Elven Kings Under the Sky – As series two of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power begins, Sauron (Jack Lowden) speaks to his people and explains he will be their new master. In Forodwaith, Sauron says he begins a new vision with a new age. He seeks power of the unseen world that they will use to enslave the people of Middle-earth. Out of the chaos, they will forge a new, perfect order. Sauron warns them to doubt him at their perils. They have nowhere else to turn since the Valar will never forgive them. One orc attempts to kill Sauron who quickly kills it. The orcs all hail Sauron as the new dark lord before he takes the crown. Adar (Sam Hazeldine) stabs him with it before a fight breaks out. Sauron is stabbed repeatedly.

Adar yells at the orcs and they stop. He nudges Sauron who unleashes his power and changes the world. The orcs hail Adar who tells them they’re free. Sauron’s blood drips into the chamber below. Sauron’s remains make it outside and kill a woman with a wagon. Sauron (Charlie Vickers) turns into a human. Diarmid (Nicholas Woodeson) warns him he’s walking towards death. Sauron says that’s his path. Diarmid tells him there’s another life waiting. He just has to turn towards it. Sauron asks him about his heraldry. Diarmid explains it’s a symbol of kings long dead. He wears it to remind himself that fortune can turn even for the most powerful. After, it can usually lead them someplace better. Diarmid invites Sauron to join them or keep chasing death. On a ship, Diarmid notices that Sauron is having nightmares again. Sauron says he’s done evil.

Diarmid says they’ve all done things they would prefer not to admit. He thinks Sauron is alive because he’s chosen good. He just has to keep choosing it every day. Sauron tells him to grab ahold of something before water begins flooding into the ship. Instead of saving Diarmid, Sauron takes his heraldry. After nearly being eaten by a large monster, Sauron swims to the surface. Before long, Sauron and the men he’s with hear Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) yelling for help. After the intro, Galadriel chases Elrond (Robert Aramayo) and tries to retrieve what he’s taken. She finds herself surrounded by Mirthless Guards. She’s taken to the High King Gil-Galad (Benjamin Walker) who is with Elrond. Galadriel says Elrond carries three rings that can halt the fading and save their people. Gil-Galad wants to know about her companion, Halbrand.

She admits Halbrand wasn’t who she thought. She’s why she did what she did. Galadriel says he’s only been pretending to be a man. She reveals that Halbrand is Sauron. Galadriel insists she was deceived. Elrond argues she was blinded by her own pride. They continue arguing until Gil-Galad tells them to be silent. If they leave now, the people of Middle-earth will be left to suffer under the tyranny of a new Dark Lord. Those rings may be the last hope for all of Middle-earth. Gil-Galad insists it’s a risk they must take. He demands the rings. Elrond says Sauron has not amassed that degree of power and he may use the rings to attain it. He thinks the rings should be destroyed. Elrond says he cannot. He leaps into the water. Gil-Galad tells his men to find him. In Mordor, Halbrand is moved with other prisoners.

Waldreg (Geoff Morrell) tells them that they’ll need to work hard. They’re forced to swear allegiance to Adar or die. Glug tells Adar that the King of the Southlands turned himself in. Halbrand asks Adar to let his people go or his people will die. He tells Adar that Galadriel has sought a new ally since her defeat. It’s an ancient sorcerer who instructs the Elves in forging a new weapon. A power that will allow him to use his children as slaves in his army once more. Halbrand offers to tell him where he can be found if he sets his people free. Adar refuses and demands to know everything Halbrand thinks he knows of the sorcerer. Halbrand says he can’t kill him because he’ll take his secrets with him. Adar tells him he’ll beg for him to kill him in time. Adar tells Glug that Sauron could never return because he’s dead. The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) walks alone. He finds what appears to be a staff that causes him to remember something.

Nori Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh) tells him he’s got that look in his eye. She suspects he had that dream again last night. He blames the heat as someone watches them. Nori believes they’re going in circles. Nori tries to convince him to get the tree to bear some fruit. He tries it only to be knocked to the ground. Nori says he did it and they can eat for days. Later, the stranger is upset because he lost control. He tells her about the branch he sees under the stars. Nori admits she misses home. The stranger soon realizes they’re being followed. Waldreg tries to get Halbrand to tell him about Sauron. Halbrand warns him he’ll kill him when he’s released. Later, Halbrand seems to possess a wolf. In Lindon, Elrond hides from the guards. He speaks to Cirdan (Ben Daniels) later.

