This last part of the finale for Rings of Power, reveals Sauron (I had the creepy vibe from the start), and some forging to save the Elves, plus The Stranger heads East! Part one of “Alloyed” revealed that the Stranger was identified as Sauron by the Mystics, but recalling Nori’s words and fights against them. He is called by the Mystics, the Istar. There are five Istari from Valinor; Saruman, his Maia name was Curumo, the first sent to Middle-Earth, the two Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, arrived and Saruman went with them to battle Sauron in the east.
The Stranger was looking for stars that the trio said were in the east. This makes me tend towards identifying him as Saruman. Gandalf was known as the Maia, Olórin, who was afraid of Sauron which is why he was sent by the Valar as the second Istari sent to Middle-Earth. The Blue Wizards was never seen in any of the films. The other Wizard was the Maia Aiwendil, his later name was Radagast the Brown, he was seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012).
Elrond is working with Celebrimbor to save the Elven people with mithril. Halbrand suggests using another alloy that the Elven smith says could be made like a crown (or rings?). Do you remember the scene in Wonder Woman (2017) where Ares said he inspired Doctor Poison with her deadly invention? In his speech, Celebrimbor used the same words as Galadriel heard from Adar. This leads her to suspect Halbrand has another motive. Sauron.
Elendil, Isildur is presumed dead, travels with Queen Regent Míriel, now blinded, travels to Númenor. She hopes to get reinforcements for the battle in the former Southlands. On the ship, the soldiers stare at the island kingdom as Captain Elendil leads Míriel with her blindfold to the deck. He is stunned to see many ships in the harbor. A bell tolls as we see King Tar-Palantir watched by Pharazôn. An explosion goes off in the Eregion tower.
Galadriel walks into the workshop as it is filled with smoke. He holds the mithril and says that it won’t bond with other ores. Elrond says he must be patient. Galadriel says that they working too hard. Halbrand picks that up and adds that they have tried forcing the bonding too much. Celebrimbor realizes that the mithril has to be “coaxed” to merge. He immediately wants to try again. The loremaster researching the royal Southlands lines has information for Galadriel.
Halbrand looks suspicious. She has a long scroll unrolled when Halbrand finds her. He tells her that there is too much power used for one object so there will be two objects, maybe Three Rings? Halbrand tells her to see the smaller object and she throws down the scroll saying that the last king of the Southlands died a thousand years ago with no heir! Ominious music as he walks toward her and Halbrand explains he told her he found the crest on a dead man. He says he has had many names. Galadriel swings her dagger, but Halbrand without blinking holds her arm. He throws her down and this shifts to Galadriel in a white dress in what seems like Valinor.
She hears her brother, Feanor, speaking to her, someone walks up to her. It is of course great to see Feanor again, but not this way! She says, “Get out of mind!” This is a line in the 1984 Dune said by Reverend Mother Mohiam to Paul Artredies. Galadriel finally turns and sees her long lost brother with tears and a smile. This Feanor says that she has fought well and Galadriel says his task was to hunt Sauron. “Feanor” tells her his task was for peace and that was Sauron’s task too!
She says her brother died and many others, but “Feanor” says Sauron was trying to “heal” Middle-Earth (so he could control it!). Her “brother” smiles and says she should just allow Sauron to do his work. He says that Feanor had whispered to her, “Touch the darkness once more.” Lies! I’m hoping against hope that Sauron does not take Feanor’s likeness as his “fair form.” Tears fall from Galadriel and she walks away. Feanor shouts, “Look at me!” and she is thrown back on the raft with “Halbrand.” This is a temptation for Galadriel, but she should stay the course for her revenge.
Galadriel says he is a friend of Morgoth. This Halbrand says once Morgoth was defeated, he felt the sunrise, the light of the “One”, known as Eru Ilúvatar. He created Arda, the world that contains Middle-Earth and the Valar. "Halbrand" thought, he says, he could be forgiven if he healed everything he hurt. Sauron uses her words against her saying that after the battle that all of the evil he could leave behind. I sense a third temptation is coming. They talk about the future, Galadriel sees in the sea’s reflection, the armored form of Sauron with herself by his side!
The Dark Queen that she has seen when Frodo offers her the Ring? He holds her face and says that they could rule together, Galadriel says he is the Dark Lord, again he uses her words that they were together for a reason. He hands her the dagger and says Galadriel binds him to the light, and he binds her to power. Sauron says they can save Middle-Earth and Galadriel counters if it is rule it. There is no difference to Sauron. She holds the dagger to his throat. A storm forms at his side of the raft. Sauron tells her that she was abandoned by the Elves for asking for soldiers and he adds that “Sauron lives because of you!” in a very demonic voice. She screams that he will die and then is back underwater in the darkness.
