“Some things can’t be fixed. Some things lost, are lost forever…
And all anybody can do is try and build something new.”
With the horns of battle still ringing in our ears from last week’s episode, The Rings of Power isn’t done playing with our hearts and minds just yet. The season finale takes us around Middle-earth to weave each storyline together, poised to pull the thread tight when the time comes. It is in “Shadow and Flame” that I can’t help but think of the famous Lord of the Rings quote, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” Choices and fate are intertwined in Tolkien’s works and that thread is displayed poignantly throughout this episode.
Celebrimbor defies Sauron’s Annatar with every fiber of his being, giving all his strength and resilience in the hope that it aids his fellow Elves in their fight. The dynamic between Charles Edwards and Charlie Vickers has been one of the most compelling relationships of this season. Even in the midst of a great war there is something so insular about their pairing that every moment shared is painful now that they both know the truth.
Galadriel and Sauron also finally have the epic showdown we’ve all been waiting for, with all the new levels of anger and betrayal laying heavy upon them both. The tension is so high you’ll find yourself waiting with baited breath to see which one of them will snap first. Morfydd Clark is exceptional in showing Galadriel’s struggle on all sides as Sauron exerts his considerable magic and thrall over her. The series draws on its folklore and fantasy roots to take this fight into otherworldly realms.
As all seems lost for the Elves, the Orcs become emboldened and look to new paths. Can Adar (Sam Hazeldine) create a new future for them? There are moments when the Orcs destroy so much of Eregion’s history that it is torturous to watch and will remind you of just how much our own world has lost from similar wars. But the Free Peoples of Middle-earth still have some fight in them—The Rings of Power is so good at lighting that small spark of Tolkien-esque hope to inspire our heroes to rise up once more.
In Khazad-dûm, it is time for King Durin to reckon with the consequences of his insatiable greed, but it is his choices that truly cement him as one of the most splendid of Dwarven Kings. Peter Mullan gives an outstanding performance of love and fealty that cuts deep. Owain Arthur also shines here as Prince Durin, a son, a father, a husband, and a leader who must decide what matters most to him. It’s one of the most touching familial relationships in this world, with added bittersweet parallels between Bilbo and Frodo here that sting like a punch in the gut.
The heartbreaking parallels continue with Theo (Tyroe Muhafidin) and Isildur (Maxim Baldry), who bond over the death of their mothers. The characters appear to be two sides to the same coin—given what many suspect of Theo’s future, and what we already know of Isildur’s fate, this moment becomes even harder to watch. Both actors give such depth to their characters and root the race of Men in their extremely human nuances. Isildur yearns to show Estrid (Nia Towle) his home of Númenor in all its glory, but other forces are acting upon his path.
Back home, Isildur’s father Elendil (Lloyd Owen) must also accept the heavy mantle of his destiny. Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle) accuses Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) of conspiring with Sauron and declares all the Faithful to be traitors. Míriel, in one of her most moving scenes yet, sets Elendil on his next path, one I cannot wait to be explored more in later seasons.
“A wizard does not find his staff. It finds him. Like his name.”
Further East, the mysterious Dark Wizard (Ciarán Hinds) in Rhûn offers The Stranger (Daniel Weyman) an alliance of strength, promising to become more powerful than Sauron himself. It is time for The Stranger to choose who he wants to be—and for the Stoors to figure out where their journey begins—and the revelations are a wonderfully welcome addition to the lore. Our time in Rhûn is far too short but it leaves a lasting impression; I hope the show continues to expand on the magic held within its borders.
I have to take a moment to shout out the cinematography—each scene is like a painting, evoking colors and light not quite from this world. The inhabitants of Middle-earth feel fully realized and their clothes, scars, and weapons tell a tale of who they are. The careful touches of symbolism add to the weight of the storytelling and set things in motion you might not even realize until they come to fruition. Mirrored scenes play out after being set up what feels like a lifetime ago, bringing plotlines full circle while sending others off into dizzying new spirals.
For anyone who complained about the pacing of the first season, there is no doubt that the second season is packed with story; not a single second is wasted here. So many events happen in this last episode alone—including many scenes I cannot write about so you can enjoy watching them unfold for yourself—that you’ll be left breathless with anticipation. And it promises that there is so much story left to tell beyond these eight episodes—given the caliber of what’s been unveiled so far, I cannot wait to see where The Rings of Power takes us next.
