Everything You Need to Remember Before Season 2 of The Rings of Power

As a long-time fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga, I find myself eagerly anticipating the unfolding events in “The Rings of Power.” The intricate web of characters and their intertwining stories is captivating, and it’s fascinating to see how the showrunners are weaving these elements together.

The highly anticipated second season of “The Rings of Power” will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 29. It’s been two years since the first season concluded, and with such a vast array of characters and storylines in this expansive series, it’s understandable if you’ve forgotten the nuances between a harfoot and a hobbit. (For those who might be curious: Harfoots are earlier inhabitants of Middle-earth, which is why they feature in this “Lord of the Rings” prequel.)

In the first season, Galadriel, an elf, tried to eliminate the dark lord Sauron, but she uncovered a shocking truth: The enigmatic traveler she rescued during a shipwreck was not a long-lost king of the Southlands, but Sauron himself. Simultaneously, another elf named Celebrimbor crafted three of the legendary Rings of Power, hoping to prevent the elves from relinquishing their eternal existence.

In another place, an enigmatic figure (most likely a famous wizard from “The Lord of the Rings”) plummeted from the heavens; the inhabitants of the maritime kingdom of Númenor debated among themselves who should be their leader; and a villain known as Adar caused Mount Doom to explode.

And there’s more. Before Season 2 starts, here’s everything you need to remember.

Halbrand was revealed to be Sauron

Throughout most of Season 1, a character named Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers) bore a striking resemblance to Aragorn in many ways. He had long, flowing hair and wore clothing that seemed intentionally disheveled. He was romantically interested in an elf (Galadriel instead of Arwen). Moreover, he declared himself the descendant of the King of the Southlands yet refused to assume his rightful position, much like Aragorn hesitated to claim his inheritance.

Regrettably for Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) and the entire Middle-earth, Halbrand was not the legitimate King of the Southlands, but rather a disguise for Sauron. Upon confirming that the lineage of Southland kings had come to an end, Sauron exposed his true identity to Galadriel and proposed to make her the queen of his malevolent realm. However, she declined this offer, and Sauron departed for Mordor instead.

It’s still uncertain what Sauron intends for Mordor. In Season 1, a villain known as Adar (portrayed by Joseph Mawle) commanded the orcs in battle against the people of the Southlands. After being apprehended, Adar claimed to Galadriel during an interrogation that he had killed Sauron. However, if Sauron is indeed alive, then this claim must have been false. It seems probable that Sauron is making his way towards Mordor, possibly with the intention of eliminating Adar or persuading him to align with his cause instead.

It’s evident from the Season 2 trailer that Sauron, disguised as Annatar or “the giver of gifts,” eventually returns to Celebrimbor’s forge in the elven realm of Eregion. Here, he collaborates with Celebrimbor on more Rings of Power, this time intended for dwarves and men. In this adaptation, Sauron appears with a blonde wig, resembling the character Halbrand, but his true identity as Sauron remains hidden from Celebrimbor, including Galadriel, at this point in the storyline. The reasons behind Galadriel’s failure to warn Celebrimbor about Halbrand/Sauron/Annatar’s real identity have yet to be clarified.

There will be fallout from Galadriel being duped by Sauron

In the first season, Galadriel served as a warning of impending danger, much like a canary in a coal mine. She attempted to warn her elf kin that Sauron was not truly vanquished, but her words fell on deaf ears. It was during the conflict between the elves and Morgoth, an evil overlord who employed Sauron, that Sauron took Galadriel’s brother’s life. Galadriel harbored a desire for vengeance, seeking to exact retribution upon Sauron for her brother’s untimely demise.

At the culmination of the initial series, Galadriel came to understand that Sauron had deceived her. There’s a possibility she might have harbored romantic feelings for this villain. As we move ahead, will Galadriel’s link to Sauron serve as an impediment or provide her with invaluable knowledge?

In the first season, some Tolkien enthusiasts noted a romantic undertone in Galadriel’s connection with Halbrand that they felt was at odds with the fact that she was already married to Celeborn during that time period. Contradicting information arises as Galadriel stated in Episode 6 of Season 1 that Celebron had passed away, but we know from “The Lord of the Rings” that he was alive during those events. It’s possible that Celebron is merely assumed to be deceased. If so, there may be a chance for Galadriel to reunite with her long-lost husband in Season 2.

Celebrimbor has made three rings of power

The immortality of the elves was waning, but Celebrimbor, a skilled elf blacksmith, uncovered a solution using the exceptionally rare metal mithril to prolong their lives. In the meantime, an elf named Elrond (portrayed by Robert Armayo) persuaded his companion, Durin, the dwarf prince, to excavate some precious mithril from the mines of Moria on behalf of the elves. However, this decision proved disastrous as it triggered the awakening of a terrifying creature known as a Balrog, a beast that you might recall Gandalf confronted in Lord of the Rings.

Initially, Celebrimbor intended to forge a mithril crown for High King Gil-galad of the Elves to wear. However, upon learning that Halbrand was actually the dark lord in disguise, Galadriel understood he could exploit such a crown to amplify his power and rule Middle-earth. To prevent this, she chose not to disclose Halbrand’s true nature to her fellow elves, fearing they would abandon the mithril. Instead, she suggested creating three rings rather than a single crown, distributing the power among them.

It’s interesting to point out that the One Ring from “The Lord of the Rings” holds Sauron’s power within it, much like J.K. Rowling incorporated a similar concept in “Harry Potter,” where Voldemort conceals fragments of his soul in artifacts known as horcruxes to maintain existence. However, unlike the One Ring, these elf rings do not contain a part of Sauron inside them and hence, are not as perilous as the One Ring that Sauron would later craft.

