The second season ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerkeeps on expanding the Middle Earth saga in an interesting way. Last week’s episode saw fans finally seeing Tom Bombadil (Rory Kinnear) for the first time in a live-action version of the Lord of the Rings. Meanwhile, the makers didn’t leave any stone unturned to take fans of JRR Tolkien on a journey filled with nostalgia and featured elements such as The Barrow Downs and the Ents.
On the other hand, the episode concludes with an epic scene where Adar finally meets Galadriel and takes her into captivity. The final sequence gives viewers a glimpse of what Adar is planning to do to defeat Sauron. If Episode 4 was all about the war brewing up in Middle Earth, Episode 5 unravels a new layer about what’s happening in other parts of Middle Earth, putting focus on places such as Eregion, Khazad-dûm, and Númenor.
The episode, titled “Halls of Stone,” is once again directed by Louise Hooper and Sanaa Hamri. The duo did a wonderful job in directing the previous episode which included good fight sequences and breathtaking visuals. Halls of Stone is one of those episodes that give viewers a perspective of how Sauron’s power and deceptions corrupt the minds of people in Middle Earth. It has already been seen that Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), from time to time, gets influenced by Lord Annatar (Charlie Vickers). However, this episode gives a good look at how the rings have also started making people go against their principles. Yes, it features less action than the previous episode ofThe Rings of Power,but it is another brilliant addition to the series for its solid narrative.
“Halls of Stone” primarily focus on things happening in Eregion, Númenor, and Khazad-dûm. The episode starts with a lengthy scene at Khazad-dûm where King Durin (Peter Mullan) becomes the first person to lose his mind because of the rings. Initially, he helps his people by using the power of the ring to bring the sunlight back to his kingdom. However, Prince Durin (Owain Arthur) and Disa (Sophia Nomvete) are not convinced about their king taking directions from the ring. But their suspicions grow higher when King Durin starts making the wrong decisions and tells his people to dig deeper to find the gold buried deep inside the mountains.
Meanwhile, in Eregion, the Dwarves gift theElves a precious gift in the form of the Doors of Durin. Yes, this is the same door that the Fellowship encounters in Peter Jackson’sLOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring. Although the dwarves and Elves are happy with their partnership, Annatar knows that he needs to do something really quick and convinces Celebrimbor to make those nine rings for men. The entire conversation between Annatar and Celebrimbor shows the power that Sauron holds. He is slowly not only corrupting the minds of one of the most intelligent Elves in Middle Earth, but he is also making sure that he makes Celebrimbor the villain in front of his Elven-smiths and allies.
Alternatively, fans finally get to see what’s happening in Númenor The shifting of power has begun and Pharazon (Trystan Gravelle) is now doing everything to claim the throne. He has made it clear that people supporting Miriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) have no right to hold an important position in Númenor, and even strips Elendil (Lloyd Owen) from his position in Númenor’s Sea Guard. In all honesty, the story of Númenor is truly one of the most fascinating ones because it holds a lot of intrigue. The shifting of power can be compared to what people see nowadays. Just like anyone would do anything to sit on the top of the chain, Pharazon has stitched a narrative that Miriel is the reason behind Númenor’s downside. Even though it’s very tough to decide who is the most likable character in the series, there’s no doubt that Elendil’s daughter, Earien (Ema Horvath), is the most annoying one. She is literally one of those people who doesn’t have a mind of her own and just follows what Pharazon says because he lost his brother, Isildur, in the battle (although he is not dead). But there’s one sequence in the Númenor storyline that would enthrall everyone and then break everyone’s hearts. It is great that the makers gave a good amount of time to Númenor in this episode. The fight between evil and good is relatable, but what’s happening in Númenor is something that humans have seen in today’s world as well.
A lot of interesting conversations take place between different characters. On the other hand, viewers get a glimpse of how the rings would work with a high quantity of Mithril and Sauron’s evil intentions. The final moments of Halls of Stone have made it clear that Elves are facing a very big problem in trying to defend Middle Earth.Celebrimbor is not able to fend off Sauron’s advances, while Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) is surrounded by an army of Orcs. Meanwhile, the High King (Benjamin Walker) has categorically told Elrond (Robert Aramyo) that it’s really difficult to defeat two different kinds of villains in one go. This is the beginning of a catastrophe in Middle Earth.
Slowly and steadily, Sauron is being successful in marching toward his destination. At certain moments, he might look like he cares about the people. But in reality, he doesn’t and just wants to portray himself as the savior. Halls of Stone stands out as one of the series' finest episodes, not just for its compelling narrative but for its raw portrayal of greed and the consequences of power. It delves into the complexities of human ambition, revealing what unfolds when forces of equal strength collide.
The Rings of Powerseason 2 continues to excel in world-building and gives viewers a glimpse of how Middle Earth’s era of peace is slowly coming to an end.
All five episodes ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 are streaming exclusively on Prime Video.
