As a devoted fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s enchanting Middle-earth since my formative years, I must admit that the latest episode of The Rings of Power has left me both captivated and intrigued. The unexpected arrival of Poppy in the arid lands of Rhûn, a region shrouded in mystery even for seasoned Tolkien enthusiasts like myself, is an exciting twist that promises to unveil new layers of this magical world.
Greetings to all inhabitants of Middle-earth: Welcome back as we embark on a new chapter! It’s been approximately two years since the conclusion of the first season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which ended with the explosion of Mount Doom and other momentous occurrences, so it’s understandable if you feel a bit lost as we dive into this second season. Fortunately, the show creators J.D. Payne, Patrick McKay, and writer Gennifer Hutchison have thoughtfully guided us back into the world of the series by concentrating on a select group of characters in the premiere episode, setting the stage for the conflicts ahead. Granted, by the end of the episode, the plot twists start to pile up, but that’s just part of the adventure! It wouldn’t be J.R.R. Tolkien (or a series inspired by him) if we didn’t have numerous enchanted artifacts, characters with names separated by hyphens, peculiar locations on the map, and melodies sung in made-up languages to keep track of!
In this fresh installment, we don’t jump right into the continuation of last season’s cliffhanger, instead choosing to delve into untold tales from our first journey. These moments were kept hidden back then to avoid ruining the surprise. After a concise summary of crucial events from our inaugural season, we find ourselves witnessing Sauron’s initial power grab following Morgoth’s downfall. Needless to say, it doesn’t go smoothly! He presents a vision of a novel form of authority, not physical but over the physical realm, promising enslavement for Middle-earth and a flawless new order. Yet, his proposal is met with skepticism, perhaps because he casually mentions “many orcs will die.” Ah, Sauron, always underestimating the wisdom of your potential followers!
Although Sauron successfully thwarts an assassination attempt, his triumph is brief. Instead of crowning him as the new Dark Lord, Adar chooses to betray him by plunging a deadly weapon, disguised as a crown, into him. This action initiates a tumultuous chain of events, culminating in Sauron’s gruesome demise and the release of an overwhelming ice blast. With Sauron seemingly deceased, Adar seizes the opportunity to claim the throne, an act that is met with jubilation from those he has just liberated.
Despite seemingly meeting his end, Sauron manages to rise again in unexpected ways. Initially, he transforms into a sludge that feeds on rats and insects. Later, he slides down a snowy mountain and hops onto a passing cart, causing the driver’s death. In this new form, he reappears as the familiar Sauron, with his malevolent nature still intact but also displaying a charming and sometimes disarmingly compassionate side. Known by various names, including Halbrand, this character was the one Galadriel encountered at the start of the first season when he had taken on that identity.
Sauron forms an alliance with a refugee escaping turmoil in the Southlands, who bears the emblem of the region’s former ruler. This encounter proves crucial when Sauron and his new companion are stranded at sea, leading to their arrival in Galadriel’s presence. However, before this happens, the refugee shares some wisdom about morality with Sauron. He advises that Sauron has chosen life because of good choices, but must continue making those choices daily. Unfortunately, Sauron will not embrace this way of living. Instead, he sees power in Galadriel and seeks it without any intention of consistently choosing the good path, as portrayed after the title sequence. We then resume where we last left off in the narrative.
In the midst of many events unfolding, Galadriel pursues Elrond on horseback, aiming to recover the three magical rings created by Celebrimbor, an Elven blacksmith, earlier. Although she hasn’t openly revealed her suspicions, given Halbrand is likely Sauron, there’s good reason for her skepticism. The chase leads them both to Gil-Galad, the High King of elves, who is intrigued by the rumors about Halbrand’s true identity. When the truth surfaces, an argument ensues between Elrond and Galadriel. As the tension escalates, they question whether Sauron has tainted the rings or if their power stems from pure Elven virtue. To avoid accusations, Elrond, reminiscent of Harrison Ford in “The Fugitive,” leaps off a waterfall while holding the rings.
Simultaneously, in Mordor, Mount Doom persists in its destructive nature, while Adar works on strengthening his grip over the area and the enslaved humans. Among these are Sauron, although Adar is unaware of him, viewing only a feeble man who claims to be the King of the Southlands. However, when Sauron mentions “power over flesh” during a conversation about Galadriel forging a potentially dangerous alliance with an old sorcerer, it catches Adar’s attention. Clearly, there are more intriguing details to this narrative.
