Adrift – As the second episode of The Rings of Power begins, Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is still swimming in the water after escaping the boat. Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) stares at the stranger who appeared after the meteor crash. Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards) sneaks up behind her and frightens her. When Nori falls into the pit, she is surprised to find that it is not hot. She approaches the stranger (Daniel Weyman) before he scares her. The stranger uses some type of magic to extinguish the flames. Once he falls back down, the flames reignite. Poppy tells her that her mom is going to kill her, but Nori insists they can’t tell her. She also doesn’t want to leave the stranger because the wolves will get him. Nori pleads with Poppy to help her move the stranger. Sadoc Burrows (Lenny Henry) walks with Malva and suggests it was a star fall. Marigold (Sara Zwangobani) and Malva think they should break camp and move, but Sadoc isn’t sure they should yet.

After Sadoc sends them away, he hears something nearby. As Nori and Poppy push the man around, they talk about what type of creature he could be. Nori goes on to say they’ll give him some food and send him away in the morning. Poppy complains that Nori isn’t turning away from this. Poppy believes it’ll be their fault if people find out they helped a stranger and anything bad happens in the next three seasons. The stranger’s wheelbarrow begins rolling downhill so they have to run and stop him. After they finally get him to safety, Nori admits she is doing this because she feels like he is her responsibility. She believes this is different because the man could’ve landed anywhere and instead landed here. She feels like it is important and that she was supposed to find him. Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) and Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) continue walking towards the burning village.

He finds it odd that they don’t see any bodies or wounded villagers. They reach Ciaran’s home where he lived with his wife Hana. When Arondir finds a large hole in the ground, he says it was no ground-shake because someone dug this passage. Bronwyn doesn’t think it was men who dug the hole. Arondir wants her to go back and warn the others while he finds out what is down there. In Eregion, Elrond (Robert Aramayo) shows off Feanor’s hammer which was used to wrought the Silmarils. He is amazed that one object can create so much beauty and cause so much pain. Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) says true creation requires sacrifice. Morgoth supposedly found the Silmarils so beautiful. After he’d stolen them for weeks, he could do nothing but stare into their depths. The reverie was only broken when he saw his reflection. He never looked upon the light no more. Celebrimbor goes on to say Feanor’s work nearly turned the heart of the Great For himself. He wonders what his has ever accomplished.

Although Elrond says it turned his heart and the hearts of many elves, Celebrimbor aspires to do far more. He wants to fill the land with beauty. He wants to build a tower that can host a forge more powerful than any ever built so it can birth a flame as hot as a dragon’s tongue. The things they could use it to create would be capable of transforming Middle-Earth. He needs it completed by spring. They realize they’re going to need a workforce greater than any ever assembled, but the High King cannot provide one. He has sent Elrond instead. When Elrond asks if he has considered people outside their race, Celebrimbor asks how far outside. In Khazad-Dum which is the Realm of the Dwarves, Celebrimbor talks about forming an alliance with the dwarves. Elrond tells him that Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur) is an old and dear friend. Celebrimbor explains the dwarves sculpt the rock with the respect of one who cares for an aged parent so he wanted to see their work.

He asks if Elrond’s friend will be able to grant him access to their workshops. Elrond believes he’ll do more than that and welcome them with open arms. When they try to get inside, the dwarf at the gate tells them no. Elrond invokes the rite of Sigin-tarag. As the gate begins opening, he asks Celebrimbor to trust him. He asks him for a few days to work his craft. Prince Durin approaches him moments later. He tells the other dwarves that Elrond has invoked the Dwarven test of endurance. They will break the great stones until one of them can break no more. If Elrond forfeits, he will be banished from all Dwarven lands. The elf will be granted a single boon in the event that he wins. Elrond agrees to the rules as the competition begins.

As the other dwarves cheer him on, Durin breaks the first rock. Elrond breaks his too. Nori runs back to check on the stranger only to find that he is out. When she finds him, she scares him and causes him to send wind her way. He eventually stops after she reminds him that she helped him last night. They agree not to harm each other before she formally introduces herself to him. She suspects he doesn’t remember his name. She gives him something to eat. Malva yells for Largo (Dylan Smith) to help, but Sadoc tells her to leave him and help instead. He yells for Nori to get her to help so Poppy begins worrying. Nori tries to learn more about the stranger while Largo works back at the camp. After the rope snaps, Largo breaks his foot while the stranger draws something in the dirt for Nori. The stranger says mana and ure. She tells him that she can’t help because she is only a Harfoot. Poppy yells her name moments later and tells her about her father. She returns to the camp to check on her father.

After Nori admits she should’ve been there, Marigold asks her to get some supplies. Sadoc wants to know if he can migrate. Malva doesn’t think it’ll be possible. As Galadriel continues swimming, she hears something nearby. She finds a handful of people floating on wood. They begin helping her, but one of them argues that they shouldn’t. Galadriel tells them she was separated from her ship. She is asked if she saw the worm, but she knows nothing about it. They get mad at her when they learn she is an elf before they notice a ship in the distance. They’re instructed to wait until they see the sails because Corsairs prowl these waters. Then, they realize it is their ship. When it turns, they see it is actually the worm. As it begins attacking them, they blame Galadriel and push her back into the water. She tries to swim away quickly as the worm attacks the others. Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) survives and lets her on his raft.