There are bursts of light, explosions?, above the water and Galadriel sinks bound to the mast. The third trial? She accepts her fate and sinks. A voice calls her name, it’s Elrond. She is in the River Glanduin like Millais painting’s Ophelia (1851-1852), she has the dress and surrounded by flowers, except just her face is shown. She shouts “Deciever!” and has her dagger out. Galadriel asks him how they first met and Elrond responds that they were by the sea when he became an orphan.
She then wants to know where is Celebrimbor and Elrond says in the workshop almost finished with the forging. Galadriel races towards the workshop. Celebrimbor wonders why she is wet and Elrond answers that he pulled her from the river. Elrond asks her about Halbrand, he is told that he has left, and brings up his promise. Celebrimbor says if they should continue and Galadriel answers that they must make three objects. She says one object will corrupt, two rings will divide, and three is a balance. It is also a "Magic Number, yes it is, it's a Magic Number." Galadriel says they are only for the Elves.
Celebrimbor says that the other metals he needs are gold and silver, like the Two Trees, and the Elven smith requires them to be from Valinor. Back at the Grove, Nori asks The Stranger about his memories and he says he will remember fully in Rhûn to the east. Then, she questions him about his name, Istar. He says in Harfoot it means “Wise One”, this would be a Magus later a term in Latin, and also “Wizard.” A Greek part of a word is “-astr” as in Zoroastr.
He does seem wise and more conversant with his recent display of power. Istar says that adventures have to be shared. At the village, Malva says they have a clear travel going north, Poppy corrects her saying she has the map upside down! Malva asks if Poppy would be the trail finder. The Harfoots are getting ready to move their village again. Nori returns and Largo lays a pack before her saying that she should go on the adventure. Largo is awesome! She is leaving behind her family, but her mother, Marigold says she is needed by Istar, also her younger sister Dilly.
This is the adventure of Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, it almost echoes Sam’s words about leaving home. Nori says her farewells to the Harfoots and finally Poppy who is short with her goodbye to her best friend. A moment with Largo and his daughter, Nori says she remembered all of his teachings, ending with their farewell gestures. She promises her mother to be careful and Marigold says, “No. You’ll be bold.” Wow, every actor gets some serious dramatic moments here!
I will miss the Harfoots. Nori gets in a family hug and starts on her adventure. Poppy shouts for her to wait so she can hug Nori. She is really needed to watch out for the Harfoots. I can’t wait to see their reunion! She meets with Istar and he wants her to lead, but she’s confused about the direction. He says there’s a “sweet smell” in a certain way and they start their adventure! Who is going to sing on their travels without Poppy? The Harfoots start their caravan north and we pan over to Istar and Nori that opens to a wide, open vista, forests and mountains!
Galadriel hands over her dagger hesitantly to be placed in a forge. Its doors close on her. Her connection to Feanor is lost. Celebrimbor and Elrond can only watch. The metal is placed in a pot and Elrond drops the mithril, the symbol of his friendship with Durin IV! The molten pot is turned so it looks like the mithril is the Eye of Sauron! Celebrimbor diverts into running into a swirling pattern like the sand in the show’s opening. This goes into a mold which is broken open.
Three long bars are smoothed by smiths. We see the tower and workshop at night. Elrond paces and then walks to where he found Galadriel. The metal is twisted and curled into shape. He is at the river’s edge and then discovers the scroll in the water. He sees the truth and then rushes back to the workshop. We see Elrond climbing steps as the rings are about to be set. A sapphire is about to be placed in a ring, Vilya, the Ring of Air which later goes to Elrond. Then, an admant (a diamond in mythology), for Galadriel. Finally, a ruby is placed in a ring, Narya the Ring of Fire, given to Gil-galad and eventually Gandalf. Celebrimbor sets the adamant ring down with the others.
Elrond looks at Galadriel and she sees he has the scroll. The Three Rings are seen spinning resolving into Mount Doom in the eye of Sauron! He is dressed in black with a cloak as he walks towards Mount Doom. It ends with the credits and a dedication to Dr. John Dundee Payne, the father of show runner. A end credit song is the One Ring inscription except the final two lines. This is made into a moody ballad. “Where The Shadows Lie” sung by Fiona Apple! I will definitely rewatch the series and can’t wait for season two! Still, I’m really waiting for a Making of and artbook for season one!
We need to catch up with Durin IV, Disa, and how they can help Elrond, Bronwyn, Arondir, and Theo heading to the port city, Pelargir, the Seven Dwarf Lords who get their rings, and the destruction of Númenor. A full season that widens our understanding of Middle-Earth, the Second Age, and all that ends up in Lord of the Rings. A tip of the cap to show runners, Patrick McKay and John D. Payne, also Morfydd Clark, Markella Kavenagh, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur and Sophia Nomvete, Nazanin Boniadi and Ismael Cruz Cordova, all of the cast and crew, nods to Kate Hawley and Bear McCreary for bringing us back to Middle-Earth! The Rings of Power finale ends with powerfully dramatic parts for Galadriel and Nori, our two lead characters and Sauron revealed!
Five+ Rings of Power out of Five!
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