Cirdan asks what he has with him. Gil-Galad wants a letter to be delivered directly to Lord Celebrimbor. He must be informed that Halbrand is Sauron. Gil-Galad tells Galadriel that they are only momentarily aligned for one reason. Her actions have left them with no alternative. She swears she will not stop until he is destroyed. The guards still have not been able to find Elrond and the rings. Galadriel tells Gil-Galad that Elrond spoke of destroying the rings. She says Elrond will seek out someone he can trust and someone who can turn the tides his way. Elrond tells Cirdan he can examine the rings. If what Elrond told him is true, the three rings were made without Sauron’s touch. Elrond says the enemy is cunning so the rings could be a ploy on his part. He wants Cirdan to destroy the rings. Cirdan argues that would be the end of the Age of the Elves.

They would be abandoning Middle-earth to its fate. Cirdan tells him about a battle in which the weapons were the very bones of the continents. Cirdan mentions tossing them into the sea before they hear horses outside. Galadriel asks Gil-Galad a chance to speak to Elrond and try to reason with her friend. He tells her to reason quickly. She goes inside to speak to Elrond. She argues they picked this path together although Elrond says she chose it for him. In her heart, she knows the three rings are free of his influence. Elrond asks if she is. Galadriel did what she felt was right. She asks about Cirdan. Elrond says he did what he had to. Cirdan rides out on a ship. The Stranger waits for whoever is following him and Nori. They soon find out that it’s just Poppy Proudfellow (Megan Richards). The stranger admits they appear to be lost.

Poppy shows them what she found in Sadoc’s book about not forgetting the words of a song. Otherwise, they’ll go in circles. They use the song to continue their journey. They make it to the lands of Rhun. Poppy asks the stranger why he’s looking it at like he’s been there before. He says only in dreams. They’re watched as they continue walking. Cidran looks at the rings. Adar tells Halbrand he was in his place once. 13 of them were chosen to be blessed by Morgoth’s hand with the promise of power and a new birth. He was chained and left until he finally saw his servant’s face. Sauron’s face was beautiful. Sauron offered him wine on that dark nameless peak. Adar says his people have been set free. Halbrand tells him that Sauron has returned in a new form. He claims he has the truth of the Elves. If Halbrand is released, he claims he’ll go to the Elves and seek him out so Adar can kill him.

Halbrand vows allegiance to Adar. He vows to serve the Lord of Modor until the end of his days. Adar tells an orc to follow Halbrand every step of the way. Waldreg is attacked by the wolf. Elrond, Galadriel, and others watch the leaves fall from the tree. Gil-Galad tells them they must return to their home or diminish forever. Cirdan approaches and tells the High King that perfection does not exist only in Valinor. He shows him the ring and says Celebrimbor has brought it to Middle-earth. Elrond yells no causing the High King to drop two of the rings. Galadriel picks one up. Elrond tells her no. She puts it on. The High King puts on another. New leaves begin sprouting from the tree. Elrond leaves. Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) tells Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) that the new forge is remarkable.

He learns that a message has just arrived from the Southlands. He wants to negotiate. Celebrimbor sees Halbrand outside.

 

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Review

The first ten minutes or so of this episode were very captivating with Jack Lowden superbly portraying Forodwaith Sauron. It felt like the series was going to turn a corner and become dark and gritty. Then, it jumped back to the current timeline and returned to the same boring characters and stories. The series looks amazing as usual, but that doesn’t make up for an emotionless story with characters that feel more like shells.

The first ten minutes showed what the series could’ve been with the right cast, a stronger story, and more grittiness. It’s watchable although not nearly as good as it could’ve been. The pacing is tedious considering all the jumping back and forth. Some of the cast members just don’t sit right in their respective roles while others are much stronger.

It’s really all style and no substance. Although the style is undoubtedly beautiful, it can’t elicit emotions on its own. It probably wasn’t a good idea to show a superior side of the show in the opener before going back to what didn’t work previously. The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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