Where Is He? – As this episode of Rings of Power begins, Arondir (Ismael Cruz Cordova) runs through the woods. He stops and hears two orcs talking about being called deserters. One orc says anything is better than dying to help Adar chase a ghost. Arondir is attacked from behind. He kills one orc. Then, he kills the others. Arondir finds what appears to be a map on one of the orcs. Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) can’t understand why he keeps failing to make rings for men. He wants to try again, but Mirdania (Amelia Kenworthy) says there is no more mithril. The dwarves have been late with their delivery. Mirdania believes he seems especially ill-tempered lately. Lord Celebrimbor seems to have forgotten her name. Annatar (Charlie Vickers) tells everyone to take a break.

Once they’re alone, Lord Celebrimbor remembers the girl’s name. He believes his mind is going. Annatar tells him that he’s the Lord of Eregion and his people demand an audience with him. Celebrimbor wants to focus solely on the rings. He asks Annatar to talk to the dwarves about the mithril. Annatar goes outside and tells the people that Celebrimbor has asked him to handle all matters of administration in his place. He’s told that the gatehouse is typically athrum with artisans and merchants. It strangely halted recently. Commander Malendol says they sent a search party across the river but only one soldier returned. The soldier has a message carved into his chest. Annatar tells them to bury the man and show this to no one. He asks Mirdania not to tell Lord Celebrimbor. Annatar reminds her that Celebrimbor is not himself.

They must pray that he finishes the work before it finishes him. She asks what the carving said. Annatar reveals it said, “Where is he?” Adar (Sam Hazeldine) talks to Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) about her desire to find Sauron. She says Adar yielded to him while she resisted. Adar says he sees you and who you want to be soon or later. He even makes you believe his power has become yours. Galadriel explains Sauron offered her an army. Adar says he offered her children. They need to extinguish Sauron and Adar believes he can help her destroy him. Adar shows her Morgoth’s crown. He was there when Sauron re-fired it to fit him. Adar used its power to slay him. Adar believes Sauron returned because he had not yet found her. It is said that the Three Elven Rings saved her kind from fading. Adar suggests the rings and the crown will be enough to truly destroy Sauron. He knows Sauron is hiding in Eregion. Adar says Halbrand is Sauron.

He believes the fate of the city relies on Galadriel’s ability to put aside her pride. Adar cuffs her and says they will speak again. Captain Elendil (Lloyd Owen) is brought in front of Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) who accuses him of high treason. Elendil is warned a sentence of death is warranted. He’s set free because of his many years of service. However, Elendil will need to renounce his crimes and pledge his loyalty to the true ruler of Numenor. Elendil renounces his crimes, but he does not accept Pharazon as the true king. He yells that Miriel is the true ruler. Elendil is taken away by guards. Pharazon tells Kemen (Leon Wadham) he’s done enough. Lord Belzagar suggests letting the Valar decide Elendil’s fate. The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) tells Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) that he saw something. Tom explains the secret fire whispers to them if they have ears to hear it.

The Stranger needs to learn how to use it to fight darkness. Tom warns him there won’t be another trial if he fails. He asks the stranger to follow him so he can show him what he needs to do. Nori (Markella Kavenagh) talks to Gundabale (Tanya Moodie) about going away. Harfoots find a new place to live every month. Gundabale doesn’t want to leave the smial her folks dug for her. She explains why she doesn’t want to leave. Nori suggests it’s her job to get her out of this problem since she caused it. Poppy (Megan Richards) talks to Merimac (Gavi Singh Chera) about being called nobody. They end up holding hands and kissing. Poppy and Nori talk about fighting. Tom tells the Stranger it’s time for him to find his staff. The Stranger is worried about finding Nori and Poppy because they’ll die soon otherwise. Tom tells him he can’t come back. He has to choose his path. Tom tells him to pick between his friend and his destiny before disappearing.

King Durin (Peter Mullan) looks at the gold the dwarves have mined. Annatar is there to see Prince Durin (Owain Arthur). He tells the King and Prince that Eregion is under threat of invasion. They need mithril to complete the remaining Rings of Power. Annatar suggests they can supply timber or something else. King Durin tells his son he has already decided. He tells Annatar no. Once they’re alone, King Durin tells Prince Durin that they’ll be back. A war is coming to Middle Earth. Those with weapons and armor of mithril are all but invincible. The King wants Narvi to double his work teams so they can expand the dig. Prince Durin tells him to take off the ring because he belongs to it. King Durin tells his son he has nothing to prove to him. The Prince tries to remove the ring only to be knocked to the ground. Later, Disa (Sophia Nomvete) tells Durin the King has left them no choice and they must do something.

