Season 1, Episode 8: “Alloyed”
Like most prequels, The Lord of the Rings: Ring of Power has a fixed end point. No matter how many new characters and locations the writers introduce, by the time the series reaches its intended end (five seasons later, if all goes according to plan), we’re stuck in Middle-earth II. You will witness the events that ended an era. The One Ring that controlled all of Sauron disappeared for thousands of years before finally landing in the Hobbit’s pocket.
Unlike most prequels, Ring of Power arrived with much of its story already extensively planned via a tidbit of Middle-earth history. This is why fans watching the series have been paying close attention to names they haven’t heard before, trying to figure out how they fit into Tolkien’s story. Why did the author never mention Halbrand, the lost king of the Southlands, who was returned home by a detachment of Galadriel and the Numenoreans in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent the establishment of the Shadowlands of
This week’s Season 1 finale answers that question in a shocking way. Halbrand is Sauron. There are no lost Southland kings. Orc father Addar established a kingdom that his former master and most detestable enemy would one day possess.
One of the reasons “Alloyed” is such a successful season finale is that it solves the biggest mystery introduced this year. Where did Sauron go? —that establishes the basis for a new conflict in the next round of episodes.As this capricious dark angel Sauron returns to the realm Adal has remade in Mordor, the ancient history and Middle-earth’s long-standing A fascinating power struggle, rooted in species conflict, awaits.
The episode also shades some key details of the Lord of the Rings backstory, fulfilling one of the prequel’s main features. It is part of Tolkien’s lore that Sauron helped forge the Ring of Power. How did this happen? Now we know: in the form of Halbrand, under the cover of a tale of misery and redemption, he captivated his way in moments of destiny and shaped the fate of Middle-earth for over a thousand years. Sarcasm abounds. And the impact is just beginning.
Explore the world of The Lord of the Rings
The literary world constructed by JRR Tolkien, now adapted into a new series on Amazon Prime Video, has inspired generations of readers and viewers.
Here are five other takeaways and observations from this episode, and from the season as a whole.
danger of strangers
Before the big Halbrand as Sauron is revealed, this episode teases the possibility that the Stranger is Sauron. A mysterious white-clad mystic eventually tracks him down, surprisingly kneeling and swearing to serve the Dark Lord. A narrative misdirection meant to prevent viewers from catching up too quickly to Halbrand being our Big Bad.
We still don’t have a name for this big guy, but by the end of the episode — Saddock sacrifices his life to help the Stranger After a tense skirmish between Hafutt and the mystic that sees him gain access to a powerful magic wand — he finally begins speaking in complete sentences.
The Harfoots storyline ends with a promising setting for Season 2. Nori leaves for the land of Rhûn and continues his journey with Stranger to find out more about who he is. Traveling alone is just a journey, but traveling with her friends is an adventure, so he welcomes her company. As Tolkien fans know, adventure is more fun.
“the one who sees”
Earlier this season, while trying to convince Miriel to join her cause, Galadriel expressed sympathy for the Queen Regent and her burdensome responsibilities, saying, “How it feels like only I am watching.” But one of the show’s stronger themes is that the heroes can follow the path of logic and honor with absolute certainty and still come to the wrong conclusion. It’s an idea.
In the case of Galadriel, Halbrand must be used as a symbol, so in order to inspire the Numenorean army, she brings her nemesis, Sauron, to Elysion, where he persuades Celebrimbor to become Elrond. ‘s meager supply of mithril is amplified by combining it with an alloy. crown shape. Halbrand’s sudden enthusiasm to create something that offers “power over the flesh” makes Galadriel suspicious, so she has the archivist check the Southland genealogy and find out that the region’s last king was centuries ago. It is revealed that he died in 1999, leaving no heirs. Not only was she tricked, she gave Sauron access to a power that could tip the balance of power in Middle-earth forever.
Does Halbrand’s reveal make sense in the context of the season as a whole? We can think of several moments from previous episodes where Halbrand seems hesitant about whether or not to accept the mantle of the king. (On the other hand, Numenor is apparently also very important to Sauron’s plans, so he may have wanted to stay there rather than immediately return to the mainland.)
Ultimately, this big twist works because it’s a pivotal part of Galadriel’s character arc. In a moving sequence after the reveal, Sauron enters the elf’s mind and destroys her brother’s happy memories, convincing her that he had the same goal all along: a stable and peaceful Middle-earth. Upon returning to Numenor, Halbrand tried to teach him how to persuade Galadriel, saying that he should know what the people feared and give them the means to master it. , doing so with her by suggesting that they rule together.
After Galadriel rejected Sauron and fled Elegion, the elves decided to make three rings instead of one crown. But the process that will lead to the next great war is beginning. And those who see it coming are largely to blame.
island life
Another major story line in the finale is Miriel’s return to Numenor. There she learns that her father has died. However, he first showed Elendil’s daughter Erien how to find an ally for himself, and made her kingdom its “old way”. Numenor is a great location for this series, teased with a lot of yet-to-be-revealed history and court intrigues before Elendil and Miriel left.
Still, perhaps because of all the big revelations elsewhere in the episode, the island action in this finale was pretty forgettable. The part’s key characters are not developed enough to capture the viewer’s attention. I think it was especially an issue with Elendil and his children. But given how important he is to the entire “Ring” saga, he still doesn’t stand out from the vast cast either.
Perhaps season 2 will handle that better. Speaking of…
need improvement
What could “The Rings of Power” do better in future seasons? One of the show’s biggest weaknesses is one shared by many prestige TV dramas. The episodes are too long and too repetitive. In part, it is derived from the source material. A proper Tolkien experience should be somewhat laid-back, where conversations and adventures on the road are as important as the big battle at the final destination. Good actors deliver well-crafted lines. For creators who have those kinds of resources at their disposal, reducing their usage can be difficult.
But it should. Too often this season, episodes spent He Two or He Three scenes covering the same story and thematic background. (See: Nori’s farewell to her family in this finale. It’s very sweet at first, and then… it goes on.) A fast pace could take this show from good to great.
The road goes on and on.
That said, what stands out most about this first season is that everything was much more impressive than expected. made with love.
“The Rings of Power” has offered spectacle and scope beyond what current television series attempt. Still, the creators showed a powerful command of its flash and grandeur, and used it to frame a good story. It is the television equivalent of a fantasy novel.