As Adar puzzles things out, the Mysterious Figure experiences a dream where he grips a staff, followed by peculiar spectacles. Though many theories point to this character being Gandalf, it hasn’t been conclusively confirmed yet, so we’ll keep calling him the Mysterious Figure. Nori wishes to assist her fellow traveler, joining him on his quest for the stars he appears destined to attain, but she can’t offer much more than comforting words. They’re clearly lost. “Fear is the meal of fools, Nori,” the Mysterious Figure advises. However, Nori has other plans, urging him to use his magical abilities (though they might be unreliable) to produce some sustenance. He manages to do so, though Nori seems to prefer eating bugs over her companion. Yet, a more immediate threat looms: masked figures resembling death seem to trail our heroes ominously. Perhaps they’re allies? (They likely aren’t.)
Despite the looming threat that hangs over us all, it seems that the Stranger and Nori find themselves in a more favorable position compared to Sauron, at least temporarily. He’s trapped, barely escaping the jaws of a ravenous warg, and is constantly ridiculed by Waldreg, the Southlander who has chosen to collaborate with Adar. History shows that such alliances rarely bring prosperity in the long run.
In a far sunnier corner of Middle-earth, Elrond decides to take refuge with Círdan (new addition Ben Daniels), a revered shipwright and, by all appearances, wise and reliable (and bearded) elf elder. He also instantly discerns that Elrond has in his possession something “louder than the sea.” To those alert to them, the rings announce their presence wherever they go. Elrond’s counting on Círdan’s wisdom to bring the ring problem to an end by destroying them. Though Círdan cautions this will mean the end of “the age of the elves,” Elrond sees no other course, and Círdan agrees to do the disposing of them himself by taking them out to sea. But even as incorruptible as Círdan seems, he can’t resist the call of the rings after they “accidentally” spill out mid-journey.
During this sequence, Galadriel and Gil-Galad concur that Celebrimbor needs to be alerted urgently, and they decide to forge a temporary alliance based on their common goal of defeating Sauron and recovering the rings. However, events don’t quite unfold as planned. As Gil-Galad announces the elves’ departure from Middle-earth, Círdan appears with three rings – two in his hand and one worn on his finger. Elrond watches with evident worry as Galadriel and Gil-Galad put these rings onto their own fingers. The act causes Middle-earth to react with clear skies and an indescribable sense of tranquility that surrounds the elves, giving them the feeling they have made the right decision in wearing the rings (except for Elrond who departs with a disapproving look). Galadriel, Gil-Galad, and Círdan then form a trio of ring-wearers. There may be more rings to come: As Celebrimbor marvels at his new forge, a messenger from the Southlands arrives. Celebrimbor might not realize it, but this is far from good news.
In the barren wilderness, the Stranger and Nori have noticed they’re being pursued and decide to set up an ambush and potentially eliminate their pursuer. However, there’s a twist: It turns out to be Poppy! Overjoyed at seeing her friend, Nori is filled with delight, and even the Stranger is pleased by her arrival for two reasons: (1) She has provisions, and (2) she informs them that indeed they’ve been going in circles but a Harfoot “walking song” might guide them correctly. It does, leading them to the land of Rhûn, a region we know little about because it hasn’t appeared before in either “The Rings of Power” or Peter Jackson’s movies, and Tolkien didn’t elaborate on it much. So, they have no idea what lies ahead for their group within its boundaries?
The themes of Rhûn are echoed throughout “The Rings of Power”, a series that fills in the vague historical outlines Tolkien left behind. It’s a delicate task to maintain the original vision while providing necessary details, and this first episode serves as a preliminary sketch for the season ahead. The action sequences indicate a more dynamic season compared to the previous one, but it soon settles into familiar patterns. Some viewers might find this repetition disappointing, yet the series remains engaging as a season opener. It’s uncertain where these storylines will lead, and the tension between Elrond and other elves sets the stage for moral complexity that feels authentic to Tolkien’s world. The show continues to look stunning and the cast effectively conveys human-like emotions, even though the characters aren’t strictly human. Let’s move on to Rhûn and beyond.
Mithril Links
The significant transformation among the seasons occurred backstage. If you’ve noticed Middle-earth appearing slightly less like New Zealand and a hint of Great Britain (alongside the Canary Islands), it’s due to the filming moving to the country where J.R.R. Tolkien was born.
What modest advancements had Nori and the Mysterious Figure achieved prior to Poppy’s arrival, considering their apparent slow pace? After all, take a look at their legs – they don’t seem particularly swift.
1. Which individuals are trailing The Stranger and Nori, and does the mark on their horses seem strangely reminiscent? It’s still unclear who they are. Additionally, what should we make of The Stranger’s recollections from dreams that he had previously been to Rhûn?
• So, where are all the other characters? We at least know for sure, based on the preview at the end of this episode, that the dwarves will be showing up soon.
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2024-08-29 16:54