Rings of Power continues with "Adrift" where we meet a survivor on a raft, the Stranger, and a Dwarf couple that are best parts of Middle-Earth! At the tower, Médhor, Arondir’s fellow guard, says that there has only been two Elf Human relationships; Beren and Lúthien, which was in the novel, Beren and Lúthien (2017). Aragorn sings “The Lay of Lúthien” in the expanded edition of The Fellowship of the Ring (2002). There is also Tuor and Idril, a Elf princess, that was also told in The Fall of Gondolin (2018). Their stories are both in the First Age covered in The Silmarillion. The two fellow guards are told that the high king has disbanded the outposts. Later, the Watchwarden, Revion (Simon Merrels) joins Arondir and he says these Men had allied with Morgoth. Bronwyn has a table at her home and her son, Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) is helping her with some herbs. They see Arondir walk up and Bronwyn goes to talk with him. Theo tells her that some man has come for her help, a farmer (Peter Tait) who has a sick cow.
Arondir checks the cow which squirts some kind of black liquid from its udder! He asks the farmer where it grazed and he says east at Hordern. Arondir leaves with Bronwyn on the journey. Theo goes into the barn with another boy, Rowan (Ian Blackburn), who asks about his missing father. He finds the hilt of a broken, black sword. Theo stares at it, sees a vision of the burning sword, and hears Black Speech! The Watchwarden is right, these people have evil connections, which may be Theo! We see a ship on the Sundering Sea, Galadriel is there with her company in silver armor. It seems to be a magic ship since no one seems to be steering it. Elrond says he can no longer sense her which he tells Gil-galad. The high king says that Elrond will work with Lord Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) on his “new project.” Saddoc Burrows wonders about something in the skies and he is surprised by Nori. Arondir asks Bronwyn what she knows about Hordern and she says she was born there. They find that the village has burned down. A map shows the Sundering Seas. On the ship, female attendants remove the armor of the company.
One tries to take Galadriel’s sword which she eventually gives it up. The skies open to a light and white birds appear to fly around the ship. The skies part to a heavenly light and Galadriel hears the words of her brother. A burning comet streaks across the sky, seen by Gil-galad at night with Elrond and others. Galadriel steps back from the light. The comet passes Bronwyn and Arondir in the night. It also flies over a night forest of Ents. Galadriel hears the whispered words of Finrod who answers her that they cannot know which light to follow until they have “touched the darkness”! Nori sees the comet crash past her and Galadriel dives into the sea! The way to Valinor closes. Gil-galad picks up a golden leaf and its back is veined with black! Nori walks up to the burning crater and finds the form of a bearded man, this Stranger (Daniel Weyman), who has fallen from the skies. How will Theo find his destiny? What is Celebrimbor forging? Who is this mysterious Stranger with all of the evil omens?
The series title has circles of golden sand, rings really, tht form a pattern like interlocking trees. More shapes, a black sand slithers through until we get the title. The night skies, Galadriel looks up at it from the Sundering Sea, and begins swimming! Nori stands at the burning crater staring at the Stranger. She is disturbed by Poppy and falls down into the crater! Nori finds that there is no heat from the crater. Kind of like the torches at the Forodwraith fortress? She pokes at his face and he grabs her hand, they scream, the rocks begin floating upwards! Is this warning enough for Nori? The flames dissipate, the Stranger collapses, and the flames reignite! Nori convinces Poppy to carry him away. This reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode, “The Howling Man” (1960), well intentioned, but this action is dangerous. Saddoc with a lantern, Malva (Thusitha Jayasundera) wants them to break camp and leave. The young Harfoots have taken away lanterns that they use to cart away the Stranger.
They argue and the cart with the Stranger rolls away! The Harfoots have made a makeshift camp out in the forest. Nori tells Poppy that she feels she was meant to help the Stranger. Arondir and Bronwyn are searching the remains of Hordern, there is no bodies, in a house, they find a passage made beneath a house! He says Bronwyn should warn the others while he follows the passage. A moment between them and then Arondir leaps down with his torch. We then move to Eregion, an Elven city made at the edge of a cliff, close to the Misty Mountains, with white spires out of the river Greyflood. Elrond is regarding the hammer that Fëanor used to built the Silmarils, three jewels that contained the light of the Two Trees. Celebrimbor explains that Morgoth stole them, but was just fascinated by them. He want something just as beautiful. Celebrimbor needs a tower built to contain a forge and wants it by spring. Elrond suggests getting help and we see the map move to Khazad-Dûm, “Realm of the Dwarves.”