Meanwhile, Durin and Elrond continue breaking rocks. Elrond eventually kneels and refuses to break another stone. When Durin tells him to leave, Elrond asks if he’d escort him to the exit. As they leave, they discuss how the city has changed as Elrond insists he must reveal his secret. Durin refuses. Elrond wonders if he has offended him somehow. Durin believes he only came here because he wants something. He complains that Elrond missed his wedding and the birth of his children. He has lived an entire life in 20 years and Elrond missed it. Elrond congratulates him on his wife and children and hopes he’ll be able to forgive him. He’d like to apologize to his family as well. Prince Durin tells him he can apologize to Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete) and be off. Elrond immediately asks for her forgiveness. Disa and Durin argue over whether Elrond can stay for dinner before Gerda and Gamli enter with Durins’ heads. During dinner, Elrond learns more about their relationship.

Disa tells him about resonating as well. Although Durin tells Elrond he should’ve been at the wedding, Disa thinks he should take joy in his friend being here now. Elrond notices that they’ve planted the sapling. Disa says he tends to it like it is their third child before learning it is a seedling of the Great Tree in Lindon. It is the very symbol of his people’s strength and vitality. Some called Durin a fool for believing it would grow in such darkness. Elrond thinks it could grow in their home because they have love. He believes he has overstayed his welcome so he begins leaving. Dugin tells him to sit back down and to tell him about the proposal. Galadriel notices that Halbrand has a strange necklace.

When he tells her she doesn’t need to keep her distance, she wonders what kind of man would so quickly abandon his companions to death. He says it is a man who knows how to survive. Halbrand doesn’t believe she was separated from her ship and suspects she might be a deserter instead. She claims duty demanded she return to Middle-Earth. Once he suggests it is elf business, she asks what elves ever did to him and if he blames them for him being stranded. He reveals it was orcs that chased him some his homeland. She knows something of the pain he carries so she grieves for him. She asks him about the necklace and where his kingdom would be found. Galadriel suggests they can reclaim it. Instead of resting in glory, she decided to seek out the enemy responsible for his suffering. Halbrand doesn’t think she can fix his suffering no matter how strong her will or pride is. Galadriel tells him why she can’t let it lie.

He tells her not to dress it up as heroism if she wants to murder orcs to settle a score. He eventually admits the enemy is in the Southlands. She wants to know whose banner they marched under and Halbrand to take her to their last-known location. He has his own plans. When it thunders in the distance, Galadriel warns him to prepare himself. Bronwyn runs back to her village to tell Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) what they found. He claims it is just gossip. He doesn’t want to invite the elves back because of a sinkhole. When Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) hears something under the floor, he curses the mice and bashes the wooden floor. He sees something else down there though. Arondir finds scratch marks and what looks like a fingernail or sorts on the wall of the tunnel. Then, he sees something in front of him and hears something behind him. He flees until he finds himself in water.

As he waits for something to come out of the water, he is grabbed from behind. Bronwyn runs home and finds a mess so she begins yelling for Theo. He comes out of hiding to tell her to go get help. She hides in a closet and watches the creature climb out of the hole. It hears Bronwyn and tries to attack her, but Theo stabs it in the back. Theo gets hurt as Bronwyn comes out and yells for him to run. Once they finally kill it, Bronwyn takes the head to the local pub so she can warn the others. She believes they should make for the Elven tower at first light. Halbrand and Galadriel struggle in the storm. She tries to help Halbrand until their raft gets struck by lightning. He looks around and doesn’t see Galadriel anywhere. She sinks further under the water. Halbrand dives into the water, uses her knife to free her, and brings her back to the surface. Late one night, Nori and Poppy check on the stranger. Nori tells him that the next migration is in a few days and everything is gone.

Nori wanted to help him. He turns around and makes Poppy drop her lantern as the fireflies are freed. He begins talking to them in a different language that Poppy and Nori can’t understand. Nori says they’re stars forming some kind of constellation. She believes the stranger wants them to help him find those stars. Nori has a pretty good idea of where she can find them. King Durin (Peter Mullan) wonders if it is a coincidence for an Elf to land on their doorstep. Prince Durin believes he’d know if Elrond was hiding something. He argues that they’re the ones holding the long end of the hammer. Prince Durin tells his father that he trusts him, but the King isn’t sure there can be trust between hammer and rock. They open a chest and look at whatever is inside. While preparing to leave, Theo notices that the sigil on the sword is flickering. As it begins burning, Bronwyn calls his name from outside.

They leave seconds later. Someone on a boat finds Halbrand and Galadriel.

 

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Review

The second episode of The Rings of Power was more enjoyable than the first although it still feels like there is a bit too much going on simultaneously. I’m not sold on all the characters yet, but many of them are good, especially Elrond, Nori, and the stranger. The story is moving forward at a much more enjoyable pace than House of the Dragon at this point. The show has a much different tone that makes it more cheerful even though it might be over-the-top joyful at times.

The scenes still look great. Most of the darker scenes are superbly polished even though a few were a bit too dark, but nothing like other shows that seem to be filmed in complete darkness. The soundtrack was hard to ignore in this episode. Even though it might be a little too loud, the soundtrack is well done and adds to the intensity in many scenes.

Truthfully, I think the episode was better for the characters it focused on more and those it focused on less because some of the performances could be much better. The Harfoots are fun. Elrond and Durin’s rock-crushing competition deserved more focus and a better conclusion since it was moot in the end. It is going to take a lot of effort for the show to transform Galadriel into the main protagonist and convince viewers to genuinely cheer for the character.

Thankfully, many of the other characters and stories can pick up the slack. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. While it isn’t a homerun just yet, Rings of Power is actually enjoyable compared to HOTD. I do understand and even agree with many of the lower reviews on some points so Amazon shouldn’t just erase those criticisms. Recaps of The Lord of the Ring: The Rings of Power can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our work at this link.