Warning: Contains the following full spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Episode 5 streaming now on Prime Video. To refresh your memory, watch our recap of last week’s episode.
War looms in Episode 5 of The Rings of Power, which takes a look at what different characters are fighting for. It’s also the first episode to feature both dwarves and harfoots, as the series’ disparate plots finally come together for the inevitable great struggle for Middle-earth.
Harfoot’s plot is fairly short and is anchored by a sweet travel sequence with music that really feels like it captures the adventurous spirit of Tolkien’s work. This action mostly continues to make clear how powerful the stranger is. Many Harfoots would likely have been “left behind” if he hadn’t been there to stop the warg attack. But after his weird healing freeze trick, it seems like even Nori is starting to get a little scared of her giant friend. I still don’t think the stranger is a villain, but that much power is always dangerous and he has to pull himself together to make sure nobody gets hurt. We’re also finally getting a glimpse of the odd, cult-looking characters that were featured in a previous teaser and seem to be haunting The Stranger, but there’s no new details on who they are or what they’re looking for, save for the very creepy one Music that plays when they’re on screen.
Every main character in the premier episodes of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Meanwhile, the people of the Southlands who fled to the Elf Tower to escape from Adar and his army are not doing well. About half of their group has followed Waldreg, whom I automatically think of as a dark friend from The Wheel of Time, to accept Adar’s offer of surrender. Waldreg has been a bastard since Episode 1 when he tried to hide news of the spreading corruption from Arondir, and he just keeps doubling down. It’s really funny to see how quickly he goes from promising loyalty to Sauron to offering to serve whoever leads the orc army.
In many ways, it feels like The Rings of Power has established itself as the anti-Game of Thrones, although comparisons to House of the Dragon remain widespread. There was no way we were going to see Waldreg slit that poor kid’s throat and get covered in his blood on one of those HBO shows. Here we find everything we need to know in Waldreg’s expression, which changes from horror to grim determination. Game of Thrones would have played the Númenor council meeting to show off some sharp-tongued intrigue, but Rings of Power just gives us the setup and then a shot of Halbrand showing how well he cleans up. Again, the character choice is all that really matters.
Honesty and kindness are almost always punished in Game of Thrones, but The Rings of Power features several characters who find strength in making their problems clear to their friends and loved ones. Theo eventually tells his mother about the hilt, giving Arondir and Bronwyn insight into Adar’s plans. Between Waldreg, Bronwyn and Halbrand, there is a lot of research going on in Episode 5 about the role of humans in Middle-earth. Are they basically orcs doomed to serve every evil warlord that just rises unless carefully monitored by elves for signs of treachery, or can they actually have some measure of self-determination?
It’s easy to see why Bronwyn and Halbrand would be prone to despair at the bad choices that lie ahead, but both decide to try to overcome the darkness they’ve seen and fight on. It looks like Bronwyn and Arondir plan to destroy the tower to prevent Adar from reaching his goal, but this will likely result in their deaths unless reinforcements arrive in time.
The conversation between Halbrand and Galadriel, sharing their traumas, is powerful.
“
Halbrand is ready to take on his responsibilities as king, but we still don’t know exactly what made him flee. Presumably the cuts between him and Waldreg imply that he also knelt before dark forces and was guilty of horrifying crimes, but if he proves worthy then probably nobody will really care if that comes out. The conversation between him and Galadriel, sharing their traumas, is powerful, with Galadriel in particular admitting that for all the confidence she exudes, she is an outcast of her people and is so consumed by her quest to stop Sauron that that she destroyed every relationship in her life. It’s a bonding moment that looks exactly like a romance could develop between her and Halbrand. Anyway, I would love to see her kiss.
Elsewhere, the relationship between Durin and Elrond becomes more complicated as Elrond finds out the real reason he was sent to Khazad-dûm. The forge that Celebrimbor is working on, which must be ready by spring, will help save the elves’ “eternal souls” from the spreading corruption. Even after the explainer, I’m not really sure what that means. How quickly would they fade without the light infusion? Will they just have a lifespan more like that of mortals? Is that why the elves in the Third Age have to go? The episode is short of answers, but the scenes in the elven woods are so distractingly beautiful that they drive home what would be lost without them.
I complained last week about Elrond naming Mithril, but I like the origin story of Mithril in Partings. The parallel between veins of ore and the roots of a tree works visually, as does explaining why the Balrog and precious ore are inevitably linked. I am glad that Elrond refuses to break his oath and instead goes straight to Durin for his help. Their friendship is the most charming relationship on the show, fueled by how funny Durin is. Table bluffing is beautiful as it is such an easy way to get something from the arrogant, scheming High King Gil-galad. Also, Elrond’s attempt to claim credit for Disa is very cute.
Not everyone is telling the truth in this episode. I’m very upset that Isildur didn’t tell anyone that he found a saboteur on the ship while trying to hide. Perhaps this boy is just acting on his own out of genuine concern about his country being dragged into someone else’s war, but the admiration he expresses for Pharazôn leads me to believe it wasn’t his idea. Pharazôn continues to try to sow mistrust of the elves and urge Númenor to remain isolated. Finding the source of the sabotage could have given anyone a clue as to what they were up to.
The Lord of the Rings Movies in (chronological) order
Post navigation