Alloyed – As the finale of The Rings of Power begins, the stranger (Daniel Weyman) walks alone in the Greenwood. While looking at the apple, he remembers what Nori said to him about being good. He notices someone behind him before they run away. That person ends up taking the apple from him. He thinks it is Nori, but it turns out to be The Dweller. He finds himself surrounded as they say they’ve come to serve him and call him Lord Sauron. Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) takes Halbrand back to Numenor. Elrond (Robert Aramayo) mentions that High King Gil-galad will be there tomorrow. He will be expecting them to have the means to save them but they have none. Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) suggests there might be a way to do more with less. Elrond believes they’re out of time. He says they should inform the High King of their failure and the Elves should prepare to abandon these shores.

Galadriel arrives with Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) so Lord Celebrimbor can treat his wound. While they begin taking care of him, Galadriel and Elrond talk about their respective journeys. Elrond admits he shouldn’t have sent her on that ship and he won’t make the same mistake again. She explains she jumped from the ship because she believed she wasn’t worthy of it yet. Her task here wasn’t complete yet. When she surfaced, all she could do was swim. Galadriel didn’t cross the bitter ocean to drown now and she won’t let Elrond either. When Elrond asks what they should do, Galadriel says they can only swim. Halbrand approaches Celebrimbor and asks about his workshop. They discuss Celebrimbor’s work and the gemstones on the table nearby. Once Halbrand asks about the mithril, Celebrimbor admits it isn’t enough. Halbrand suggests combining it with other ores to better stretch it out.

Celebrimbor explains that wouldn’t work because it would dilute its unique qualities. Halbrand asks if the right alloy could amplify those qualities. He goes on to tell him how nickel can be added to iron to make a blade lighter and stronger. Lord Celebrimbor says that it is an intriguing suggestion. Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) talks about the impending death of the King. Earien (Ema Horvath) is there to propose a design to honor him. During her hour with the King, she wipes droll from his mouth. He grabs her arm and tells her he knows what she has been doing in the dark of the night. He believes he is talking to Miriel so he begins warning her. He insists their island will fall if the old ways of their people are not restored soon. She goes for help and returns to find the King gone from his bed. He opens the door for her and tells her to go up but not to look too long. She goes up and finds the orb before High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker) learns about the mithril.

They discuss creating a circular crown to create a power that is unbounded. They would place all that power onto the High King’s brow. Elrond asks for time to gather the smiths and test Celebrimbor’s theory. The High King warns them that they’re running out of time now that the Great Tree is bleeding leaves. The last will fall soon. Unless their people leave these shores, they will fall too. If this was to be their salvation, Gil-galad believes they needed it sooner. Celebrimbor almost had it sooner, but only got it when he talked to the Southlander. He says they’re on the verge of creating a new power that is not of the flesh, but over the flesh. The comment catches Galadriel’s attention. He goes on to say this is a power of the Unseen World. The High King orders him to disband the city and return to Lindon immediately. Once they’re alone, Galadriel asks Celebrimbor about the words he used. She asks if Halbrand was with him. Celebrimbor doesn’t know that it matters since it is over.

Elrond approaches the High King to ask for three months because he is owed that much. Once the High King says he is owed nothing, Elrond asks him to do it because he asked. They briefly talk about hope before getting to work on the mithril. Galadriel keeps a close eye on Halbrand. She tasks a man with searching the catacombs to see what he can find out about Halbrand. She runs into him moments later as he admits he can’t believe someone like him is actually here. He thanks her for saving his life so she reminds him that he saved hers. Halbrand says he had nearly given up, but she pushed him to new heights no one else could have. He will never forget that and will see to it that no one else does either. The Stranger is told not to be afraid since the veil will weaken as his powers awaken. When he shows them the stars, he is told it is called the Hermit’s Hat. The pattern is visible in one place far to the east where the stars are strange.

It is the lands of Rhun. They begin talking about his power before calling him Lord Sauron. They knock him out and say he will learn to control his powers in time. Nori (Markella Kavenagh), Sadoc (Lenny Henry), and the others hide nearby as they prepare to bind the stranger. Marigold distracts two of them while Nori and Sadoc attempt to free the stranger. When they return, Sadoc gets stabbed and Nori gets knocked to the ground. The stranger is actually The Dweller. They prepare to kill Nori until the stranger stops them. The Dweller overpowers him though. They end up throwing rocks at the Dweller to distract her. She begins shooting fire at them. Nori gives the staff to the stranger and tells him that they need him. He tells her to get away or he’ll hurt her again now that they showed him what he is. Nori tells him otherwise because she is convinced he is here to help. Sadoc, Poppy, and Marigold are cornered. The stranger stops them and attempts to send them back.

They realize that he is not Sauron before he deals with them. Sadoc believes he is about to go wandering off trail where the missus will be waiting. They sit and watch the sun come up. Valandil (Alex Tarrant) and the others ride back to Numenor. Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen) checks on Queen Regent Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) below deck. She understands if he wants to take a leave of duty upon their return considering his loss. Elendil admits he could’ve left Galadriel in the sea and could’ve refused to follow her to Middle-Earth. He could’ve stopped his son from doing so too. He made these choices because Elendil doesn’t merely mean “one who loves the stars”. He never imagined it would lead here. Her father once told her that the way of the Faithful is committing to pay the price even when the cost is not known. Elendil says the cost is sometimes dear, but they have little choice but to keep serving.