Prince Durin is worried his dad will turn the army on them. He’s also concerned about humiliating and destroying his father. Disa claims the dwarf on the throne is not his father. Durin admits he can’t do it. Earien (Ema Horvath) tells her father that he’ll be cast into the sea to face Trial by Abyss at dawn. Pharazon does not want to antagonize The Faithful any further. His offer of mercy still stands. Earien pleads with Elendil to swallow his pride because she cannot lose him. Earien reveals she begged for Miriel to come. Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) enters the cell seconds later. She commands Elendil to bow to Pharazon because Numenor needs men like him. Elendil knows she is the true ruler and he doesn’t want to betray that. If it is the will of the Valar, his life will be spared. Disa tries to scare off Narvi and the others. Once it works, she tells Durin that they’ll be back with more of them. Durin insists they’ll be ready.

Elendil accepts the judgment of the Valar. Before he can be thrown into the water, Miriel says his crime was committed in her name. As a result, she has the right to face the Valar’s judgment in his place. Miriel ends up taking his place. She’s pulled underneath the water before being approached by the sea monster. Miriel is returned to the surface. Elendil yells that Miriel is the Queen of the Sea. Pharazone uses the palantir. He sees chaos and Suaron. Galadriel tells Adar that Halbrand is Sauron and he’s in Eregion to craft Rings that will allow him to dominate the elves. Sauron won’t try to escape until the task is complete. Galadriel says that gives them an advantage. She says Elrond hastens from Lindon with an army of elves and her ring, Nenya. Elrond will seal off the city and loosen Celebrimbor from Sauron’s grasp. Then, Galadriel says she and Adar can eradicate all trace of Sauron.

The Rings that have known Sauron’s touch must be destroyed. Adar asks if the High King will allow the orcs to return home in peace. He admits she’s already revealed everything he hoped she would and more. Adar tells his people it’s time. Galadriel warns him all of Eregion may be under Sauron’s control by now. Adar says Eregion will fall and Sauron with it. Galadriel believes this is what Sauron wants. She pleads with him not to do it. She’s taken captive since she might be useful later. Adar blows the horn. Before long, Annatar learns they’re being attacked. He cuts the palm of his hand. Celebrimbor is working on the rings when he hears something. Annatar stops him from going outside. Celebrimbor gets upset and pushes him. Annatar reminds him they still have nine rings to forge. Celebrimbor walks outside.

Annatar changes the world around him so he can’t really see what’s going on. Annatar tells him he came to Eregion because he needed him. Celebrimbor says he cannot forge more rings without mithril. Annatar gives him mithril which has been refined into powder by Narvi. He believes it should be enough. Annatar says the rings of power will be deemed the most precious creations in all of Middle Earth. He gives Celebrimbor a hammer to use. Once Celebrimbor goes inside, Annatar walks through Eregion. People are panicking because of the attack. Galadriel is chained up when the orcs begin attacking.

 

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Review

This episode of The Rings of Powers at least had an interesting ending, but it was a tedious slog getting to that point. The series is obviously well-made in many ways with the overall visuals standing out as usual. The writing and pacing may be the biggest issues here.

Each episode is trying to juggle far too much leading to very little actually being achieved throughout the season. The episode was so tedious and dull that I completely forgot what Arondir was doing at the beginning. Poppy is somehow in a relationship now for whatever reason.

Not to mention, she’s known “Nobody” for all of ten minutes. The constant jumping around is an issue because each sub-story is barely moving. That’s been a common issue in season two with characters and stories being left out of episodes entirely. Some of the dialogue and performances aren’t great and they’re sometimes even cringey.

Annatar’s costume is probably the highlight of the episode and the ending. Good god. At least the ending gives a sliver of hope that something interesting is about to happen because the whole thing has been boringly uneventful through six episodes. The whole story is stretched thin and the weekly episode releases aren’t helping maintain interest either.

Despite all the other criticisms, a show based on The Lord of the Rings should not be this boring. The episode scores a 4.5 out of 10. Recaps of The Rings of Power can be found here. Learn how to support our independent site at this link. Learn about advertising with us here. See what others are saying at this link.