By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review contains spoilers.
It has arrived… the Season One finale of The Rings of Power and I am not emotionally ready to let this show go! Yes, I know they are currently filming the second series and I am very excited about the future. But this show has left an incredible mark on me and to think I will wake up next Friday and not have a new episode to watch? I cannot even begin to process that thought!
So, with a heavy heart, let us get straight into this week’s breakdown and review – for which I apologise in advance, it’s the longest one so far…
Starting the episode within the lush greenery of Eryn Galen was a huge contrast from last week’s fire and ash opener! Following up the tranquil opening with the revelation that The Stranger is Sauron was just as contrasting, and even though it has been something I considered since the trailer, it doesn’t lessen the impact nor my reaction at the moment. Weyman’s performance, as The Stranger AKA ‘Sauron’, has been so good, especially given the lack of dialogue he’s given! It is all about his expressive performance and he has beautifully portrayed a whole host of emotions ranging from joy to despair with equal impact. We also learn that the three mystery servants are named The Dweller, The Nomad and The Ascetic.
With King Durin refusing to help the Elves, Celebrimbor tries to work with what he has, while Elrond focuses on his unexpected reunion with Galadriel. I am so happy they have managed to reunite, and the subtle way Robert Aramayo strained and quivered his voice when seeing her was such a powerful moment. As much as I loved their reunion on an emotional level, it was the interaction between Halbrand and Celebrimbor that piqued my interest in regard to the story aspect. Halbrand’s suggestions felt very calculated and focused. If I didn’t know better, I’d say these were the words of Sauron… is that what we are getting at here? Is The Stranger a red herring? Or is Sauron taking multiple forms to influence key characters – hence Disa’s more intense scene last week? These were all thoughts rushing through my head at this point and I was only eleven minutes into the episode! With that said, I wasn’t the only one thinking this, as Galadriel too has her concerns and starts to question Halbrand’s intentions.
In Númenor, Pharazon prepares for the passing of King Tar-Palantir and starts to plan for his commemoration. It’s funny, we are living in a world where The Rings of Power is running concurrently with House of the Dragon, two epic fantasy shows, and in the same week, each show has a case of Kingly mistaken identity and the passing on of a prophecy to the wrong person. In this instance, Earien is told about the fall of Númenor. The King unlocks the tower and Earien is introduced to the Palantir. As Miriel and Elendil sail into the harbour at Númenor, they are greeted by black flags adorned on all of the docked ships. The King has passed…
Back in Eryn Galen, and after some goading by the white trio, The Stranger AKA possibly Sauron, shows a glimpse of his power. This does not stop Nori and the other Harfoots from planning a rescue. The rescue does not go to plan, however, and Sadoc, appears to be killed in the process, after heroically trying to allow Nori time to escape. But The Stranger isn’t even who he appears to be, it was The Dweller in disguise. I love how they filmed the reveal, just like they did with the faux Nori at the start, it is done so well! With Nori in danger, The Stranger protects her, forcing the trio to split. Sadoc, who was not killed, returns to help the fight. As the woods burn around him, Nori presents The Stranger with the staff and through her inspiring words, The Stranger rallies and the Harfoots are saved in the most EPIC way imaginable! “From shadow, you came…” The white trio soon realise that he is not Sauron, but he is in fact one of the Istari! As the sun rises, Sadoc succumbs to his earlier wounds but is surrounded by friends who stayed with him until the end. The music, the revelation, the performance… this triple combination covered me in goosebumps and brought tears to my eyes. It was such an intense emotional response to what I was witnessing and experiencing. We are thirty minutes in at this point and I am already emotionally drained!
With Celebrimbor’s efforts stalling, Halbrand suggests a new tactic and one that could very well make all the difference. Yet it can no longer be a crown, it needs to be smaller…. Hmm. Small and circular? Whatever could it be… Armed with the knowledge that the lineage of the King of the Southlands was broken many years ago, Galadriel confronts Halbrand, and he reveals, what many of us have thought, that he is Sauron – although he doesn’t outright say it. Before Galadriel can attack, she is transported to Valinor albeit mentally, where she is greeted by her brother Finrod. We then trek through her mind as she continues to confront Sauron before breaking free of his grasp – more than likely because he had fled therefore relinquished control of her mind. Galadriel tells Celebrimbor to make an additional ring. One will corrupt, two will divide, but three will bring balance. I love this concept!
With some of his memories restored, and his speech unlocked, The Stranger prepares to part ways with the Harfoots yet again. But as Nori returns to her family, they already have her pack ready for another adventure! In a series of heartbreaking goodbyes, of which Poppy’s caused the most tears for me, Nori was ready to join The Stranger in his quest to unlock the truth about his past and what his purpose on Middle-Earth is. They are off to Rhûn!
With Galadriel sacrificing her blade, the forging of the Elven rings begins. The choired version of the main theme used in this sequence was beautiful and chilling in equal measure. I loved when Elrond dropped the Mithril into the molten ore, for a few brief moments it looked very much like the Eye of Sauron! With Elrond discovering the parchment containing the broken bloodline, the rings are completed. The conflict on Elrond’s face was so good, and you were left conflicted yourself. Yes, the Elven rings have been forged, but we know what path this leads…
The first series of The Rings of Power ends with Sauron arriving in Mordor, looking down at his future kingdom and walking towards the burning fires of Mount Doom! It was such a powerful image and in terms of tone, it felt very much like an Empire Strikes Back type-ending – which I really enjoyed. As the credits rolled, we are treated to “Where the Shadows Lie” by Fiona Apple – which features lyrics taken from Tolkien’s Ring Poem. This was an unsettling, yet strangely beautiful way to see out the credits of the episode. It also just helped further add to that ‘bad’ ending feel and leaves the audience concerned for the darkness ahead. But among all that darkness, there will be flickers of hope to light the way to the good that still flows within Middle-Earth!
An epic finale that promised and delivered in every way imaginable! As for the series as a whole? Stunning locations, exceptional performances and all the heart and emotion that you could ever ask for – The Rings of Power Season One is an experience I will never forget.
Thank you for joining me on this incredible adventure. Thank you for taking the time each and every week for coming here and checking out my reviews. I will see you again in Season Two, but until then… Namárië!
What did you think of the Series One finale of The Rings of Power? Let us know in the comments or find us on social media!
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