He will make sure they make the end worth the price. They hear that Numenor is in sight. As they reach the deck, the Captain sees several ships with black flags. Lord Celebrimbor creates an explosion because the mithril is proud. It refuses to be bonded to lesser ores. Elrond believes tapping into the powers of the Seen and Unseen world seem to seems to soften the boundaries between the two. As they continue arguing, Galadriel suggests taking a break since they might’ve pushed themselves too hard. That makes Halbrand believe they’ve been using too much force. Celebrimbor says the metals should be coaxed together instead of forced. Halbrand catches up with Galadriel outside to say they found out it and it was too much power for one object. They’re making two, but it’ll need to be something smaller than crowns. She refuses to go with him until he tells her who he really is.

Galadriel throws down a scroll before saying there is no King of the Southlands. The last man to bear his crest died over a thousand years ago. He had no heir. Halbrand says he told her he found it on a dead man. They talk about who saved who and how Halbrand fought beside her. He admits he has been awake since before the breaking of the first silence. In that time, he had many names. Galadriel tries to stab him only to be stopped and dropped into her past. When her brother shows up, she asks him to get out of her mind. They talk about his old dagger and how she has fought bravely to complete the task he could not. His task was to ensure peace, but he learned it was Sauron’s task as well. Galadriel claims he died with countless others because of him. She is told he was seeking a power to heal Middle-Earth.

Her brother says she doesn’t need to lie to the Elves and should just let their work proceed. He whispers to her to touch the darkness once more. Galadriel says her brother is dead because of him. They end up on the raft as Halbrand reminds her that she knows who he is. He says it was like a clenched fist released its grasp when Morgoth was defeated. He knew he had to heal everything that he helped ruin if he was ever going to be forgiven. He reminds her that he said he did evil and she didn’t care. She knew their past meant nothing weighed against their future. He says the others look at her with doubt. He alone can see her greatness and light. Galadriel says he would make her a tyrant, but he says he would make her a queen. She calls him the dark lord. He doesn’t think he’d be dark with her by his side. He claims they were brought together for a purpose. She can bind him to the light and he can bind her to the power.

They can save Middle-Earth together. Galadriel believes he means ruling it, but Halbrand doesn’t see a difference. Galadriel admits that is why she’ll never be at his side. He claims she has no choice because her people would fade without him and the shadow will spread. They scream at one another before Galadriel ends up in the water. When she returns to reality, she goes after Elrond who has to calm her down. Once she confirms it is his, she learns that Celebrimbor is in his workshop. He chases after her once she runs off. Once Celebrimbor learns about her being pulled from the water, Elrond asks her where Halbrand went. She tells them to stay away from Halbrand and that they shouldn’t proceed. She wants to make three because one will always corrupt and the other two can divide. Galadriel goes on to say the power they forge today must be for the Elves alone.

Celebrimbor says he will need gold and silver of the most exquisite quality. The Stranger tells Nori he will need to go to Rhun to uncover the rest of his memory. She says they also called him Istar. In her tongue, that means wise one or wizard. He explains to her why he isn’t going with them. Malva and Poppy try to find out where the Harfoots should travel next. When Malva wishes Sadoc was still with them, she is told he is. Largo tells Nori to go on since she is part of something bigger now. Poppy struggles to say goodbye to Nori just before she leaves. After Nori says goodbye to the others, Poppy catches up with her again for a real goodbye. The stranger tells her to always follow her nose when in doubt. Galadriel gives up her dagger to create the rings. Elrond finds the scroll in the water while they work on the rings inside. He goes back inside just in time to see the finished rings.

 

The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power Review

The Rings of Power had some promising episodes as well as jaw-dropped graphics that helped set it apart from its HBO rival. The series also had big shoes to fill considering the legacy laid in front of it. At times, the pacing felt uneven and the show was possibly even unsuitable for those who haven’t kept up with the story prior to Amazon’s entry.

Personally, I feel like many of the scenes and revelations would’ve been more impactful had I revisited the story recently. As a non-hardcore fan, I am not always familiar with the characters or the dialogue that was transplanted from the previous works, and that might’ve left a big emotional void. Although it could just be me, the series may not be great for newcomers who aren’t familiar with each piece of the story.

The finale did have some high points including the relationship development going on between Nori and the stranger. Nori’s conversation with him and her goodbyes were the most emotionally effective scenes of the finale so it is good that they’ll be together for future episodes. Watching the rings come together was fun even though it might’ve happened too easily.

Only a few characters stand out from the first season including Elrond, Nori, and the stranger. I’d even have to side with Halbrand more than Galadriel who is the least enjoyable of the bunch. For the amount of money Amazon threw at The Rings of Power, it felt pretty bland and lackluster, but that could be caused by an inadequate understanding of the lore and source material.

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