While fans of The Lord of the Rings movies are used to seeing Orcs amassed in large armies, those in The Rings of Power season 1 have yet to build back in those kinds of numbers. Instead, the outset of the Prime Video series depicts them as scattered scavengers, though they notably won't stay that way forever. Across The Rings of Power's five seasons, the show is expected to build to the fabled last alliance between Elves and Men, in which their joint forces wage war against Sauron and his Orcs of Mordor.

This image reveal is a big one for Lord of the Rings fans, particularly those who have been wary of The Rings of Power. The striking Orc designs were one of the most praised elements of Jackson's original trilogy, and while The Hobbit movies took some flak for leaning more heavily into a CGI aesthetic, these Orcs look to emulate the tactility of the 2000s films. Audiences will of course have to reserve judgment until The Rings of Power premieres on September 2, but these photos will likely make many people feel a bit more optimistic as they queue up episode 1.