We pan down the mountains with their endless waterfalls , this is the shot that is extended too long. Elrond explains that Prince Durin is his friend. Celebrimbor is interested in seeing their kingdom. A gem-like opening to an iron door and Elrond identifies themselves and their request to see Durin. They are sent away, but Elrond return to ask for the Rite of Sigin-tarâg. The door opens and Dwarf warriors file out as Elrond tells Celembrimbor that he will return to Eregion. Elrond is stunned at the beauty of the Dwarf kingdom, it has waterfalls, green plants, and a long, thin bridge. This is also where the top half of the shot is warped to fill in the bottom of the shot, again the visual effects would be impressive if it is cut back a little. There is chanting as Elrond enters a room as we also get the arrival of Prince Durin IV played by Owain Arthur. The red beared Dwarf is so fun, he overshadows other Dwarf actors. The test of endurance, he says, was from Aulë, the Valar smith that created the Dwarves.
They break great stones with hammers until one cannot break anymore. If Elrond loses, he will be banished! He accepts and Durin shatters the rock! Nori runs back to the camp and sees the Stranger carving symbols on rock. He turns and screams, winds blowing, another warning Harfoot girl. Then, he kneels, Nori makes a deal to be safe with the Stranger. She touches her chest, tugs her ear, and holds out her hand. I love these Harfoot gestures! She thinks that he doesn’t remember anything. She pulls out a snail and eats it. The Stranger eats the snail and the shell. Largo helps put up a post without his daughter’s help. The Stranger carves in the dirt and says, “Mana úrë!”, but Nori doesn’t understand. Poppy arrives and Nori tries to explain that she is a friend. She takes her friend back to see her injured father. Galadriel is still swimming and then manages to see a makeshift raft. A human woman, Abigail (Virginie Laverdure) helps her up. They are survivors from an attack by a Worm.
Another Eamon (Berynn Schwerdt) pulls back her hair and surprised that she is an Elf. They find a sail in the mists, the survivors recognize that it is their ship, it turns and we see the spines of the Worm! It’s massive form swims underneath them, I had just seen Jaws (1975) in theaters!, Abigail pushes Galadriel into the sea thinking she led it to them! Galadriel swims away as the Worm tears apart the raft! She finds that one of the survivors has separted himself from the others and helps her onboard. He introduces himself as Halbrand (Charlie Vickers). The rock shattering continues, but Elrond tires out, he swing again time, but his hammer breaks! His hammer is replaced, but Elrond sets the hammer down in defeat. Durin raises his hammer in victory. Elrond asks him to escort him away. A lift with chains takes them up and Durin remarks that Elrond has been gone for 20 years. He is angry that Elrond missed his wedding and the birth of his two children! Elrond congradulates Durin and wants to apologize to his family.
Durin takes Elrond to his home and absolutely doesn’t want him over for dinner. They are heard by Durin’s wife, Disa (Sophia Nomvete). She is so delightful, you will say that what the Lord of the Rings films are missing is Disa! She hugs Elrond and Disa insists that he stay for dinner. The kids, Gerda and Gamli, play around in Durin’s giant stone heads! Elrond looks at their beautiful, yellow-leafed tree. Over dinner, Elrond asks how they met, Disa tells him the story that she was resonating a chamber, singing to it, to find silver. Then, Prince Durin checks on her, again and again! He was shy, now they passionately kiss, adorable! Durin is suspicious of Elrond and his Elves. Elrond asks about the tree, he had brought Durin a sapling, and Disa says Durin carefully grew it. He says that it is from the Great Tree in Lindon. I love this friendship, it is the best in Middle-Earth! Elrond is about to leave, Dissa looks at Durin, and he asks the Elf to stay. Durin will listen to the proposal.
Five Rings of Power out of Five!
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