentially utilize "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" in a way that both acknowledges the original context and infuses it with the complex themes explored in the show.
If McCreary does decide to incorporate the song, it could provide a powerful echo of the Orcs’ internal struggle for agency and freedom, mirroring Adar’s ambitions and the complexities of their society. The song could potentially be used in a scene highlighting their plight under Sauron’s dominion, the Orcs’ forced participation in his wars, or even a moment of reflection by Adar himself. The use of "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" would offer a potent reminder of the Orcs’ historical suffering and the echoes of such oppression within their present-day struggles.
Furthermore, incorporating this song from the Rankin Bass adaptation would be a clever wink to fans of the franchise, offering a nod to its adaptive history and acknowledging the evolution of both the story and the depictions of the Orcs themselves. It would show McCreary’s commitment to weaving together different aspects of The Lord of the Rings mythology, creating a vibrant and nuanced musical tapestry to accompany the show’s stunning visuals.
The potential inclusion of "Where There’s a Whip, There’s a Way" in Rings of Power adds another layer of complexity to the show’s already intricate narrative. It opens a conversation about the representation of Orcs in Tolkien’s world, questioning the established stereotypes and encouraging viewers to consider their perspectives with greater depth.
This clever move by McCreary, if executed effectively, has the potential to not only enhance the musical landscape of Rings of Power, but also breathe life into a controversial piece of the franchise’s adaptive history. It underscores the show’s willingness to explore nuanced themes and challenge traditional interpretations of Tolkien’s mythology, forging its own unique path within the beloved Lord of the Rings universe. All while adding a beautiful layer of complexity to the show’s already compelling narrative.
