J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth saga has always been about the battle between good and evil. However, it is also about power, morality, and betrayal. The first three episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 perfectly captured the aforementioned themes brilliantly. Sauron has managed to come out in the open and plagued Celebrimbor’s mind to forge three rings of power. Additionally, the menacing has shown why he is known as the master deceiver and came out in a new avatar: Lord Annatar. If the premiere was all about making viewers learn about how Sauron plans to move ahead, Episode 4 unravels how the heroes of Middle Earth are planning to fight the darkness. Meanwhile, this particular episode also introduces one of the mysterious characters of Tolkien’s universe.
The episode, titled ‘Eldest,’ is directed by Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri. Hooper has already helmed the 2nd and 3rd episodes of season 2, while Hamri makes her debut with the fourth episode. Hooper is known for directing episodes of acclaimed TV series such asThe Witcher, The Sandman, and Inside No. 9. On the other hand, Hamri has a long history of directing episodes for several high-profile ventures, includingThe Wheel of Time, Shameless, Gen V, American Horror Stories, Empire, Glee,and more. The aforementioned directors team up to bring one of the darkest, yet enthralling episodes ofThe Rings of Poweras of yet.
The fourth episode ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2begins with Elrond and a small team of Elves setting out on a mission to Eregion. As a result, viewers see Elrond, Galadriel, and four more Elves embarking on a grueling journey. However, they hit a roadblock when a bridge, supposed to help them reach Eregion, was damaged by lightning. But Galadriel believes Sauron is behind this because he doesn’t want them to reach Eregion and help Celebrimbor. Subsequently, Elrond decides to go South to reach Eregion when one of the team members says that taking up a journey through will make them reach their destination faster. However, they would have to go through Tyrn Gorthad to reach where they want to. This sequence is enough to make viewers understand how Elrond still holds some grudges against Galadriel. He is not able to forget her betrayal and denies taking her suggestions because of the ring. They continue the journey and reach Tyrn Gorthad, aka The Barrow Downs, and encounter unrested souls of kings and lords. The fight between the Elves and the unrested souls is undoubtedly a highlight of the episode.
Alternatively, some viewers might find the title “Eldest” a bit unusual for an episode. But it starts making sense as soon as they get introduced toone of the less-talked-about characters of Middle Earth: Tom Bombadil. This is the first time Tom Bombadil has appeared in a live-action adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. According to the lore, Bombadil is exactly the opposite of Sauron. Even after being regarded as the most powerful being on Middle Earth, Bombadil has no hidden agenda and doesn’t want to dominate Middle Earth. As soon as he is introduced in The Rings of Power, a sense of calmness surrounds the atmosphere. While trying to find Nori and Poppy, The Stranger reaches the Old Forest and accidentally meets Tom Bombadil. The entire sequence between Bombadil and The Stranger is a testament to how powerful and good Bombadil is. One of the most astounding moments of the episode occurs when Bombadil gives a glimpse of the power he holds over elements such as land, wind, and fire. This makes The Stranger understand that he was never meant to find the stars, he was always meant to meet Bombadil. The meeting between the two might turn out to be crucial for the upcoming battle.
Additionally, it also confirms that The Stranger is not the Dark Wizard because Bombadil tells The Stranger that if Sauron and the Dark Wizard get together, it would be the end of Middle Earth.
Meanwhile, Arondir and Isildur finally get to know the real identity of Estrid. While carrying on with their journey to find Theo, they encounter one of the oldest creatures of Middle Earth: the Ents. Remember Treebeard in Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy? Yep, fans see something similar to that character inThe Rings of Power. The meeting between the Ents and the trio symbolizes nature’s power and the deep history of Middle Earth. Moreover, their introduction adds new layers to the storyline.
Eldest focuses on how the protagonists are trying to dodge the plan stitched by Sauron, especially the Elves. They are not only trying to eliminate the threat of Sauron but also fight Adar who is leading an army of Orcs to Eregion. The final moments of the episode see Galadriel finally coming face-to-face with Adar and his army. With this episode,The Rings of Powerseason 2 has made it clear that it is ready to make things darkerand more ferocious. The war is inevitable and Eldest is where it all begins. Apart from good writing, several technical aspects such as production design, cinematography, and epic background music by Bear McCreary enhance the entire viewing experience. It would be interesting to see if The Rings of Power takes a similar route as the House of the Dragon and uses the remaining episodes to build more tension, giving a glimpse of what could happen on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the actual war starts with Season 3. Nevertheless, The Rings of Power season 2 continues to excel in storytelling and mixes it with stunning visuals to keep viewers at the edge of their seats.
Eldest stands as a beautiful exploration of some of the oldest beings of Middle Earth and what they truly stand for.
All four episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 are streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
