The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 2 Episode 8 Spoiler Review
The final episode of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ doesn’t quite live up to the epic nature of episode seven, as it seeks to add a conclusion to all the plotlines that this season has sought to serve and tease the next season of Amazon’s flagship show. It does lean a bit to heavily in this regard, closing off with something that’s ultimately unsatisfying, though does lay interesting groundwork for the future.
Opening the episode with a bang, is the conclusion to the arc in Khazad-dûm. King Durin III disturbs the Balrog with his mining operations, and sacrifices himself to save Durin IV and the kingdom. It’s a noble sacrifice, though a bit rushed considering its extremely limited scope. It would have been better to save the Balrog for a more satisfying rampage of the dwarven city, but that will still hopefully come in the future. For now, Durin IV becomes the new king, and while he doesn’t put on the ring – he promised Disa he wouldn’t – a knowing look at it suggests he will break that promise.
Audiences also get a very small tease with the conclusion of the Stranger’s plotline this season. He finds that the Harefoots have been captured in through a vision (this is also how the audience finds out), and so goes to free them, seemingly ignoring his destiny. There, he finds the Dark Wizard, who attempts to convince the Stranger to join him, though inevitably that fails. The Dark Wizard hurls rocks at everyone while he escapes, though no one is hurt. The Stranger finds a staff, and once returning to Tom Bombadil house, he exclaims that friendship was the true test after all and declares his name to be Gandalf.
This is all very cliche and non-conclusivitory. Audiences have been strung along with this plotline for far too long, only to be told to wait until season three (and likely two more years) for any actual answers. It’s a problem that is not uncommon in high-budget streaming shows, and it’s just as annoying as it rears its ugly head here.
Another plotthread that doesn’t get a full conclusion is the one in Númenor. Elendil is given Narsil by the former queen Miriel in another fan-servicelike fashion, and then flees the island. This is in stark contrast to Isildur, who is hampered in his noble conquest of Estrid by Kemen, who lands at the town and refuses to send Isildur back to Númenor with her. He then announces that the surrounding forest will be cut down to build a fortress, likely going to anger the nearby Ents in the forest. But that will again have to wait until season three.
It’s only really the story in Eregion that gets a poper conclusion. Celebrimbor confronts Annatar/Sauron having regained his mind, but unfortunately, Sauron is too powerful, not only does he beat the elven guard accompanying Celebrimbor, but ultimately he kills Celebrimbor too. It’s a shocking death, though not unsurprising, as Sauron crafts the One Ring in secret at Mount Doom, without Celebrimbor’s help.
Another death, that’s less shocking, is Adar. It makes sense for him to die here, as Sauron gains a huge contingent of orcs, and kills Adar in a similar way to how Adar thought he killed Sauron at the start of the season. Though it still doesn’t fully justify the opening of season. Sauron and Galadriel battle, and it’s impressive, especially as he manages to gain the nine rings from her, and severely weakens her. Perhaps this is the point audiences will see her truly transition into the Galadriel audiences know from ‘The Hobbit’ and Lord of the Rings’.
Episode eight is largely an unsatisfying conclusion to season two of ‘The Rings of Power’, intent on teasing audiences on what’s to come. But what’s to come won’t be until a year or more has passed, leaving too many questions unanswered. The wrap-up to the siege of Eregion however and final confrontation with Sauron were great, at least letting audiences get something out of that.