The elves need more mithril from the dwarves to make more rings

Despite his father, King Durin (played by Peter Mullan), strictly prohibiting it, the dwarf prince Durin secretly assists the elves and his longtime friend Elrond in mining for mithril within the Khazad-dûm mines. Consequently, King Durin casts Prince Durin out, disowning him.

The elves employ mithril in crafting the initial three rings. Later, it’s known that Celebrimbor will produce additional rings of power, not just for dwarves and men, but with Sauron secretly aiding him (although Celebrimbor won’t be aware of this). Consequently, it falls upon either Celebrimbor or Sauron to persuade the dwarves to take on perilous excavation tasks in search of more mithril, so that they may create additional rings.

Adar turned the Southlands into Mordor

A significant portion of Season 1 unfolds in the region known as the Southlands, a place inhabited by men who previously allied with the malevolent entity Morgoth. Despite their choice in the conflict, elves continue to monitor these individuals to prevent any further trouble. In one such settlement resides a woman named Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi) and her son Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin). Bronwyn shares a relationship with an elf named Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova). During the invasion of orcs in the Southlands, Arondir is captured but displays skills in combat comparable to Legolas, allowing him to break free and aid the Southlanders in their defense against the advancing orcs.

Adar, a once-elf corrupted by Morgoth, leads the orcs. Initially, it appears his goal is to establish a homeland for his “offspring” in the Southern Lands, with intentions to either eliminate or enslave the men living there. However, it’s later revealed that Adar harbors more extensive aspirations. With an unintentionally discovered magical key by Theo, Adar sets off a volcanic explosion, transforming the Southern Lands into the infernal region of Mordor.

After Nazanin Boniadi’s departure, the character of Bronwyn will not be replaced. This means that Arondir is now left alone to take care of Theo, which isn’t good news given that Theo seems quite menacing.

There’s a power struggle among the men in Númenor

The Queen Regent of Númenor Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) decides to help Galadriel by sending soldiers to the Southlands to fight a rising dark power. And though the Númenóreans win the battle against the orcs, many of them are killed in the terrifying explosion of what turns out to be Mount Doom. Míriel loses her eyesight running into a burning building to try to save Isildur (Maxim Baldry), the son of Sea Captain Elendil. (More on Isildur later.)

Currently, the inhabitants of Númenor are not particularly fond of the elves, and Míriel’s alliance with Galadriel may not boost her standing among the Númenóreans in public opinion surveys. Simultaneously, a potential usurper named Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) is stirring up the people of Númenor, presenting himself as a leader while also seemingly assisting Míriel, though his intentions may not be entirely honorable.

Upon Míriel’s return to Númenor, she discovers her father, the king, has passed away, leaving open the possibility that she will become queen or someone may attempt to seize the throne. A significant aspect of this narrative involves a palantír – an elvish artifact used for both foreseeing the future and communicating with others who possess similar relics. The fate of this palantír, now that the king is deceased, will determine whether it is employed for noble or malicious purposes. (Note: Saruman uses a palantír in The Lord of the Rings to communicate with Sauron.)

Isildur is presumed dead

In the first season, Isildur is not a main character but plays a significant role. He yearns to win honor by fighting, which his father Elendil eventually allows during the battle in the Southlands. Tragedy strikes as a blazing building falls on Isildur, leading Elendil to believe that his son has perished.

As avid “Lord of the Rings” enthusiasts, it’s logical for us to believe that Isildur survived the fire. After all, he is a forefather of Aragorn and the one who ultimately severed the ring from Sauron’s finger during the War of the Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age (a significant event thousands of years prior to the happenings in “The Lord of the Rings”). The upcoming series, “The Rings of Power”, is heading towards this battle which might take place in the final season. This implies that Isildur would need to escape from Mordor to reach that point.

The Stranger is probably a wizard

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: In the first season, I, an enigmatic figure known as The Stranger, descend from the heavens and embark on a nomadic journey with the ancient harfoots, ancestors of the beloved hobbits. I’m devoid of my past, but somehow endowed with mystical abilities that lie dormant within me. Sinister cultists, with pallid complexions and an air of evil, persistently chase me, believing I am Sauron. We clash, and in a climactic moment, I unleash the full extent of my powers, vanquishing my foes from the face of Middle-earth.

It’s quite possible that The Stranger is Gandalf. You see, the Istari – a group of wizards – were sent by the Valar (supernatural beings) to help battle Sauron. Notably, this wizard appears to have an affinity for hobbits, which could hint at his identity.

Evil is lurking in Rhûn

Originating from the far-eastern region called Rhûn, often referred to as the Eastern Lands, reside a group of ghostly followers. These people have long pledged allegiance to the malevolent figure known as Morgoth, and it is apparent they are ardent supporters of Sauron. In Season 2, the enigmatic traveler and his hobbit companion Nori (Markella Kavenagh) embark on an expedition to Rhûn, as it appears this land may provide insights into the Stranger’s true nature.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s tales, the land of Rhûn remains shrouded in mystery, yet the author mentions that the wizard Saruman journeyed to Rhûn and returned before the story unfolds in “The Lord of the Rings”. Furthermore, it is said that the ‘blue wizards’ ventured eastward, but they never returned. Consequently, there is a possibility that the enigmatic figure known as The Stranger could be one of these wanderers rather than Gandalf himself.

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2024-08-20 15:07